Alcázar of Toledo
The Alcázar of Toledo was originally a Roman palace from the 3rd century, but it was restored under Charles I (Holy Roman Emperor Charles V) and his son Philip II of Spain in the 1540s. In 1521, Hernán Cortés was received by Charles I at the Alcázar, following Cortes' conquest of the Aztecs.
The façades are Renaissance in style, and it has towers and crenellated defences according to a preliminary design by Alonso de Covarrubias, subsequently completed by Juan de Herrera. After the last reconstruction it became the site of the Army offices and museum.
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User Reviews
The city of Toledo is rich with history from many cultures. It is a beautiful intact walled city with original buildings. Worth a visit of more than a few short hours.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Visited the Museo del Ejército in Toledo with my family and had a fascinating time exploring the extensive military history of Spain. A must-visit for history enthusiasts!
Current headquarters of the Army Museum in the city. Its construction dates back to Roman times. During the reigns of Alfonso VI and Alfonso X the Wise, it was rebuilt, giving rise to the first square plan fortress with corner towers. With Emperor Charles V it was rebuilt again, this time by the architect Alonso de Covarrubias. The facades are Renaissance, with turrets and defensive merlons, built according to the first features of Alonso de Covarrubias and later Juan de Herrera. After the last rebuilding, it houses army offices and the museum.
We were intrigued and delighted by Toledos' remarkable visible history. Just an hour south of Madrid, well worth a visit. Make sure to get a guide to help unlock the 3000+ history of this beautiful city.
There are some really good exhibitions here however you should check online to see if the main fortress is open as there had been a small fire recently limiting where in the building you could go.
Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings
Historic Site of the week
The Church of the Holy Cross
The church of the former Franciscan monastery was built probably between 1515 and 1520. It is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Rauma. The church stands by the small stream of Raumanjoki (Rauma river).
The exact age of the Church of the Holy Cross is unknown, but it was built to serve as the monastery church of the Rauma Franciscan Friary. The monastery had been established in the early 15th century and a wooden church was built on this location around the year 1420.
The Church of the Holy Cross served the monastery until 1538, when it was abandoned for a hundred years as the Franciscan friary was disbanded in the Swedish Reformation. The church was re-established as a Lutheran church in 1640, when the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity was destroyed by fire.
The choir of the two-aisle grey granite church features medieval murals and frescoes. The white steeple of the church was built in 1816 and has served as a landmark for seafarers.