Ricardo is a very nice man and loves his town of Toledo. Although we are not super knowledgeable in history or art we were surprised at how little information he provided on both subjects and that some of the info was actually wrong. Also he kept repeating that we should “not be afraid” when we looked at graves or relics in the church- don’t know why. In general his presentation consisted of “this is very nice” over and over again without providing any sort of background. I am really sorry that I am not writing a good review but I expected a lot more for the $225 we paid.
I’m in shock. Ms. Julie, are you telling me not to talk to them about history or art? We spent nearly three and a half hours together. You say I got some historical facts wrong—could you please tell me which ones? I gave them a comprehensive tour starting at Zocodover Square; we saw Calle de la Plata, and I introduced them to the city's history—covering the Iberians, Romans, Visigoths, Jews, and Muslims—and shared my view that the "Three Cultures" concept is one of the city's greatest ideas. We visited the Museum of Visigothic Councils, a unique space where, in a single glance, you can see Roman, Visigothic, Muslim, Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance art.I’m in shock. Ms. Julie, are you telling me not to talk to them about history or art? We spent nearly three and a half hours together. You say I got some historical facts wrong—could you please tell me which ones? I gave them a comprehensive tour starting at Zocodover Square; we saw Calle de la Plata, and I introduced them to the city's history—covering the Iberians, Romans, Visigoths, Jews, and Muslims—and shared my view that the "Three Cultures" concept is one of the city's greatest ideas. We visited the Museum of Visigothic Councils, a unique space where, in a single glance, you can see Roman, Visigothic, Muslim, Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance art. Afterward, we visited the Jesuit church, where I explained the legacy and history of the Jesuits—not only in Spain but also in the Americas and Asia—as well as the Spanish Baroque style; we also viewed a reliquary. Next, we went to see the Roman archaeological remains of the 1st-century baths, and I introduced them to the Roman world and its legacy in the city. We then proceeded to the main square, where I recounted how Toledo had served as the royal court before the capital was moved to Madrid in 1561 to separate political power from religious power. We visited the Town Hall and the cathedral—exploring its interior in full detail. I spoke about the Gothic style and how the foundation stone was laid in 1226—800 years ago—discussing the building's construction, style, and history. We visited the high altar and the choir (along with its history), and viewed the Monstrance and the elements related to the Corpus Christi celebration. We saw the sacristy and the works by El Greco; I spoke about the life and work of Domenikos Theotokopoulos, and we viewed paintings by Titian, Raphael, and Caravaggio. We visited the Chapel of the Kings, where I spoke about Henry II, Henry III, and his wife Catherine of Lancaster. We saw the Bibles of Saint Louis and the various chapels belonging to nobles and cardinals—exploring the entire cathedral. From the cathedral, we went to see a mosque; I explained its construction and style, and we visited the archaeological remains, going down into the basement to see the site in its entirety. Afterward, we viewed El Greco’s painting *The Burial of the Count of Orgaz* and discussed the artwork. Then, we visited the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, where I spoke about the history and legacy of the Jewish people in Spain and Europe—as well as their current presence in Spain. We also visited some archaeological remains—10th-century Jewish baths—that are closed to the public; I have access to them through an agreement with the city council. I explained the evolution and history of the baths before leaving the group at the restaurant. Is this not talking about history? My issue is that I talk a great deal about history and art, drawing on my studies at the University of Toledo—which we visited during the tour. At the end, they told me I had given an excellent tour and even gave me a tip. Why would they tip me if they hadn't liked it? My apologies but From my point of view we visited many many monuments inside talking about history, art, tradicion etc
