The glory of old Spain is certainly made most visible in the medieval city of Toledo. This is not part of the original itinerary, but many of the pilgrims indicated a desire to visit it, and I now know why. Of all the cities that we have seen, this one has the most beautiful punto-de-vista. Cervantes described Toledo as a "rocky gravity, glory of Spain, and light of her cities." The old city is located on a mountaintop, surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Tagus River, and contains many historical sites, including the Alcázar, the cathedral (the primate church of Spain), and the Zocodover, a central marketplace. As one enters the city, this magnificent lay-out of a city by the hill welcomes the visitor with awesome splendor. The river below the mountain adds even a more refreshingly dramatic scenery. The Church of Toledo is also the most visible landmark, as is typical to the medieval times. Everything about the city reminds me of the knights and fair women in their medieval garbs, walking in the streets and small squares.

Toledo is a city and municipality located in central Spain, about 70 kilometers south of Madrid. It is the capital of the province of Toledo and of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, due to its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former capitals of the Spanish Empire and place of coexistence of Christian, Jewish and Moorish cultures. Many famous people and artists were born or lived in this city, including Garcilaso de la Vega, Alfonso X and El Greco, and it was the place of important historic events such as the Visigothic Councils of Toledo. As of 2005, the city has a population of 75,578. Toledo has an area of 232.1 square kilometers (89.59 square miles).

Outside the cathedral, a tree provides some concert hall for birds chirping in a chorus. It provides some ambience for the pilgrims who walk the streets of this grand city.

The Church of Toledois a haven of really impressive memoribilias through the centuries. There is a cross from the Philippines in the display cabinet. The sanctuary is bedecked with gold leaf, and unlike some of the other churches that have gold leaves darkened by time, the Toledo Church’s sanctuary is brightly colored gold and sparklingly clean.

We stopped at a shop for souvenirs. Sometimes, I wonder if for some, this is the main event. Everybody seems to go really excited and crazy in the shops. I do not blame them. There are some really good places to shop around these cities that we visited. But I sure hope also that they are finding a good balance between that and doing the holy works or praying and offering sacrifice.