Plaza de Zocodover (Zocodover Square), Toledo
"Zocodover" is derived from the Arabic "suq adawabb," meaning "Market of load-carrying animals." It was an animal market. At times it was a bull ring. It was always a venue for traditional festivals and occasionally a place for "cucanas." This last event featured throwing pinatas (decorated vessels) of sweets and dead rats. The winners got the rats.
Zocodover Square has been the town's nerve center since the Middle Ages. Besides local parties, the square has harbored the dreadful "autos-da-fe" (burning of a heretic) of the Inquisition and public executions. These days, Zocodover Square serves as a popular place of meeting for locals and the thousands of tourists who gather here each year.
The rocky terrain of Toledo is crisscrossed with narrow, steep, twisted streets and byways centering on Zocodover Square. The square is very lively. There is no dearth of bars, restaurants, and shops. It has been designated a weekly market for hundreds of years. The market opens on Tuesdays at the Merchan's Promenade (Paseo de Merchan) or Vega Park (Parque de la Vega), called by locals.
Zocodover Square has been the town's nerve center since the Middle Ages. Besides local parties, the square has harbored the dreadful "autos-da-fe" (burning of a heretic) of the Inquisition and public executions. These days, Zocodover Square serves as a popular place of meeting for locals and the thousands of tourists who gather here each year.
The rocky terrain of Toledo is crisscrossed with narrow, steep, twisted streets and byways centering on Zocodover Square. The square is very lively. There is no dearth of bars, restaurants, and shops. It has been designated a weekly market for hundreds of years. The market opens on Tuesdays at the Merchan's Promenade (Paseo de Merchan) or Vega Park (Parque de la Vega), called by locals.
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Plaza de Zocodover (Zocodover Square) on Map
Sight Name: Plaza de Zocodover (Zocodover Square)
Sight Location: Toledo, Spain (See walking tours in Toledo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Toledo, Spain (See walking tours in Toledo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Toledo, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Toledo
Creating your own self-guided walk in Toledo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Toledo's Ancient Walls, Gates and Bridges
Other than its signature “Toledo steel”, the Spanish city of Toledo is known for its historic architecture, particularly the ancient mammoth fortifications – a testament to the strength of the city that has maintained its borders for well over a thousand years.
Toledo's soaring walls were first built by the Romans in the 3rd century AD and then further expanded, over the following... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Toledo's soaring walls were first built by the Romans in the 3rd century AD and then further expanded, over the following... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Toledo Introduction Walking Tour
Located on the banks of the Tagus River in Spain, Toledo is called the "City of the Three Cultures." The cultures would be Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. They didn't always get along, but each has left its mark. Romans visited the area as early as 193 BC. Roman historian Livy referred to the city as "a small city, but fortified by location."
In 546, the early... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
In 546, the early... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
El Greco's Masterpieces
Domnnikos Theotokopoulos, most widely known as El Greco or "The Greek," was a Greek painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. El Greco was well ahead of his time. His dramatic and expressionistic style is regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism of the 20th century.
El Greco was born in Crete, Greece, and studied painting in Italy. In 1577, he... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
El Greco was born in Crete, Greece, and studied painting in Italy. In 1577, he... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles