Description: The Alcázar of Toledo is a stone fortification located at the highest part of the town. Once used as a Roman palace in the 3rd century, and later as a Moorish citadel, it was restored under Alfonso VI and Alfonso X and renovated in 1535. Under emperor Charles V, it was rebuilt once more, this time by architect Alonso de Covarrubias.
The external views of the Alcazar are imposing. The fine northern façade is in Renaissance style by the architect Alonso de Covarrubias, while a second one is Plateresque. The east façade is medieval and incorporates a large section of battlements with crenelated towers, while the severe south facade is Churrigueresque, built following the designs of Juan de Herrera. You can see these up close or from a distance. The best distant view is from across the other side of the river gorge.
During the Spanish Civil War, nationist Colonel Jose Moscardo Ituarte held the building against overwhelming Spanish Republican forces in the Siege of the Alcazar. The incident became a central piece of Spanish Nationalist lore especially the story of Moscardó's son Luis. The Republicans took Moscardó's 16-year old son Luis hostage, and demanded that the Alcázar be surrendered or they would kill him. Luis told his father "Surrender or they will shoot me," his father replied "then commend your soul to God, shout 'Viva Cristo Rey' and die like a hero."
Moscardó refused to surrender. Contemporary reports indicated that the republicans then executed Moscardó's son. Other historians have reported that Luis was not in fact shot until a month later "in reprisal for an air raid. The dramatic story also camouflages the fact that 100 left-wing hostages, including women and children, taken into the Alcázar at the beginning of the siege "were never heard of again".
By the end of the siege, the building had been severely damaged. After the war, it was rebuilt and Franco turned the building into a monument to Nationalist bravery and a local military museum.
When I visited the building was closed for renovations (apparently since 2004). The military museum from Madrid is supposed to be relocating here.
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