TOLEDO, a city of Spain, capital of the modern province of Toledo, in Castilla Is Nueva, is situated on the north bank of the Tagus, in 39° 52' N. lat., 4' W. long, 42 miles S.S.W. from the city of Madrid. It is the see of an archbishop, who is primate of all Spain. The population in 1815 was 13,431.
The city of Toledo geode on a rocky eminence, nearly surrounded by the deep and narrow channel in which the Tagus flows, and is pro tected by a Moorish wall on the north or land aide. The Tagus is here crossed by two fine stone ,bridges. The bridge of Aleiltitara was built by the Moors, and is a noble work, consisting of a single arch, which spans the whole stream, and affords a fine view of the river flowing far below, and of the castle, which stands on an eminence above. The streets are very narrow and crooked. The houses, which are mostly built in the Moorish style, have geuerally only one or two stories, and the apartmenta are arranged round a court. In this court, which Is frequently ornamented with a fountain and flowers, and over which an awning is thrown, the family usually sit in summer time. The principal square is planted with tress] and furnished with seats, and is much frequented as a promenade. The euvirona of the city are bare and unproductive, but the neighbouring mountains contain some green valleys, where the wealthy inhabitants have their country-houses.
The cathedral is one of the largest and finest in Spain. It stands on the site of the Moorish mosque, and the foundations were laid in 1258 by Fernando IIL of Castilla, and Rodrigo Xlmenes, at that timo archbishop of Toledo. It consists of five naves, and measures 404 feet in length and 204 feet in width. The naves are supported by 84 colossal pillars, and the whole church is paved with white and blue marble. The architecture is of different perioda and of different styles, but is for the most part of early gothic. The double clereatorics pro duce an effect of singular lightness and elegance, and every window is filled with painted glees of the richest colours. Several of the chapels are exceedingly beautiful, and contain interesting monuments of kings and queens and other distinguished persona. The cathedral of Toledo was formerly celebrated for its jewels and its silver and gold ornaments, but most of them disappeared during the Peninsular War, and the rest have since been disposed of by the government. Annexed to the cathedral is the archbishop's palace, which contains a very tine library rich in old manuscripts.
&wide. the cathedral, there are several churches and conventual buildings of fine gothie architecture ; and there are also some inter esting structure of Moorish architecture. The convent and church of San Juan do loo ltcyea was built in 1476 by Fernando and Isabel, in commemoration of the victory gained over the Portuguese at Toro in that year. At a Later period, the chains and fetters which had been
worn by the Christian captives of Honda and Granada wore, after the taking of the latter city in 1492, suspended to the outside walls of this building, where they are still to be seen. The church and the cloister, built in the richest gothic, are particularly admired. The foundling hospital of Santa Crux, founded by Cardinal Mendoza in 1304—that of St. John the Baptist, called also El lfospital de Afuere, because it stand. outside the city wells, built and richly endowed by Cardinal Tavera—San Juan de la Penitencia, which is a foundation of Cardinal Ximenes—are all well worthy of inspection. La lglcsia del Transito, which was formerly a Jewish synagogue, built during the reign of Pedro the Cruel, at the expense of his treasurer, Samuel Levi, is n curious specimen of Saracenle architecture. The church called Santa Maria Is Bianca was once a Moorish mosque.
The or royal palace, stands on an eminence, at the foot of which flows the Tagus. It was built by Alfonso X. on the site of the Moorish palace, and was almost entirely rebuilt by Carlos V., who employed the beat Spanish architects of his time. His son, Felipe II., made also considerable additions to it, which were prinicpally directed by his chief architect Herrera. At present it is in a very dilapidated state. The court-yard, with its pillars and vaulted corridors, and the double staircase, are in a ruinous and neglected condition. The view from the top is very extensive, showing the whole of the city, the course of the river, and the brown waste of undulating ground which surrounds the city.
Toledo has a university, four colleges, several hospitals and asylums, a town-hall, and a mint. The Fabric* do Armes, where the famous mettle of Toledo were and are still manufactured, is on the bank of the Tagus, about 2 miles S.W. from the city. Only some 70 or SO workmen are new employed, hut the fine temper, polish, and elasticity of the blades, are as perfect as in the times Of their highest repu tation. Other manufactures are coarse woollens, paper, guitar-strings, common glass, and leather.
Toledo is a very ancient city. It was the Toletum of the Romano, and portions of walls and an amphitheatre built by them still remain.
It was taken by the Gotha in the year 467, and by the Moors in 714.
Under the Moors it became a city of the first class, second only to Cordova, the capital of the Mohammedan empire. It was taken by Alfonso VI., king of Cantina and Leon, in May 1085. It became afterwards a very flourishing city, and had at one time a population of 200,000, and contained, besides the cathedral, 20 parish churches, 6 other churahea, 9 chapels, 3 colleges, 14 convents, 23 nunneries, and 10 hospitals.
(Mules, Diecionario Geographic° de L'spaiia ; Ford, Handbook of Spain.)