Toledo is an ancient city set on a hill above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain. The capital of the region, it’s known for the medieval Arab, Jewish and Christian monuments in its walled old city. It was also the former home of Mannerist painter El Greco. The Moorish Bisagra Gate and the Sol Gate, in Mudéjar style, open into the old quarter, where the Plaza de Zocodover is a lively meeting place and we are lucky enough to be staying just off this Plaza.

We arrived on Thursday afternoon, 31st May, which is the feast of Corpus Christi this year. Corpus Christi is Toledo’s oldest and most important festival. Although its exact date of origin is unknown, it is recorded as having been celebrated in the 15th century. This solemn religious procession is celebrated on the day of the Corpus Christi and presided by the Archbishop of Toledo, cardinal primate of Spain. The city’s historic streets are specially decorated for this festival and provide the backdrop for this striking procession. The highlights are the Monstrance, a priceless work of craftsmanship in gold and silver dating from 1515 and weighing about 160 kilos; and the distinctive and traditional retinue of followers made up of the different religious fraternities and guilds. The Monstrance is normally housed in the “treasury” of the Cathedral, but unfortunately we didn’t see it this time as it was out and about for the Procession.

Five weeks before the religious procession, the route is decorated with awnings, wreaths and lanterns. The day before the feast of Corpus Christi, walls, windows and balconies are adorned with antique pennants and tapestries from the 16th and 17th century, and the ground is strewn with aromatic herbs whose scent pervades the festive atmosphere of the following days. The procession begins at midday: the bells of Toledo begin to peal, and the first to appear is a group of giants representing the different continents – these were all back at the Town Hall on the balconies by the time we arrived.

Then the procession itself leaves the cathedral, bearing the Monstrance and accompanied by the religious guilds in order of antiquity.

We arrived in the city at around 3pm and the Procession was well over, however, the atmosphere in the town was incredible, as well as the aroma of all the herbs around all the streets. The city was buzzing until the early hours of the morning with families out taking in the atmosphere. We felt so safe strolling around the place and it was lovely to see young children running around playing so late and everyone having a good time and all stone cold sober!!

The following photos will hopefully give you all a feel for the decorations of the streets, the awnings, the antique pennants and tapestries.