TOLEDO

 I am running a little behind on my posts. This post covers what we did on April 30 during our trip to Toledo.

The is the Ermita "Mezquita" Cristo de la Luz. Here is the legend: On May 25, 1085, Alfonso VI makes his triumphal entry into Toledo, with the holy ensign of the Cross and the undefeated banner of Castile. The King passes through the old Bisagra door. He advances through Santiago del Arrabal with his army. They arrive at the hermitage, converted into a mosque by the Arabs. At the moment that the king reaches the front of the building his horse falls to its knees (as does on another occasion Babieca, El Cid's horse). Every effort is made to lift the horse from the ground but without success. The horses actions are seen as a sign from God. During a careful search of the building they find the image of a crucified Christ in a small niche with a candle that had burned there since the Moors had taken possession of the building 370 years earlier. In memory of the event a white stone was placed at the very place where the horse(s) knelt.

The structure is a marvelous example of Mozarabic architecture and brickwork. The semicircular apse was a later addition to the structure. You can see the division of the older front portion and the 'newer" back portion at the point where the three larger arches are followed by three smaller ones.

Inside the building are a series of "horseshoe" columns held up with columns that date back to the Visigothic period. It was not uncommon to recycle materials from other buildings. In fact, while doing some archeological work on the site the scientists discovered the remains of a Roman road running under the building (see below)

We also took the students to the Cathedral. It is a magnificent example of Gothic architecture with its soaring ceilings that are accented by the repetitive pointed arches and stained-glass windows.

We had a wonderful lunch at Via Máxima:

We soon bid Toledo farewell. It was a wonderful day.