Page:A Handbook for Travellers in Spain - Vol 1.djvu/202

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104
Route 4.—Toledo: Hotels, &c.
Sect. I.

direct line; from S. Rly. station at the Paseo de las Delicias. Cabs charge 6 rs. fare to this station.

The country which is passed is thoroughly uninteresting. The line runs due S. Trains slow.

73/4 m. Getafe Stat. Pop. 3498 (see Rte. 123).

41/4 m. Parla Stat. Pop. 1077.

33/4 m. Torrejon Stat. Pop. 1971.

63/4 m. Yeles y Esquivias Stat. Pop. 95.

7 m. Pantoja y Alameda Stat. 436.

8 m. Algodor Stat. The Tagus is crossed and the Rly. skirts its l. bank to

81/2 m. Toledo Stat. Terminus. Omnibus into the city 2 rs.; with luggage, 3 rs., crossing the bridge.

TOLEDO.

Index.

Page
§ 1. Hotels; Lodgings; Café 104
§ 2. Bull-ring; Theatre; Shops 104
§ 3. Historical Notice 104
§ 4. Walk round the Town; Gates; Promenades 106
§ 5. Hospital of Tavera; Roman Circus; Cristo de la Vega; Palace Castle; Baths of La Cava 107
§ 6. San Juan de los Reyes; Museum 108
§ 7. Synagogues — Santa Maria la Blanca; El Transito 109
§ 8. Santo Tomé 109
§ 9. Bridges and Walk on the S. side of Tagus 110
§ 10. Alcazar 112
§ 11. Cathedral 112
§ 12. Archbishop’s Palace and Town-hall 120
§ 13. Hospital of Santa Cruz 121
§ 14. Moorish Mosque; Cristo de la Luz 121
§ 15. Convents and Churches 121
§ 16. Old Houses 122
§ 17. Sword Manufactory 122
§ 18. Excursions 122

§ 1. Hotels; Lodgings; Café.

Inns: Founda Imperial, Cuesta del Alcazar; fair. Fonda de Lino, indifferent and dear; here an intelligent guide may be found, Mariano Portales.

Casa de Huespedes, kept by the Hermanas Figueroa, Santa Isabel, No. 16, clean, good, and moderate; by far the best quarters, within a few yards of the W. front of the Cathedral. Casa de Huespedes de Lazaro, Calle Nueva, from 20 to 24 reals per day.

At the Despacho: Central, in the Calle del Comercio, a carriage may be procured for 40 reals for one or four persons, which will enable travellers to visit the different churches and sword manufactory with comfort ; but wheel traffic is impossible in some of the streets. An arrangement must be made for a longer excursion. Luis Vazquez is strongly recommended: he owns the omnibus that goes to the stat.

Café: de Dos Hermanos; Café Imperial; Café Suizo, at Zocodover.

§ 2. Bull-ring; Theatre; Shops.

Plaza de Toros, outside the Puerta de Visagra : places for 9000 spectators; fights during August and September.

Theatre: Plaza del Mercado.

Bookseller: Fando, Calle Ancha, where the excellent Guide-book, ‘Toledo en la mano,’ may be purchased.

Photographer: Casiano Alguacil, in Cuatro Calles.

Cutler: Garridos Hermanos, 1 Calle del Barco Nuevo, opposite Sta. Maria la Blanca.

Dealers: Claudio Vegue, plateria, Calle Ancha; Patricio Herencia, Calle Ancha.

§ 3. Historical Notice.

Imperial Toledo, the navel of the Peninsular, “the crown of Spain, the light of the whole world, free from the time of the mighty Goths” (as its son Padilla addressed it), is decidedly the most interesting spot in all Spain to the stranger. It is a city of the past. Its former population of 200,000 souls has dwindled down to 20,251.

Toledo is the capital of the Province of Toledo, whose hilly portions, la Sierra or los Montes de Toledo, divide the basins of the Tagus and Guadiana.

Seen from afar, the view of the city is most imposing. This Durham of a once golden hierarchy offers a perfect contrast with Madrid, the modern capital, for here everything is solid, venerable, and antique. It has not been run up by academicians to please the