Corners to discover in your getaway to Talavera de la Reina in Toledo

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Tiles in the Ethnographic Museum of Talavera de la Reina

Less than an hour and a half away from Madrid, Talavera of the Queen It is not a town that has a reputation for its tourist attractions.

Moreover, it is a small city that with its 88,000 inhabitants has more population than the capital of the province itself, that is, Toledo.

But I anticipate that Talavera have enough arguments to justify a getaway from Madrid, transcending the consequences of the great urban development that lived decades ago.

Schoolboy Santa María la Mayor in Talavera de la Reina

So I did this last spring, which allowed me to discover some corners that are really worth it.

Curiosities Talavera de la Reina history

By way of introduction, I will tell you that although there were already human settlements since the Prehistory, as evidenced by the various dolmens found in the area.

But really, the historical origin of Talavera de la Reina is in the urban core of Caesarobriga founded by the Romans.

It is during the time of the Visigoths when one of the events that still have relevance in the life of today's Talavera occurs.

Tiles in the Basilica del Prado in Talavera de la Reina in Toledo

I refer to the gift to the village of the statue of the Virgin of the Prado, occurred in the year 602.

That led to transforming the pagan celebration of the goddess Ceres in the spring party of Las Mondas, precisely the reason that led me to visit Talavera.

Muslims built the first Talavera wall, which became "of the Queen" when the villa was given away in 1328 by Alfonso XI to Maria from Portugal, the new queen after her wedding.

It was during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries when Talavera already achieved fame thanks to the ceramics, which was used in the decoration of important monuments of that time.

Featured Talavera neighbors they have been the playwrightFernando de Rojas (sXVI), author of The Celestine, and the theologian and historian Juan de Mariana (sXVII).

Corner of the historic center of Talavera de la Reina

Finally note that during the nineteenth century the Talavera pottery tradition, although his famous craftsman, Juan Ruiz de LunaHe developed his main artistic activity at the beginning of the 20th century.

What to see in Talavera de la Reina

Then I will highlight the corners that have caught my attention during my Talavera visit, which you should not miss in your getaway.

Basilica del Prado in Talavera de la Reina in Toledo

Prado Basilica

The first stage of your visit could very well be the Prado Basilica, perhaps the most significant monument in the city, and which you will find at the entrance to the city by the road from Madrid, in the Prado gardens, and inside which you will see the most interesting.

Own King Philip II he called her Sistine Ceramic Chapel, which you will understand when you enter this renovated building in the 16th century, where the decoration with Talavera tiles of the XVI, XVII and XX centuries.

A essential in Talavera.

Prado Gardens in Talavera de la Reina in Toledo

Prado Gardens

Well before or after visiting the basilica you must give a walk through the Prado gardens, where you will have the best urban exponent of the importance of ceramics in Talavera.

On this walk you will see fountains and various urban furniture decorated with the typical Talavera tiles, which makes these gardens a really different corner (I don't know a similar enclave in another city or town).

A highlights the Fountain of the Frogs and the Pond Pond.

On the other side of the road you have the most modern Alameda Park, where you should not miss its two beautiful bridges decorated with tiles.

Albarranas Towers in Talavera de la Reina

Albarranas Towers

On the way to the geographic and administrative center of Talavera of the Queen, the Bread Square, you will see the Albarranas Towers.

It is the main remains that remain of the old walled enclosure of the 13th century built by Christians.

It is curious to know that in the Talavera wall There were up to 47 towers, and that the entire enclosure also had a protection barbican.

Next to them you will also see the so-called Seville gate, belonging to the aforementioned barbican and built in 1579 with bricks.

Bread Square in Talavera de la Reina

Bread Square

The Bread Square occupies the central space of the old medieval enclosure of Talavera, and its current configuration is the result of various extensions made from the sixteenth century.

This square has functioned as the main square of the town, and in it you can see remarkable corners apart from the imposing Schoolboy of Santa María la Mayor.

Specifically you can see the Renaissance building of the old Mercy Hospital, today Rafael Morales Cultural Center, a place that was once occupied by a Roman forum, as confirmed in recent excavations.

Victoria Theater in Talavera de la Reina

And I also want to highlight the facade of the building of an old public institute and that of the Victoria Theater, with its striking ceramic decoration.

Schoolboy of Santa María la Mayor

In the Plaza del Pan you will have no problem recognizing the Schoolboy of Santa María la Mayor, as I warn you, you will be surprised by the dimensions of the huge rose window on its facade.

Together with the aforementioned Prado Basilica, is the most prominent church of Talavera of the Queen.

Schoolboy Santa María la Mayor in Talavera de la Reina

With a plant of three ships, its origin goes back to a collegiate church of the year 1211, and now it is actually the church of Santa María la Mayor.

Most of the current building, in Gothic Mudejar style, is from the 14th and 15th centuries, and its great tower, from the 18th century.

It is thought that the mosque was there during the time of the Muslims.

In addition to the decoration with ceramics in one of its chapels, in your visit you will especially highlight its cloister, in which the remains of the aforementioned are preserved Fernando de Rojas.

St. Augustine's Square in Talavera de la Reina

St. Augustine's Square

From my point of view, it is the most charming square of Talavera of the Queen.

I have seen it with great animation during the celebration of a Medieval market, and completely empty on an early Sunday morning.

In these circumstances it is the place that can remind you the most that Talavera of the Queen was a medieval village, beyond its current commercial city character.

In the St. Augustine's Square is the headquarters of Ruiz de Luna Ceramics Museum, and surely the brick facade of the old church of San Agustín.

Ruiz de Luna Ceramics Museum in Talavera de la Reina

Talavera Ceramics Museum

He Ruiz de Luna Ceramics Museum It is one of the essential visits on your trip to Talavera.

You will find it in the building of the former Augustinian convent, in the St. Augustine's Square, distributed in two rooms, one of them the old church.

In this museum a wide collection is collected ceramic and tile objects collection between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries, and is the best reflection of the splendor of this industry in Talavera.

Tiled bridge in the Alameda de Talavera de la Reina park

How to get to Talavera de la Reina

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Video: Still Corners - The Trip (March 2024).