In these preamble days of summer, of holidays, during which many strive to examine themselves to fulfill their obligations and others conscientiously prepare their well-deserved vacations, we recover what we have published, and while we look for more legends to share with the many visitors of this Web, we offer six of the most mysterious, terrifying or “infernal” that traditionally have accompanied in their historical transfer to the old city of Toledo. Let’s go over the Terrifying Legends of Toledo:
Index of Contents
1. The Lady with the eyes without brightness.
When, during the presentation of “Navigando por las Leyendas de Toledo” (Navigating through the Legends of Toledo), a friend or media outlet asked me about my favourite legend, I always referred to the one that I rank first in this list. The romantic and mysterious atmosphere, cold, gloomy, dark…, gives a lot of meaning to other legends that have as their setting the City of the Tagus. It is probable that this legend is a copy or “rehash” of so many other similar legends that are narrated throughout Spain, but the stage in which it is set endows it with a very special beauty and atmosphere. The legend narrates the dance that a young man performs with a beautiful lady whom he later accompanies through the streets of Toledo, with a surprising ending… Read more…
The lady with the eyes without brightness
2. Hell’s Alley.
Witches, forbidden loves, Toledan night… Damned combinations that almost always end in tragedy. The Toledan street map hides place names that take us back to a more mystical past than the current one. A past in which they trusted magic, potions, witchcraft of various kinds to stop the evils of love; ailments or to solve other more mundane questions by fast track. The old spirits will accompany you through your Toledan transfer if you read this legend.
I’m sure you’re also interested: El Hueso del Caballero 
El Callejón del Diablo in Toledo
Devil’s Alley in Toledo
3. The voice of silence.
I wandered one afternoon through the narrow streets of the imperial city with my drawing folder under my arm, when I felt a voice like an immense sigh pronouncing vague and confused words beside me; I hurriedly turned and what would not be my astonishment to find myself completely alone in the narrow street. And yet, undoubtedly a voice, a strange voice, a mezcal of lament, the voice of a woman no doubt, had sounded a few steps from where I was. Have you felt anything similar in a street in Toledo?
Castillo de San Servando, Toledo
4. The ghost of San Servando Castle
Old Templars wandering the battlements of Toledo Castle, mysterious lights, murders, terrified soldiers, night noises… This legend contains all the clichés you will see in a modern horror film, but in this case set in a well-known castle in the Imperial City. Frighten yourself with this legend of Toledo.
5. The golden garlic
Bécquer masterfully illustrated the oppressive and terrifying atmosphere of being locked up at night in Toledo Cathedral for a young man who was only trying to win the favours of his capricious lady:
Imagine a world of stone, immense as the spirit of our religion, dark as its traditions, enigmatic as its parables, and yet you will have no remote idea of that eternal monument of the enthusiasm and faith of our elders, on which the centuries have poured the treasure of their beliefs; of their inspiration and of their arts.
Read here “La ajorca de oro”
6. “The Kingdom of Satan in the night of Toledo”. The Devil and Toledo.
It’s not just a legend. Toledo hides a “special” relationship with the Evil One. The city that has maintained more convents, churches and religious during its long history has also been an intense focus of necromancy, of “Toledan Sciences or Arts” and of peculiar “teachings” that have made it famous throughout the West. Go to “El Diablo y Toledo”
Photo: J. Lozano. Toledo Cathedral Forgiveness Door (Flickr.com)
