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Dr. Reisman and his wife enjoying Toledo, Spain. reismandentalgroup.com | Find Yoga Classes in Spain - Spain Yoga - Yoga in Spain yogafinder.com | The University of Toledo Medical Center-Toledo Hospital : The University... utmc.utoledo.edu |
For other uses, see Toledo (disambiguation).
Toledo (Latin: Toletum, Arabic طليطلة) is a municipality located in central Spain, 70 km 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 for 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 Toledo, including Al-Zarqali, Garcilaso de la Vega, Eleanor of Toledo, Alfonso X and El Greco. It was also the place of important historic events such as the Visigothic Councils of Toledo. As of 2007[update], the city has a population of 78,618 and an area of 232.1 km2 (89.59 square miles).
[edit] History Having been populated since the Bronze Age, Toledo (Toletum in Latin) gained relevance during Roman times, being a main commercial and administrative center in the roman province of Tarraconensis. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Toledo served as the capital city of Visigothic Spain, beginning with Liuvigild (Leovigild), and was the capital of Spain until the Moors conquered Iberia in the 8th century. Under the Caliphate of Cordoba, Toledo enjoyed a golden age. This extensive period is known as La Convivencia, i.e. the co-existence of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Under Arab rule, Toledo was called Tulaytulah (Arabic طليطلة, academically transliterated Ṭulayṭulah). After the fall of the Caliphate, Toledo was the capital city of one of the richest Taifa Muslim kingdoms of Al-Andalus, and, because of its central location in the Iberian Peninsula, Toledo took a central position in the struggles between the Muslim and Christian rulers of northern Spain.  On May 25, 1085 Alfonso VI of Castile took Toledo and established direct personal control over the Moorish city from which he had been exacting tribute, and ending the mediaeval Taifa's Kingdom of Toledo. This was the first concrete step taken by the combined kingdom of Leon-Castile in the Reconquista by Christian forces. After castilian conquest Toledo remained as a main cultural center; its Arab libraries weren't savaged, and a tag-team translation center was established, in which books in Arabic would be translated from Arabic or Hebrew to Spanish by Arab and Jewish scholars, and from Spanish to Latin by castilian scholars, thus letting the old-lost knowledge spread through Christian Europe again. For some time during the 16th century, Toledo served as the capital city of Castile, and the city flourished. However, soon enough the Spanish court was moved first to Valladolid and then to Madrid, thus letting the city's relevance dwindle until the late 20th century, when it was established as the capital city of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Nevertheless, the economic decline of the city helped to preseve its cultural and architectural patrimony. Today, because of its rich heritage, Toledo is one of Spain's foremost cities, receiving thousands of visitors yearly. Toledo's Alcázar (Arabicized Latin word for palace-castle) became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces. [edit] Arts and cultureToledo reached its zenith in the era of Islamic Caliphate. Historian P. de Gayangos writes:
 The old city is located on a mountaintop with a 150 degrees view, 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 market place. From the 4th century to the 16th century about thirty synods were held at Toledo. The earliest, directed against Priscillian, assembled in 400. At the synod of 589 the Visigothic King Reccared declared his conversion from Arianism; the synod of 633 decreed uniformity of liturgy throughout the Visigothic kingdom and took stringent measures against baptized Jews who had relapsed into their former faith. The council of 681 assured to the archbishop of Toledo the primacy of Spain. At Guadamur, very close to Toledo, was dug in 1858 the Treasure of Guarrazar, the best example of Visigothic art in Spain.  As nearly one hundred early canons of Toledo found a place in the Decretum Gratiani, they exerted an important influence on the development of ecclesiastical law. The synod of 1565–1566 concerned itself with the execution of the decrees of the Council of Trent; and the last council held at Toledo, 1582–1583, was guided in detail by Philip II. Toledo was famed for religious tolerance and had large communities of Muslims and Jews until they were expelled from Spain in 1492 (Jews) and 1502 (Muslims). Today's city contains the religious monuments the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, the Synagogue of El Transito, Mosque of Cristo de la Luz and the church of San Sebastián dating from before the expulsion, still maintained in good condition. Among Ladino-speaking Sephardi Jews, in their various diasporas, the family name Toledano is still prevalent—indicating an ancestry traced back to this city (the name is also attested among non-Jews in various Spanish-speaking countries). In the 13th century, Toledo was a major cultural center under the guidance of Alfonso X, called "El Sabio" ("the Wise") for his love of learning. The program of translations, begun under Archbishop Raymond of Toledo, continued to bring vast stores of knowledge to Europe by rendering great academic and philosophical works in Arabic into Latin. The Palacio de Galiana, built in the Mudéjar style, is one of the monuments that remain from that period. The Cathedral of Toledo (Catedral de Toledo) was built between 1226-1493 and modeled after the Bourges Cathedral, though it also combines some characteristics of the Mudejar style. It is remarkable for its incorporation of light and features the Baroque altar called El Transparente, several stories high, with fantastic figures of stucco, paintings, bronze castings, and multiple colors of marble, a masterpiece of medieval mixed media by Narciso Tomé topped by the daily effect for just a few minutes of a shaft of light from which this feature of the cathedral derives its name. Two notable bridges secured access to Toledo across the Tajo, the Puente de Alcántara and the later built Puente de San Martín. The Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes is a Franciscan monastery, built 1477-1504, in a remarkable combination of Gothic-Spanish-Flemish style with Mudéjar ornamentation. Toledo was home to El Greco for the latter part of his life, and is the subject of some of his most famous paintings, including The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, exhibited in the Church of Santo Tomé. Toledo was famed for its production of iron and especially of swords and the city is still a center for the manufacture of knives and other steel implements. When Philip II moved the royal court from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, the old city went into a slow decline from which it never recovered. The marzipan of Toledo is considered one of its finest food products. [edit] Demography
[edit] EconomyIndustry metal has historically been the economic base of Toledo with a great tradition in the manufacture of swords and knives and a significant production of razor blades, medical devices and electrical products. They have also stressed plants soap, flour, glass and ceramics. [26] According to the Statistical Institute of Castilla-La Mancha, in 2007 the distribution of employment of members by occupation sectors was as follows: 86.5% of the population engaged in the services, 6.6% for construction, the 5.4% for industry and 1.5% to the agriculture and livestock. [27]   The manufacture of swords in the city of Toledo is back to the time Roman, but was under the domination Arabic and during the Reconquista, when Toledo and his guild of Espaderos played a key role. Between the fifteenth and seventeenth-related industry in the manufacture of swords was a big boom in Toledo to the point that the industry cutler Toledo came to be regarded as the best in Europe. The production of knives was personal and was carried out by small artisans scattered, although the guild of Espaderos controlled the final product quality. In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century began the decline of production, prompting the creation of the Royal Arms Factory in 1761 by order of King Carlos III. In the Royal Factory assembled all Espaderos guilds of the city and was located in the old Mint. In 1777, recognizing the need to expand the space, Carlos III ordered the construction of the building to the architect Sabatini to the outskirts of the city. From there began its expansion which passes through various stages. Its importance was such that eventually developed into a city within the same Toledo. During the twentieth century, the production of knives for the troops was reduced only to weapons of cavalry, and after the Civil War, the supply of swords to officers and NCOs from the various bodies. Following the closure of the factory, in the eighties, this place was renovated to house the campus of the Technological University of Castilla-La Mancha in Toledo. [26] [edit] UnemploymentIn the last decade, unemployment in absolute terms has remained fairly stable in the city of Toledo until 2009 to last year this figure has increased significantly: nearly 62% compared to 2008, running from 2515 to 4074 unemployed (figures at 31 March each year) as reported by the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla La Mancha. [28] Of this 62%, one third of the increase has taken place in the first quarter of 2009 passing of 3,385 unemployed people (December 2008) to 4074 (March 2009). By gender are more affected men (2,065 unemployed) than women (2,009), while the age group most affected is between 25 and 29 years with 708 unemployed. From the standpoint of the professional activity of the unemployed the vast majority of registered unemployed in the city of Toledo, with 72% of the total, for the services sector which corroborates the specific weight of the tertiary sector in the economy of the capital. Distribution of unemployed by sector (31 March 2009) Sector Agriculture and fisheries Industry Construction Services No previous job Unemployed 59 (1.45%) 352 (8.64%) 588 (14.43%) 2,937 (72.09%) 138 (3.39%) According to other statistics from the same source, almost half the unemployed in the city of Toledo (1,970 persons) among those in which their level of study is the first stage of secondary groups that exist for their level of studies have not registered unemployed in the city, such as vocational training for graduates of I degree, or virtually non-existent unemployment rates (less than 0.10%), if treated as unemployed with high school degree or professional expertise. If we look at the occupation group of the unemployed, the highest volume is between those who have no qualifications (27.27%). [edit] Politics[edit] Regional policyToledo is the capital of the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha since 1983, after a vote in which he won the support of 22 Socialist deputies and five popular. [20] As capital is the seat of parliament of Castilla-La Mancha, located in the Convento de San Gil, and the regional office, located in the Palace Fuensalida. For regional elections Toledo City forms a constituency with the rest of the province. In the province you are 11 seats out of 47 total members. Only the first regional elections, held in 1983, accounted for 10 seats to the province. In the last elections in 2007, the PSOE won 6 seats and the PP 5. The PSOE has always won in the district of Toledo, although at the municipality of Toledo in the regional elections of 2007, the victory went to the PP [29] which obtained a 46.38% of the vote. Apart from the PSOE and the PP (Popular Coalition before), so the CDS has achieved parliamentary representation for Toledo, a seat in 1987. [30] [edit] Provincial politicsThe city is the seat of the Diputación Provincial de Toledo. The council is composed of provincial deputies to be mayors or council members. The constituencies are the six judicial districts, [31] Thus part of the city of Toledo's namesake judicial district, with 23 other municipalities. Currently, the PSOE has 14 provincial deputies, with 13 of the PP. [32] In Toledo's party are elected ten deputies, who in the last election were divided equally between socialist and popular. In number of votes, leading the PP PSOE in just over a thousand votes. [31] [edit] Municipal politicsThe city administration for the City Council, composed of 25 councilors elected by universal suffrage every four years in a district only with closed lists. In the last elections in Toledo submitted lists five political parties: Partido Popular (headed by former mayor, José Manuel Molina), the Spanish Socialist Party (led by Vice President of the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha and current mayor, Emiliano García-Page), Izquierda Unida (Aurelio San Emeterio) Spanish Democratic Party and earth Commoners. The first three games won representation: the DB, twelve aldermen, eleven PSOE and IU two. The two formations left government established a pact that led to the socialist candidate for mayor, Emiliano Garcia-Page. [33] [edit] Political historyThe first democratic elections in 1979 were won by the UCD with 11 seats, 7 of the PSOE, 5 of PCE and one of the Democratic Coalition and the New Forces. At this early stage formed a coalition government led by the centrist Juan Ignacio de Mesa. In the second election, held in 1983, formed a corporation similar to the present, only three municipal groups (PSOE 11, CD 11 and PCE 3), although initially the Popular Democratic Party won two council independently, then formed a group with People's Alliance. Most notable of these elections was the disappearance of the UCD. The mayor passed to the socialist Joaquín Sánchez Garrido who ruled by the PCE. [34] In 1987, People's Alliance (later known as People's Party) won the election with 12 council members, while the PSOE led by Candelas Ricardo Sanchez suffered a bulging defeat its internal problems, dropping to 8 councilors. The PCE, and become United Left could not improve their performance, remaining three councilmen. In addition, there appeared a new party, the CDS, with its two council gave the mayor to Jose Manuel Molina Garcia. Since 1991 there has never been more than three parliamentary groups to disappear the CSD. Those elections were won by the PP, but the socialist Garrido Sanchez could return for mayor because of a pact with a falling United Left. The first absolute majority in the PP won the 1995, regaining the mayor's hand Agustin Conde Bajen with more than 49% of the vote. [34] For the elections of 1999, José Manuel Molina was again the candidate of the Popular Party since Earl was presented to the regional elections. The PSOE's electoral list led Moltó Juan Pedro Hernandez, national deputy for the province. Remarkable about this election is that the PSOE was presented under the name Progressive PSOE-led by the agreement left out of Castilla-La Mancha-Nueva Izquierda, Izquierda Unida division forming part of the two councilors who scored in that game 1995. The elections the PP again won the absolute majority, but lost more than 1,200 votes over previous elections. The PSOE won a seat their party, Izquierda Unida lost, badly weakened after the split. In 2003 he repeated the same results, being the first mayor of Toledo Molina in being two consecutive terms in office, this time defeating Alejandro Alonso Núñez. [35] List of mayors since the democratic elections of 1979 Mandate Name of Mayor Political party 1979-1983 Juan Ignacio de Mesa UCD 1983-1987 Joaquín Sánchez Garrido PSOE 1987-1991 Jose Manuel Molina García PP 1991-1995 Joaquín Sánchez Garrido PSOE 1995-1999 Agustin Conde Bajen PP 1999-2003 Jose Manuel Molina García PP 2003-2007 Jose Manuel Molina García PP 2007 -- Emiliano García-Page Sánchez PSOE [edit] Monuments and places of interest
The city of Toledo was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1940, UNESCO later given the title of World Heritage in 1987.
To mark the fourth centenary of the publication of the first part of Don Quixote (The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha), the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla La Mancha designed a series of routes through the region crossing the various points in the novel are cited. Is known as the Route of Don Quixote and two of pathways designed, sections 1 and 8, are based in Toledo: those linking the city with La Mancha Castile and Montes de Toledo exploiting the natural route which passes through the Cigarrales and heads to Cobisa, Nambroca Burguillos of Toledo where he takes the Camino Real from Sevilla to suddenly turn towards Mascaraque Almonacid de Toledo, deep into their surroundings, near Mora, in La Mancha. This stretch Mascaraque-Toledo of the Route of Don Quixote has recently been included in an official way on the Camino de Santiago in Levantine branch with origins in Cartagena, Alicante and Valencia, as both routes share declared European Cultural Route route on this stretch . [edit] InfrastructureToledo has since long been obligatory step in the center of the peninsula. The roads leading to historic Toledo are still used and in many cases have provided the basis to existing roads leading into the city. [edit] RoadsFrom Toledo part of N-400, which links this city with Cuenca by Ocaña and Tarancón. It is currently in the process of transformation in the future A-40 motorway Castilla La Mancha, which will link Maqueda (where it joins the motorway Extremadura), Toledo, Ocaña (where it attaches to the Motorway of Andalusia), Tarancón (where connects with the motorway Levante), Cuenca and Teruel. The old National Road 401 Madrid-Toledo-Ciudad Real was transformed in the late 80s in the current A-42 as a result of splitting and deleting the path that the various crossings counted (Illescas, Yuncos, etc.. ). The split path can take 7 km south of Toledo, in effect Ciudad Real, where it continues as conventional road. At this point, the A-42 connects with the Highway of the Vineyard that reaches Tomelloso. It is planned to extend the A-42, by a toll road, to Ciudad Real and Jaén. In the early twenty-first century was built, in order to decongest the access of Madrid, the toll motorway AP-41. Another way of State Highway Network that Toledo is part of the N-403, Toledo-Maqueda - Ávila - Adanero. Part of the route of this road will be replaced by that of the aforementioned Highway of Castilla La Mancha. In addition to these roads, from Toledo depart several regional and provincial-level linking the capital with the regions of Montes de Toledo, La Jara and La Mancha. [edit] RailIn the mid-nineteenth century Toledo was one of the first Spanish cities that had rail, being attached to Madrid Aranjuez line and being opened by Elizabeth II on June 12 of 1858. The current station style neomudéjar, was inaugurated on April 24 of 1919 and is a remarkably beautiful building, especially the paneling in the main hall of the same. With several ups and downs in terms of technical equipment and services this is the line that served until the early twenty-first century: on July 2nd of 2003 the last train runs between the two capitals conventional and begin work on the link high-speed, Madrid - Toledo, entering service on November 16 of 2005, thanks to which the travel time to Madrid has been reduced to just under 30 minutes. [edit] Health In the early 60s of the twentieth century began the construction of the Residence Health Social Security "Virgen de la Salud". The original building still remains in use, although successive extensions were added (maternity, outpatient clinics, operating rooms, etc.). Into the existing complex. The complex was also extended to move the clinic to a new nearby building, now converted into Specialty Center San Ildefonso. On October 6 of 1974 inaugurated the National Hospital of Paraplegics who becomes the center of reference, both nationally and internationally, in the treatment of these lesions. Also carries out a major work of social integration of their patients. The transfer of powers from the state health at the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla La Mancha will give new impetus to the health infrastructure, manifested in 2007 with the commencement of construction of the new General Hospital of Toledo in the Santa Mary Benquerencia. Also have been provided to the different parts of the relevant health centers. In the Toledo Hospital Complex [36] is also integrated Geriatric Hospital Virgen del Valle, a result of reform and modernization of old tuberculosis hospital built in the mid twentieth century. The center is located outside the city, near the Parador Nacional de Turismo Conde de Orgaz. With regard to private health, at present the city of Toledo has several centers: Hospital de las Tres Culturas, Clínica Nuestra Señora del Rosario, and so on. [edit] SportThe city of Toledo suffered from a shortage of sports facilities. Much of this problem was resolved when the Central School of Physical Education of Army moved its headquarters to the premises of the Academy of Infantry. In the 90s, the city council took over the old facilities (39 ° 52'10 "N 4 ° 1'42" W / 39.86944, -4.02833) of the military center, which include in Today: an athletics track, Olympic swimming pool and an indoor sports hall, from the former military installations, and numerous outdoor courts built in the area of the former runway of application, having been demolished and the old gym complex pools (indoor and outdoor). Besides these facilities, the city of Toledo has covered sports pavilion in the districts of Santa Maria de Benquerencia, Santa Barbara, San Anton (Complejo Deportivo "Leaping Horse"); outdoor pools in sugar, Palomarejos, Santa Maria de Benquerencia, Santa Barbara, Santa Teresa and indoor swimming pools in the gardens of the Alcazar (old town), St. Mary of Benquerencia and St. Anton. Toledo has a football team, the Club Deportivo Toledo, which returns in 2009-2010 to the Second Division B, after 7 Third season. The club plays its matches in the municipal field Leaping Horse, opened in 1973. The team he played for 7 seasons in second division and reached the promotion play with Real Valladolid for promotion to First Division in 1993/94, but was defeated on aggregate 4-1. They have been part of the player and Abel Resino, Luis Garcia, Rufete or Casquero. Toledo also has teams of handball. The Toledo Handball, after 5 years in the Division de Honor B, start the 2009-2010 season as ASOBAL new club for the first time in its history. A refurbished town hall "Javier Lozano Cid ', with capacity for around 1,500 spectators, is its new headquarters. Moreover, the city has two other Division II team in the National, the Toledo Handball Lábaro-B and Club Deportivo Amibal. [37] Toledo has two basketball teams: the CIS Toledo, with a long history that has gone through ups and downs in both regional and in national leagues (EBA) and has just promoted to 1st Autonomic, and CB polygon [38], in Currently the most representative, whose team has promoted male, 7 years after leaving, to EBA League to start the 09/10 season. This club based in the Santa Maria de Benquerencua has one of the largest quarries of Castilla-La Mancha. Another sport representative of the Imperial City is athletics. This striking sport has since 2 April 1979 with the Toledo Athletic Club, [39] that is characterized by its actions, mainly in cross-country, where he managed a large number of medals in the championships team Spain's specialty, in addition to their combined male and female military in the late 90s in the 1st division league national track. Among the athletes who have passed through its lanes are great athletes as Julio Rey, Roberto Parra, Chema Martinez and Julia Lobato. Cycling, meanwhile, after the mythical victory in the Tour de France in 1959 by Federico Bahamontes, 'The Eagle of Toledo', has been one of the sports with more followers in the city, although, at present, no school despite having a velodrome in the Santa Maria de Benquerencia. Other leading professional cyclists in the city have been Nemesio Jiménez (Mexico Olympic 68) and Angel de las Heras. The FS and Volleyball Toledo Toledo Association Toledo complete representation in the National League of First and Second Division, after a brief journey in Fantasy-, respectively, while the Toledo Rugby Club, with many noisy fans, is immersed in the League Madrid's Primera Liga. At the individual level, the swimmer Javier Noriega and Julio Rey marathon athletes are more representative of the city, both in Athens Olympics 2004 and Beijing 2008, in recent years. Rey, Spanish current marathon record holder, with 2h.06: 52, announced his retirement in October 2009. Toledo Other sports are famous footballers Roberto Fresnedoso, Miguel Angel Ruiz, Luis Laguna, Pedro Pablo Braojos (now coach) and Luis Garcia, the latter serving goalkeeper on the CD Tenerife, and the indoor football players international Javier Lorente-champion Antonio Adeva Europe and World champion, not forgetting the former Spain coach Javier Lozano Cid world champion. In handball, highlighted in the goalkeepers 09.10 ASOBAL Fermin Ballesteros (Toledo Handball Lábaro) and Gonzalo Perez-Vargas (FC Barcelona). [edit] Gastronomy  Toledo's cuisine is the cuisine Castilla-rooted in its traditions and is closely linked to hunting and grazing. A good number of recipes is the result of the combination of Moorish and Christian influences. Among his specialties include the lamb roast or stew, as cuchifrito, and beans with partridge or stewed partridge, the carcamusas, the crumbs, the porridge Mancha and the tortilla to the lean. Two of the foods that have brought fame to the city of Toledo are the Manchego cheese and marzipan, which has a denomination of origin itself, the marzipan of Toledo. [40] [41] [edit] Holidays
Apart from these festivals should be noted that patterns of Toledo are:
[edit] MediaIn the city are published various local and provincial newspapers. In addition, national newspapers such as the ABC daily published an extensive local branch. Among the highlights local newspaper La Tribuna de Toledo, Toledo Day and free Global Castilla la Mancha and Toledo News. Weekly magazines are published for general information Echoes and here. There are also local media in television, radio and Internet. In Toledo is the headquarters of regional public television, Castilla-La Mancha TV, plus there are six local television stations in addition to domestic routes: Localia, Diocesan Channel TV-Popular, Teletoledo, Regional Channel News and Tribune Television. For radio stations, is the dean Radio Toledo (Onda Cero), the COPE, the Cadena SER, RNE, RCM and Radio here, other radios are the neighborhood Onda Polygon and the diocesan Radio Santa Maria. Within the digital and social media, Wave Toledo, Toledo Magic, Toledo Digital, La Cerca. [edit] Gallery
[edit] International relationsMain article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain [edit] Twin towns — Sister cities
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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