Vacationing in Madrid and visiting family in the UK
Toledo
Toledo is primarily located on the right (north) bank of the Tagus in central Iberia, nestled in a bend of the river.
Built on a previous Carpetanian settlement, Toledo developed into an important Roman city of Hispania, later becoming the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom and seat of a powerful archdiocese. Often unsubmissive to Umayyad central rule during the Islamic period, Toledo (طليطلة) nonetheless acquired a status as a major cultural centre, which still retained after the collapse of the caliphate and the creation of the Taifa of Toledo in the early 11th century. Following the Christian conquest in 1085, Toledo continued to enjoy an important status within the Crown of Castile, open to the Muslim and Jewish influences.
The city has a Gothic Cathedral, and a long history in the production of bladed weapons, which are now common souvenirs of the city.
Built on a previous Carpetanian settlement, Toledo developed into an important Roman city of Hispania, later becoming the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom and seat of a powerful archdiocese. Often unsubmissive to Umayyad central rule during the Islamic period, Toledo (طليطلة) nonetheless acquired a status as a major cultural centre, which still retained after the collapse of the caliphate and the creation of the Taifa of Toledo in the early 11th century. Following the Christian conquest in 1085, Toledo continued to enjoy an important status within the Crown of Castile, open to the Muslim and Jewish influences.
The city has a Gothic Cathedral, and a long history in the production of bladed weapons, which are now common souvenirs of the city.
Las Ventas bullfighting ring
The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, known simply as Las Ventas, is the largest bullfighting ring in Spain, located in the Guindalera quarter of the Salamanca district of Madrid. It was inaugurated in 1931 and has a seating capacity of 23,798, making it the third-largest bullfighting ring in the world.
Ávila
Distinctively known by its medieval walls, Ávila is sometimes called the Town of Stones and Saints, and it claims that it is one of the towns with the highest number of Romanesque and Gothic churches per capita in Spain. It has complete and prominent medieval town walls, built in the Romanesque style; writer José Martínez Ruiz, in his book El alma castellana ("The Castilian Soul"), described it as "perhaps the most 16th-century town in Spain".
Segovia
Segovia is located in the Inner Plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, near the northern slopes of the Sistema Central mountain range. Housing is nestled on a bend of the Eresma river.
The city is famous for its historic buildings including three main landmarks: its midtown Roman aqueduct, its cathedral (one of the last ones to be built in Europe following a Gothic style), and the Alcázar of Segovia (a fortress). The city center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
The city is famous for its historic buildings including three main landmarks: its midtown Roman aqueduct, its cathedral (one of the last ones to be built in Europe following a Gothic style), and the Alcázar of Segovia (a fortress). The city center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
England
The England portion of our trip was to visit family for a few days.
