Are you planning a romantic excursion or family vacation to the gorgeous country of Spain—a trip that will include a stopover in the city of Toledo, one of the country’s most historic and scenic treasures? Have you set to the task yet of planning out your itinerary or tour schedule; mapping out the sites and attractions you’d like to see during your visit to the city? If you have, you should definitely consider adding the Taller del Moro to your list of must-see destinations. To help you become more familiar with this historic Toledo attraction, in the following article we have provided some pertinent details with regard to the Taller del Moro, including some interesting facts about its history and architecture, and especially about the museum the ancient palace now houses.
Taller del Moro: Overview
History
The Taller del Moro is a structure/museum in Toledo, Spain, located just steps away from another Toledo landmark, the 15th century Palacio de Fuensalida, where Isabel, wife of Carlos V, died. It was built during the 14th century and is the only 14th century civil building that still remains in the city. It was originally used as a workshop (the word “taller” is Spanish for “workshop), where the city’s masons and other tradesmen worked collectively on the marble for Toledo’s great Cathedral, among other significant projects. It was also used to store materials intended for use on the Cathedral and other Toledo religious institutions.
In later centuries the immense workshop/palace was used for a variety of other functions, and today it houses one of the most important museums in the city.
Architectural Style and Features
When taking a tour of this Mudejar-style palace and popular landmark, visitors can still see some of the original 14th century decorations—adornments that have been well preserved in many of the palace’s small rooms. These rooms all feature a single, small, rectangular-shaped window, and are linked together by horseshoe-shaped doorways decorated with atauriques—leaf or flower-shaped patterns made in stucco. Experts say the Taller del Moro’s construction is very similar to that of the renowned Alhambra Palace, largely due to the central hall and two side alcoves, linked by arches and covered with rich plasterwork and wood ceilings.
Taller del Moro Museum
The museum that is now housed at the Taller del Moro was begun in 1963, when the state bought and restored the building for that purpose. The museum contains a grand collection of 14th century and 15th century Mudejar ceramic and tile work from Toledo; handcrafted wood items, particularly pieces that were used in old homes, such as carved beams, friezes and panels; and tombstones, column capitals and chests from the same period. Also worthy of note is the centerpiece of the museum, dedicated to the craftsmanship and artwork of Muslim Toledo; and the left alcove, dedicated to the archaeological remains of past cultures and the Cordovan capitals that were representative of the time in which Taller del Moro was founded.
