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| Street performers in the Plaza de Zocodover |
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Museo de Santa Cruz
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| Last church of the day |
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| Leaving Toledo |
The Isglesia de Santo Tome has two things going for it. The painting by El Greco, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz (perhaps his most famous work), and the simple (by baroque standards) sanctuary. Avoiding the crowds waiting to see the painting, Charles attended the mass being celebrated in the crypt which was both simple and elegant on this Feast of Corpus Christi in Toledo. And there was a Goya in the entry!
Pressing on after the Jesuit church, Charles came to the Cathedra Primata Santa Maria del Toledo. Every cathedral is unique and beautiful in its own way and yet this one is one of the best Charles has seen, certainly in the top five. The windows, side chapels, high altar, or hand carved choir stall all contributed to the over-all feeling of awe and wonder that cathedrals were designed to inspire. Skip any of the others in Spain, this is the one you want to see.
Making his way past the tourist throngs in the Plaza de Zocodover, he next visited the Museo de Santa Cruz. Set in a former church, this is a gem of a museum and has a nice collection of El Greco works, fashion from the Imperial court of Phillip II and Charles V, and much more. Who needs to stand in the sun and deal with hoards of tourists when this fantastic museum is available mere minutes away?
The next museum was the Museo del Ejercito (aka, The Alchazar). This functions as the royal military museum of Spain and is very well done.
The final stop of the day was to the Iglesia del Salvador which is both a delightful small church and a major excavation taking place looking back into Roman / Visigoth / Islamic cultures that have all used this site for religious purposes.
A quick bite before the train to Madrid/Ávila and then it's goodbye to Toledo!
Tally: Museums: 7 today (22 overall); Churches: 3 today (25 overall)
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