Attractions and Places To See around Talavera De La Reina - Top 20

The history of this bridge dates back to 1870, although its construction did not begin until the beginning of the last century, in 1904. Its inauguration in 1908 was a major milestone for the city, which saw its communications with the historic region of La Jara, Extremadura and Andalusia improve.

The new Talavera de la Reina cable-stayed bridge is an engineering prodigy, it is a world record in the type of cable-stayed bridges with a single mast in high-resistance prestressed concrete, with the highest inclined pylon in Europe. Its 152 stays and 192 meters make it the second highest cable-stayed bridge in Spain and the second in Europe. It is a display of national and international architecture.

It extends along the eastern bank of the Tagus River and is the second most populated municipality in the province and the fourth in Castilla-La Mancha. Among its monuments are the Basilica of Our Lady of the Prado, which houses what is today the patron saint of the city. It was called Queen of the Hermitages by Philip II, it is also called the Sistine Chapel of ceramics, because this colorful art shows here all its splendor from the 16th century to the present day. The style of its construction is a combination of Renaissance and Baroque, although it has undergone various restorations over the centuries. It was elevated to the dignity of Basilica in 1989 by Pope John Paul II. In the Church of Santa María La Mayor (La Colegial) you can admire its pure Gothic cloister, which was built around the year 1469. Its floor plan is rectangular, made up of three longitudinal naves and without a transept. In the years 1704 and 1705 the two upper sections of the Tower were added.

This bridge is not only the highest in Spain (and second in Europe) but also one of the most controversial. With a bill of 74 million euros to the public coffers and almost 30% more than cost, it is a symbol of the political irresponsibility and speculation that ran rampant in the 2000s in Spain. The ring road for which the bridge was built was completed in 2022, trying to silence the criticism that for years accused the bridge of not leading anywhere but, even so, it continues to be questioned by many if its low utility justifies the cost that it had and still has to maintain it.

San Francisco was another of the Talavera monasteries whose church is preserved, today a parish of the same name. In its place was the parish of Santa Leocadia, a 13th-century church that no longer exists. It is a church with three naves, the highest central nave, with five bodies joined by semicircular arches and a barrel vault. Outside, the factory is made of Mudejar style. It was declared a parish in 1821. Among its works of art, we must highlight the famous Via Crucis in ceramics by Francisco Arroyo. Inside the sacristy, the valuable Christ of the Agony made of ivory and almost a meter high was guarded.

The Church of El Salvador is one of the oldest parishes in the city. There is evidence of its existence since 1145. Its current coffered ceiling was built around 1570. It was a church rich in imagery from the 17th and 18th centuries. From the original church, its beautiful Mudejar-type apse is preserved. Castilians and Christians were judged in its atrium. The church ceased its activity in 1981 and, after 34 years of inactivity, reopened its doors in 2015 after a long restoration as a cultural center.

The history of this bridge dates back to 1870, although its construction did not begin until the beginning of the last century, in 1904. Its inauguration in 1908 was a milestone for the city, which saw its communications with the historic region of La Jara improve. , Extremadura and Andalusia.

The new cable-stayed bridge of Talavera de la Reina is an engineering prodigy, it is a world record in the type of cable-stayed bridges with a single high-strength prestressed concrete mast, with the highest inclined pylon in Europe.