If you plan to visit the city of Toledo, Spain on an upcoming holiday, you are bound to be amazed by the sheer abundance of sites and attractions the city has to offer, including a number of historical museums and art galleries, breathtaking natural scenery and an array of commemorative monuments celebrating, among other things, the city’s renowned tradition of being a haven for ethnic and religious diversity and harmony. And once you make your way through Toledo’s many points of interest, you’ll find there are also plenty of other sites and attractions worth visiting in the villages and towns that surround this historic city, all of which make for a great day trip and exciting adventure. Below we will highlight a few of these towns and villages and provide a brief description of each.
Towns and Villages near Toledo
Oropesa
Just outside of Toledo, Oropesa is a very beautiful and interesting Medieval village which continues to reflect and retain all of its rustic and historical charm. One of the village’s most interesting attractions is the Parador of Oropesa, one of the first parador hotels to open in Spain, and a gorgeously renovated 16th century palace. The village has a mere 2000 residents, and boasts a number of 16th and 17th century structures worth visiting. In fact, a walk through the town can be completed in just a couple of hours.
Lagartera
Lagartera is a small village situated roughly 2 kilometers from Oropesa. It is renowned for its industrious women who regularly produce embroidered cloths, sheets, curtains, tablecloths and aprons. During a walk through the narrow streets of the village is not uncommon to witness several groups of women, sitting on their patios or in the streets, who congregate to converse with one another as they embroider.
Talavera de la Reina
Located some 75 kilometers from Toledo and nestled on the banks of the River Tajo, the town of Talavera de la Reina is the largest city in the Province of Toledo by population. The town has many interesting sites to visit, including a number of churches and monuments, and an astonishing 15th century bridge—the Puente de Santa Catalina—with boasts an impressive 35 arches. Talavera de la Reina is also famous for its production of beautiful pottery and decorative tiles.
Illescas
Illescas is a small town located approximately 35 kilometers from Toledo, one which owes much of its historical significance to its strategic geographic position between Castilla de la Mancha and Castilla de Leon. Records show that the town was once a popular stopover for Castilian Royalty, and it is also where Francisco I of France was briefly imprisoned. Remains of the old wall between the two cities can still be seen today, but the main attraction for most visitors who travel to Illescas is El Bohio, considered by many Spanish food critics to be the best restaurant in the Province of Toledo and one of the best in Spain.
Other noteworthy towns and villages in the Province of Toledo include Tembleque, located some 55 kilometers from Toledo and famous for its two beautiful squares, the Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Orden; Villacanas, a small town approximately 80 kilometers from Toledo, with curious underground houses called silos and a 16th century Gothic church; and Los Yebenes, a 42 kilometer drive from Toledo and home to the famous Castle of Guadalerzas, a 12th century castle built during the reign of Alfonso VII.
