The historically rich city of Toledo in Spain with a population of less than 500,000 is the capital of the province bearing the same name and covers an area of over 15,000 km², bordering the river Tagus on both its banks.

To the north-east of the city a series of stunning mountain ranges watch over the River Tietar valley whilst the Toledo hills with their abundance of Holm Oaks, aromatic plants and game stretch out over a vast area of the landscape. Out to the east lies the region of La Mancha and the flat expanses of terrain typical of this part of Spain.

Located south of Madrid, the province of Toledo is one of five that make up the Castile-La-Mancha region and is linked to the capital (75 km away) by a good network of road and rail routes. Secondary roads provide ample opportunities to explore “off the beaten track” whilst the N-V and the N-IV connect the region to Madrid/Extremadura and Andalucia respectively.

A climate typical of Spain’s central plateau can be experience in the Toldeo province with cold winters and hot summers being the norm although neither seasonal extreme is unduly excessive due to the protecting nature of the mountain ranges to the north and south.

The relatively mild climate supports vast vineyards and fields growing wheat, tobacco and cotton, which are liberally spread across this (mainly) farming province. The farming and livestock, consisting of mainly sheep and goats, make up the majority of the industry as most of the small local businesses are in some way connected to agriculture. The Spanish painter El Greco (amongst many others) favoured this idyllic location high above the Tajo river and his home and museum houses many of his paintings depicting scenes around the province.

Prior to the capital being moved from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, the city was one of the most prosperous in Europe and was noted for its’ medicine and manuscripts. A society which practiced great tolerance, Toledo attracted men of learning commerce from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths and it was these scholars which prevented works of the Greek and Roman empires from being lost to future generations. Highly regarded schools of mathematics, theology and science grew here along with schools dedicated to the occult and alchemy.

Although in these modern times Madrid has now somewhat overshadowed Toledo in terms of international recognition, it is the narrow winding streets, the stone houses and the unassuming museums of this city which symbolize the essence of Spain’s history.

View holiday homes to let in Castilla La Mancha

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