It is said that September, and autumn, is one of the best times of the year to take photographs of landscapes due to the exceptional light, especially at dusk… In Toledo any time to take photographs is good, provided you know the right place to get a great image of the city, from the most typical to some hidden corner that we now discover you.
(10/10/16) We update showing in this video some of the viewpoints mentioned in this article:
Index of Contents
Mirador del Valle
The most played panoramic, from the beginning of the photograph. The first “travellers” to the city of the Tagus probably already marveled at the view from this point of the city, when its access was more complex than now (The oldest snapshot taken in this place dates from 1854, by Alphonse De Launay, according to “Toledo Olvidado” ). Think of the size of those cameras (which in some cases required a car to transport them), circumventing the fearsome stones that fall to the Tajo to obtain the perfect panoramic view of the city. Today, we park with our car or we arrive in the Train or Tourist Bus, we take the mobile out of the pocket and we make ourselves a “selfie”. If you climb a little higher, to the Parador Nacional, the perspective is even greater…
2. Tower of Azor or Buenavista
Probably one of Toledo’s hidden treasures is the panoramic view obtained by visiting this elusive corner. A very similar image you can get if you pay the entrance of the Mosque of the Christ of Light, from its gardens, or going up to the Puerta del Sol, if you are lucky enough to find it open, but in this case access is free and you can plant your camera to capture any time of day, or night. To get there, go down Calle Nuñez de Arce and go to the end of Callejón de San José.
3. Virgen de Gracia Square
The dome of San Juan de los Reyes and some spectacular sunsets is what this walk offers us located in one of the hills of Toledo on the Jewish quarter. It is worth arriving, resting to make one of the best panoramic views of the city and continue descending to discover, at night, the labyrinth of the Jewish quarter, where you can get lost with whoever you want.
4. Corralillo de San Miguel and gardens of the Alcázar
Above one of the private car parks next to the Alcazar you can see a great panoramic view from the Castle of San Servando, passing through the Infantry Academy and to the right the Cerro del Bú. Very close, if we go down to the gardens of the Alcázar, we will also obtain a very interesting panoramic view of the Tagus, in a tower of the wall. You can see a 360º panoramic of this place made by José María Moreno in this link.
5. San Servando Castle
From the gardens of the now hostel you can contemplate one of the most beautiful views of the city, with the Alcantara Bridge at the foot and the Alcazar just to the left. The sunset by the position is spectacular. If you get in, then no visits are allowed and it is only available to those who get accommodation.
6. Alcázar Library
Check the opening hours of the Biblioteca de Castilla-La Mancha in the Alcázar de Toledo, as it will be an important visit on your trip to Toledo. At the bottom of the Alcázar is the Museo del Ejército (Toledo Army Museum), and on the top floors (you can access it from the top of the Carlos V hill) is an impressive library where you can find the most spectacular and elevated views from inside the city. It’s a pity that they had to block the windows that could have been opened before… And since you’re here, look for the inner courtyard and you’ll discover a different panoramic view. Don’t miss the many activities organised both in the Museum and in the Library.
7. Towers of the Church of San Ildefonso
The other great panoramic view from the top inside the old town of Toledo is achieved by climbing the twin towers of the Church of San Ildefonso (now the Sanctuary of the Sacred Hearts). To climb, you have to pay an entrance fee or get the “Toledo Tourist Bracelet” which will allow you to access up to 7 magnificent monuments.
8. San Cristóbal Walk
It is probable that El Greco often contemplated an image like the one above, as he lived very close to this quiet promenade, on the Transit. Another place to get exceptional views at sunset, given the orientation, contemplating the Sephardic Museum, the Museum of Greco…
9. Paseo del Carmen and its Walls
Already recovered as a park, it offers excellent views from the wall towards the Tagus, with the tower of Puente de Alcántara, the Castle of San Servando and part of the fertile plain of the Tagus, including Safont, being visible in the foreground. If you dare to walk a little on the wall and the towers over the Puerta de Alcántara, the panoramic and solitude (sometimes) will make this place a magnificent place to spend a few minutes doing a “timelapse” or photographing a spectacular sunrise.
10. Azarquiel Bridge
One of the modern bridges built over the Tagus, which many tourists (and toledanos) cross daily as it leads from the Barrio de Santa Bárbara and the AVE train station to the historic centre of Toledo offers us one of the most “crystal-clear” panoramic views of the city, as sometimes the reflection on the Tagus of the Alcázar and the Bridge of Alcántara make this image one of the most reproduced.
11. The Miradero
We are not going to close this article without mentioning a traditional panoramic view of the city, although it now points to the most recent buildings. From the top of the new Palacio de Congresos “El Greco”, we will be able to spend hours looking at the small details of the numerous houses or contemplating how the Sun sets with the Puerta de Bisagra presiding over the image. If we move to the end of the walk we could also photograph a beautiful sunrise with the AVE station in the foreground.
12. Recaredo Walk
This whole walk is a delight, for its vegetation, for the presence of the imposing Toledo wall, for the Puerta del Cambrón, but when you reach the final curve that leads to the Puente de San Martín, also on the wall, the view is magnificent (Vega Baja, river, Fábrica de Armas…) and the unique sunsets.
How do I get to these lookouts?
And if you have asked yourself on several occasions “how can I get to those places?” then I’ll leave you a Google map with geolocalized viewpoints (and some more that we’ll be adding over time), so you can consult directly on your mobile or point in your travel notebook:
(Copyright of each photo owned by its authors, obtained from Flickr.com with the code provided by the application itself and specified in the footer of each image)
Initial publication date: 2016-09-05 14:27:24
