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Castle · Toledo, Castela-Mancha
Alcázar de Toledo
Square fortress at the highest point of the city, with four corner towers. Renovated by Carlos V and Felipe II, it now houses the Museo del Ejército and the Biblioteca de Castilla-La Mancha.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Alcázar de Toledo
The site was occupied by a Roman palace in the 3rd century and later by the Visigothic kings. The Muslims erected a fortress there, which Alfonso VI and his successors expanded after the Christian conquest of 1085. Alfonso X ordered the construction of the four square corner towers.
In 1535, Carlos V commissioned the renovation that gave the building its current form: a block roughly 60 metres per side around a courtyard with two tiers of arches. Alonso de Covarrubias made the north façade, and Juan de Herrera the south façade. In July 1528, Carlos V received Hernán Cortés there, returning from Mexico.
The Alcázar caught fire in 1710 and in 1810 and was almost entirely rebuilt between 1939 and 1957, after the siege it suffered in the Spanish Civil War. Today it is the seat of the Museo del Ejército, which occupies the Alcázar and a new building beside it, where the entrance is.
The museum tells the military history of Spain with weapons, uniforms, flags, artillery and models. In the basement are archaeological remains of the Roman and medieval constructions. The same complex also houses the Biblioteca de Castilla-La Mancha.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours for the museum. Just the exterior and the archaeological remains, about half an hour.
Best time
From Tuesday to Sunday. The Museo del Ejército is closed on Mondays, with few exceptions during the year, and on some dates in January, May and December. Check before you go.
How to get there
It is a few steps from the Plaza de Zocodover, up the Cuesta de Carlos V. The museum entrance is on Calle de la Paz, in the new building next to the Alcázar.
Tip
The museum is large: choose the rooms that interest you before going in. The Alcázar can also be seen from outside from various points in the city, and from the opposite bank of the Tejo, near the Puente de Alcántara, the entire east façade is visible.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Alcázar de Toledo
What is housed in the Alcázar of Toledo today?
The Museo del Ejército, the museum of the Spanish Army, and the Library of Castilla-La Mancha.
Is the Museo del Ejército open every day?
No. It is closed on Mondays, except on some dates announced by the museum itself, and also on January 1 and 6, May 1, and December 24, 25 and 31.
Is the building you see today old?
The current form dates from the reform under Charles V, from 1535 onward, but most of it was rebuilt between 1939 and 1957 after the damage sustained in the Civil War.
Is it worth it for someone who doesn't like military history?
The building and the exterior view are worth the stop. The museum is more interesting to those who like weapons, uniforms and military history; if you're short on time you can prioritize the cathedral and the Jewish quarter.