Catedral Santa María de Toledo Photos
Recommended Reviews - Catedral Santa María de Toledo
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
I took a 1/2 day trip from Madrid to Toledo and this was one of the first stops for me after arriving in the morning. Such a marvelous sight to see and is a must see for anyone visiting. The architecture is amazing and navigating those small, narrow streets just to look up and see the cathedral is a sight to see. There's a lot to see here and the details are worth spending a bit extra time. No need to book these tickets in advance - the ticket station is across from the cathedral. Apple/Google Pay is accepted too. I think I may have spent just less than an hour here, but I'm not surprised if people hang out here longer. Come early to avoid the crowds.
If you are in Toledo, visit the cathedral. The Toledo Cathedral (formal name Primatial Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo) is the seat of the Archdiocese of Toledo. It dates from the 13th century and is an excellent example of High Gothic style. I understand why many descriptions of the cathedral consider it the finest example of gothic architecture in the country. I did not think my ticket was expensive, and there is a great deal to see within. Wander the choir. Look at the seat backs there and you will see scenes carved into the wood. The chapter house is home to many frescoes, and I love frescoes so I could stay and stare for a while. Visit the cloister and simply wander. I spent a couple hours at the cathedral because I wanted to see as much as possible, and truly enjoy my visit here. With an audio tour (theirs, or a podcast that talks about the cathedral, or some other audio source) or a good guidebook (I'm sure I had a trusty Rick Steves' with me), you'll learn a lot about this fine building.
TOLEDO SPAIN - The most impressive part about Toledo other then it rich 2000 year old history is Cathedral Santa Maria de Toledo. The cathedral was constructed on the site of a former Grand Mosque. Construction on the cathedral of Toledo began in 1226 & continued until its completion in 1493. It stand on the former Great Mosque of Toledo, which itself stands on a Visigothic church; this habit of building on top of previous pieces of architecture was a way of showing dominance and power over previous civilizations or rulings in this case the Visigoths which had been used as a mosque This cathedral is the most outstanding building in Toledo & is considered one of the greatest Gothic structures in Europe. The Holy Church Cathedral is dedicated to Virgin Mary in her Ascension to the heavens. Its construction began in 1226 under order of the Archbishop Don Rodrigo Jiménez mandate Monstrance
1,000 places to see bedew you die One of the world's greatest gothic structures from the 12th century. It is at the 3 tower square with the palace of justice, bishops home, cathedral & government building . It costs £10 for a tour of the cathedral. The bell weighs 17 tons & is the world's heaviest.
Yelp 100 Challenge 2019 - #45/100 10 Euros entrance fee There is a Superstitious belief not to enter through the front gate: Kings' gate - is the central gate, used kings who are considered faultless Hell's gate - when someone who has killed people died, they go through the gate on the left- straight to hell Doom's gate- is the Forgiveness gate, for people who are neither good nor bad who need a second chance to be forgiven and get a chance to go to heaven. Don't want to believe in any of the above, but why risk it? =)
Must see in Toledo Spain. Prior to arriving Toledo, I searched the best way to Enjoy Toledo and noticed they offer guided tour as well as skip the line entrance by paying extra. When I arrived early in the morning, I saw some lines for purchasing tickets but line moved quickly. Ticket is available across the street from their south entrance. Ticket includes audio guide. They require a picture ID, be sure to bring some kind of picture ID in exchange for audio. I used my AZ driver's license. I didn't think it was necessary to purchase skip the line ticket. Be prepared to spend at least one hour inside. I think 2 hours is appropriate to be able to fully appreciate every details of interior.
Easily the most amazing church we've seen in our visit to Spain so far and so much more grand than anything in Segovia or Madrid, but that makes sense since Toledo has long been the HQ for the Catholic Church in Spain. After touring the beautiful city we wrapped things up with a visit to the cathedral with our private guide. Cost to enter is 10€-much more than the 1-2€ "donation" typical of other Spanish churches but definitely worth it. Since we had a private guide we were directed to all the amazing sights from the choir bay and high alter to the sacristy filled with original El Greco masterpieces. If you only visit one church in Spain, this has to be it. Truly amazing in scale and grandeur.
5 stars for the Cathedral and none for the audio guide rules. I love history, I am in Toldeo, I am, of course, going into the Toledo Cathedral. I buy the ticket -10Euros- and it says free audio guide included. I get to that lady - she says I need to either 50euros as deposit or a library card ?!?!?! I say I have my passport. Now - I do not bring my library card to other countries, I did not have 50 Euros or 40 as she downgraded, I had my credit cards and little cash. No other photo ID. I try to travel light . In the end, I went in without an audio guide because when would I be back in Toldeo Cathedral, the 3rd largest Cathedral in the world after the Vatican and St. James. I was very disappointed and little worried that I would not understand anything (not Christian) but this Church is lovely. It has the world largest collection of Church artifacts anywhere. Apart from all the art, there is a beautiful Monstrance. The Church itself is an example of Gothic architecture built on prior cultural buildings. Do not miss this. It took me 1 and a half hour without the audio guide and I recommend going in.
Spain's leading Catholic City has a magnificent Gothic Cathedral. Shoehorned into the old center (on the spot that a Grand Mosque and a Visigoth Church once stood), its exterior is hard to appreciate. My strong advice is to pay the admission (at the Visitor's Center across the street that also includes a coffee shop and gifts) and marvel at the lofty, rich, and vast interior. Gayle and I found ourselves wandering around and whispering "WOW". We also enjoyed our optional tour to the Bell Tower and associated areas. Just like La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (another WOW place), words and pictures can't even begin to describe this place. However, I'll try at least with the photos. The cathedral holds regular services, and its opulence is on display for worshipers and tourists alike. The awe-inspiring, enormous gold-grilled gates and altar in the main chapel make the interior shimmer. The chapel's works of art (including 2 El Greco pieces), elaborate frescoes, massive doors, detailed sculptures and intricate crucifixes, gave Gayle and me of walking through centuries of history and holiness.
The star and center of Toledo tourism, the Cathedral is always on the top of the list to visit. I guess it is a must see when visiting Toledo, but we enjoyed some of the other places, such as Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes, better since they were less crowded and more peaceful. The Cathedral was absolutely packed with people and costs 8 euro to enter. The 8 euro ticket forces an audio guide on you whether you want it or not and you have to leave your ID/passport with them for the audio equipment. The guide wasn't really that great and we listened in random order and didn't really feel all that impressed with the audio tracks. Many of the paintings and important sights were behind gates so you couldn't get so close to them to really see details. That was a bit disappointing. Overall, we felt a little cheated and thought it was overpriced. We've been to other cathedrals in the world and while this one is amazing, the experience could have been better.
Amazing! The structures, the art, the size of this cathedral is beyond words. I experienced this visit by joining a tour guide who did not disappoint. She was a wealth of knowledge that made me appreciate the visit more than I can imagine. The history of Toledo and the Catholic Church are engraved into the stones of this magnificent building. I wish I had more time to spend but I underestimated the interest I would gain once I was inside. One tip, take the Toledo city tour. It includes round trip to and from the train station, you can hop off at different spots of the tour, meet the guide at a specific time for the cathedral tour and there are a few bus stops that be used to hop on back the bus and return to the train station. The tour bus comes every 15 minutes. This was all 29,50euros per person. The cathedral entrance fee itself is included in this which is 18euros. I do recommend that anyone that visits this cathedral should allow at least 1.15hr. This should cover just the picture taking but definitely add more time because the beauty of this cathedral and its rich history will take your breath away.
One of the most important cathedrals in Spain, this place does not disappoint. There are always long lines. I would highly suggest to get there prior to an opening to avoid the long lines. Get the audio headset, which is included with admission right across from the front door but again, be there early. Place this as the first stop so that you could measure out your day. If you are in Toledo for the day then just come here first as this is something you do not want to miss and then you could use the balance of the day to do other things and measure it appropriately. You will need to really manage your time wisely and there is no way of estimating how long to be in this attraction if you do other things first if you are just here for the day. If you are lucky enough to be staying at a hotel, which I recommend, without a doubt come here first before it opens. Enjoy, this place is truly amazing.
This Gothic monster was started in 1226 and finished sometime after your great-great-great-great ancestors were born, it's all arches, stained glass, and gold that glows like it's powered by divine Wi-Fi. Fun fact: The bell tower of Toledo's Cathedral leans slightly to one side. Yep, that majestic Gothic spire is giving off subtle Pisa vibes. Historians think the tilt came from unstable ground or foundation settling over centuries. The clock on the tower was installed in the 18th century and has just one hand. Apparently, telling time precisely was optional when you had eternity to think about it. read more
Toledo's majestic cathedral, widely acclaimed as one of the grandest in Europe, is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and the spiritual heartbeat of Spain's Catholic church. If you have time to see just one sight in this beautiful city, this should be the one. It's an overwhelming experience that will give you a new appreciation for the builders who spent more than 250 years bringing this massive creation out of the ground. While there's no bell tower to climb or catacombs to visit, you should still allow at least 90 minutes for a visit here. After you purchase your admission tickets at the gift shop across from the main entrance, you'll find yourself in the cavernous nave, craning your neck to the vaulted ceiling to admire the impossibly high clerestory with its gorgeous medieval stained windows. Look for the incredible Rose Windows over the transepts -- they date back to the 14th Century and are some of the most revered in Europe. Next, move on to the High Altar in the middle of the cathedral, and gaze in amazement at its 80' tall gold altarpiece, one of the most ornate Gothic artworks in Spain. Other notable sights include the 700-year-old statue of the Virgin and Child (located in the Choir), the lavishly painted Chapter House, and the vast Sacristy, which is like a miniature art museum inside the cathedral, with paintings by El Greco, Titian, van Dyck and Goya, as well as a Sistine Chapel-like ceiling fresco by Italian master Giordano. There's far more to see in the cathedral than I can possibly cover here -- before you visit, make sure you purchase either a written or audio guide (we used the extremely helpful guide in Rick Steves' Madrid/Toledo Snapshot book), so you can appreciate the history of this place and not miss any of the highlights. We were absolutely blown away by every inch of this spectacular building and spent close to 2 hours walking its floors in complete awe. Of the many sights we saw during our 6 days in Madrid, Toledo and Segovia, it was by far the most impressive. The Toledo Cathedral is a place every lover of great art and architecture should try to visit at least once in their life. read more
I took a 1/2 day trip from Madrid to Toledo and this was one of the first stops for me after arriving in the morning. Such a marvelous sight to see and is a must see for anyone visiting. The architecture is amazing and navigating those small, narrow streets just to look up and see the cathedral is a sight to see. There's a lot to see here and the details are worth spending a bit extra time. No need to book these tickets in advance - the ticket station is across from the cathedral. Apple/Google Pay is accepted too. I think I may have spent just less than an hour here, but I'm not surprised if people hang out here longer. Come early to avoid the crowds. read more
If you are in Toledo, visit the cathedral. The Toledo Cathedral (formal name Primatial Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo) is the seat of the Archdiocese of Toledo. It dates from the 13th century and is an excellent example of High Gothic style. I understand why many descriptions of the cathedral consider it the finest example of gothic architecture in the country. I did not think my ticket was expensive, and there is a great deal to see within. Wander the choir. Look at the seat backs there and you will see scenes carved into the wood. The chapter house is home to many frescoes, and I love frescoes so I could stay and stare for a while. Visit the cloister and simply wander. I spent a couple hours at the cathedral because I wanted to see as much as possible, and truly enjoy my visit here. With an audio tour (theirs, or a podcast that talks about the cathedral, or some other audio source) or a good guidebook (I'm sure I had a trusty Rick Steves' with me), you'll learn a lot about this fine building. read more
TOLEDO SPAIN - The most impressive part about Toledo other then it rich 2000 year old history is Cathedral Santa Maria de Toledo. The cathedral was constructed on the site of a former Grand Mosque. Construction on the cathedral of Toledo began in 1226 & continued until its completion in 1493. It stand on the former Great Mosque of Toledo, which itself stands on a Visigothic church; this habit of building on top of previous pieces of architecture was a way of showing dominance and power over previous civilizations or rulings in this case the Visigoths which had been used as a mosque This cathedral is the most outstanding building in Toledo & is considered one of the greatest Gothic structures in Europe. The Holy Church Cathedral is dedicated to Virgin Mary in her Ascension to the heavens. Its construction began in 1226 under order of the Archbishop Don Rodrigo Jiménez mandate Monstrance read more
1,000 places to see bedew you die One of the world's greatest gothic structures from the 12th century. It is at the 3 tower square with the palace of justice, bishops home, cathedral & government building . It costs £10 for a tour of the cathedral. The bell weighs 17 tons & is the world's heaviest. read more
7 years ago
Yelp 100 Challenge 2019 - #45/100 10 Euros entrance fee There is a Superstitious belief not to enter through the front gate: Kings' gate - is the central gate, used kings who are considered faultless Hell's gate - when someone who has killed people died, they go through the gate on the left- straight to hell Doom's gate- is the Forgiveness gate, for people who are neither good nor bad who need a second chance to be forgiven and get a chance to go to heaven. Don't want to believe in any of the above, but why risk it? =) read more
Must see in Toledo Spain. Prior to arriving Toledo, I searched the best way to Enjoy Toledo and noticed they offer guided tour as well as skip the line entrance by paying extra. When I arrived early in the morning, I saw some lines for purchasing tickets but line moved quickly. Ticket is available across the street from their south entrance. Ticket includes audio guide. They require a picture ID, be sure to bring some kind of picture ID in exchange for audio. I used my AZ driver's license. I didn't think it was necessary to purchase skip the line ticket. Be prepared to spend at least one hour inside. I think 2 hours is appropriate to be able to fully appreciate every details of interior. read more
Easily the most amazing church we've seen in our visit to Spain so far and so much more grand than anything in Segovia or Madrid, but that makes sense since Toledo has long been the HQ for the Catholic Church in Spain. After touring the beautiful city we wrapped things up with a visit to the cathedral with our private guide. Cost to enter is 10€-much more than the 1-2€ "donation" typical of other Spanish churches but definitely worth it. Since we had a private guide we were directed to all the amazing sights from the choir bay and high alter to the sacristy filled with original El Greco masterpieces. If you only visit one church in Spain, this has to be it. Truly amazing in scale and grandeur. read more
5 stars for the Cathedral and none for the audio guide rules. I love history, I am in Toldeo, I am, of course, going into the Toledo Cathedral. I buy the ticket -10Euros- and it says free audio guide included. I get to that lady - she says I need to either 50euros as deposit or a library card ?!?!?! I say I have my passport. Now - I do not bring my library card to other countries, I did not have 50 Euros or 40 as she downgraded, I had my credit cards and little cash. No other photo ID. I try to travel light . In the end, I went in without an audio guide because when would I be back in Toldeo Cathedral, the 3rd largest Cathedral in the world after the Vatican and St. James. I was very disappointed and little worried that I would not understand anything (not Christian) but this Church is lovely. It has the world largest collection of Church artifacts anywhere. Apart from all the art, there is a beautiful Monstrance. The Church itself is an example of Gothic architecture built on prior cultural buildings. Do not miss this. It took me 1 and a half hour without the audio guide and I recommend going in. read more
Spain's leading Catholic City has a magnificent Gothic Cathedral. Shoehorned into the old center (on the spot that a Grand Mosque and a Visigoth Church once stood), its exterior is hard to appreciate. My strong advice is to pay the admission (at the Visitor's Center across the street that also includes a coffee shop and gifts) and marvel at the lofty, rich, and vast interior. Gayle and I found ourselves wandering around and whispering "WOW". We also enjoyed our optional tour to the Bell Tower and associated areas. Just like La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (another WOW place), words and pictures can't even begin to describe this place. However, I'll try at least with the photos. The cathedral holds regular services, and its opulence is on display for worshipers and tourists alike. The awe-inspiring, enormous gold-grilled gates and altar in the main chapel make the interior shimmer. The chapel's works of art (including 2 El Greco pieces), elaborate frescoes, massive doors, detailed sculptures and intricate crucifixes, gave Gayle and me of walking through centuries of history and holiness. read more
The star and center of Toledo tourism, the Cathedral is always on the top of the list to visit. I guess it is a must see when visiting Toledo, but we enjoyed some of the other places, such as Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes, better since they were less crowded and more peaceful. The Cathedral was absolutely packed with people and costs 8 euro to enter. The 8 euro ticket forces an audio guide on you whether you want it or not and you have to leave your ID/passport with them for the audio equipment. The guide wasn't really that great and we listened in random order and didn't really feel all that impressed with the audio tracks. Many of the paintings and important sights were behind gates so you couldn't get so close to them to really see details. That was a bit disappointing. Overall, we felt a little cheated and thought it was overpriced. We've been to other cathedrals in the world and while this one is amazing, the experience could have been better. read more
This place is magnificent! The pictures do not do justice on how beautiful this Cathedral is. Despite the vastness of the sculptures and the paintings, it will still leave you wanting for more! Some of El Greco's arts are here too!!! Worth the trip! read more
Amazing! The structures, the art, the size of this cathedral is beyond words. I experienced this visit by joining a tour guide who did not disappoint. She was a wealth of knowledge that made me appreciate the visit more than I can imagine. The history of Toledo and the Catholic Church are engraved into the stones of this magnificent building. I wish I had more time to spend but I underestimated the interest I would gain once I was inside. One tip, take the Toledo city tour. It includes round trip to and from the train station, you can hop off at different spots of the tour, meet the guide at a specific time for the cathedral tour and there are a few bus stops that be used to hop on back the bus and return to the train station. The tour bus comes every 15 minutes. This was all 29,50euros per person. The cathedral entrance fee itself is included in this which is 18euros. I do recommend that anyone that visits this cathedral should allow at least 1.15hr. This should cover just the picture taking but definitely add more time because the beauty of this cathedral and its rich history will take your breath away. read more
11 years ago
One of the most important cathedrals in Spain, this place does not disappoint. There are always long lines. I would highly suggest to get there prior to an opening to avoid the long lines. Get the audio headset, which is included with admission right across from the front door but again, be there early. Place this as the first stop so that you could measure out your day. If you are in Toledo for the day then just come here first as this is something you do not want to miss and then you could use the balance of the day to do other things and measure it appropriately. You will need to really manage your time wisely and there is no way of estimating how long to be in this attraction if you do other things first if you are just here for the day. If you are lucky enough to be staying at a hotel, which I recommend, without a doubt come here first before it opens. Enjoy, this place is truly amazing. read more
9 years ago
It's 10 euros per person and includes an audio guide in multiple languages. You have to get your ticket across from the church and leave ID with them for the audio guide. It's large cathedral at 10,000 square feet. Very beautiful and intricate. We were tired and missed the el Greco! Worth a visit and was nice crowd wise in mid August on a Friday afternoon. They say no pictures but everyone was taking them and no staff around to say otherwise. read more
10 years ago
Catedral Santa María de Toledo is the result of 500 years of work. Sitting at the center of Toledo, this cathedral is one of the most intricate I've ever seen and remains to be the most artistically important cathedral in all of Spain. Our tour hosted by Trapsatur lasted approximately an hour. In that time, we saw 5-story marble altars; ancient golden artifacts like the Great Monstrance of Arfe that shimmer in day and night; a spacious hall covered with famous paintings, including one of El Greco's; and choir chairs carved with stories about Spain's Christian history. My only complaint is that I wish we could've stayed longer. Witnessing this cathedral's opulence, as well as its holiness, is definitely a trip to remember! Highly recommend. read more
You must go in. But first go across the way to the visitor's center and pay the fee and pick up the audio tour guide thingamabob. I personally used my own earphones with it. You have to leave a passport in exchange. Another tip is that you're inside a church that is actively used for worship and when you are talking with your travelmates, take the earphones out because they do not appreciate the loud voices. I personally have a thing for choir chairs ever since i went to the Hearst Castle. I would love to actually attend a mass and see the choir in those. the carvings on and around the choir is amazing. Some are dead inside and others have deeply troubled looks to them. I can't get enough of it. The altar is a cash for gold heaven. i think i know why the protestants broke away. They have a mausoleum under the altar from what i can tell. I wonder who is down there? There is at least one bishop buried on site, there might be 2. I can't exactly remember and i didn't take a picture of it. You can tell by looking up. If there is a red cap hanging from the ceiling, then directly under it is a bishop. The art collection is pretty awesome. I hate art for the most part and i definitely hate museums, but i have a soft spot for religious art. I posted a few pictures of the art, so take a look. I didn't even scratch the surface of all the stuff they had on display. If we didn't have to go miss our train to Madrid, I would have stayed longer and possibly done the optional tour of the church tower. read more
9 years ago
A must see when in Toledo. Build in the 1200's this amazing cathedral houses paintings, sculptures and frescos among other treasures of the church. You pay across the sidewalk to go in and with that admission you are given a headset guide. It's perfect and you can chose the language. This church is dedicated to Mary and has some very beautiful things to see. You can take photos here there are a few things you can't take a picture of so watch the signs. Mass is still said here in the back chapel. read more
11 years ago
This 13th century cathedral is an absolute must when visiting Toledo. Beautiful and Gothic, there is so much to explore here and it's fascinating. There's the cathedral itself, the courtyard, fine exhibits of crowns and jewels and even a bell tower you can climb. Only complaint is when you climb the tower, your view is obstructed by wires. But you do get better aerial views on your way down. Admission is €11 and it's worth it. You definitely need to check it out. read more
13 years ago
Page 1 of 2
More info about Catedral Santa María de Toledo
Catedral Santa María de Toledo Reviews in Other Languages
Review Highlights - Catedral Santa María de Toledo
Catedral Santa María de Toledo - churches - Updated July 2026
Browse Brands
Browse Articles
People who viewed Catedral Santa María de Toledo also viewed
Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz
7 reviews
Sinagoga del Tránsito
9 reviews
Santo Tomé
7 reviews
Church of the Jesuits
4 reviews
Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca
6 reviews
Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes
15 reviews
Iglesia de los Jesuitas
4 reviews
Catedral Primada
5 reviews
Santo Domingo el Antiguo
2 reviews
Iglesia de San Román
1 review