Travel Photography – Toledo Cathedral

I have always loved beautifully designed buildings and churches – specifically gothic style architecture. One of the most amazing things about Europe is the opportunity to take in and experience these masterpieces. Our friend Lindsay suggested we head to Toledo, Spain (from Madrid)  for a day trip and we were forever grateful. It wasn’t just the quaint shops, beautiful alleys and houses, but the general layout of the town and the wonderful Toledo Cathedral in the middle that really made the trip.

The cathedral of Toledo is one of the three 13th-century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain and is considered, in the opinion of some authorities, to be the magnum opus of the Gothic style in Spain. It was begun in 1226 under the rule of Ferdinand III and the last Gothic contributions were made in the 15th century when, in 1493, the vaults of the central nave were finished during the time of the Catholic Monarchs. It was modeled after the Bourges Cathedral, although its five naves plan is a consequence of the constructors’ intention to cover all of the sacred space of the former city mosque with the cathedral, and of the former sahn with the cloister. It also combines some characteristics of the Mudéjar style, mainly in the cloister, and with the presence of multifoiled arches in the triforium. The spectacular incorporation of light and the structural achievements of the ambulatory vaults are some of its more remarkable aspects. It is built with white limestone from the quarries of Olihuelas, near Toledo. – Wikipedia