The best city hikes and walks in Toledo

The Muela Castle: A millennial fortress that dominates the landscape and was the scene of important historical episodes, such as the Battle of Consuegra in 1097. Location: It stands on the Calderico Hill in the town of Consuegra, Toledo, next to its famous windmills. Origin: Its initial construction dates back to the 10th century (Caliphate period), ordered to be built by Almanzor. Evolution: It was later expanded and modified by the knights of the Order of Saint John.

The Windmills: Twelve 16th-century structures lined up on the crest of the hill. Each bears a name related to the work of Miguel de Cervantes, such as Sancho (whose 15th-century mechanism remains intact) or Bolero (which serves as a tourist office)

The windmills accompany the Muela castle, on top of the Calderico hill; recognizable or visible on the horizon of the La Mancha plain, whether you come from Madridejos, Urda or Mora.

El Cerro Calderico is the great icon of Consuegra, with the Muela castle and its windmills on its summit.

In June 2026, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, undertook a pastoral journey to Spain and, in his address, naturally referred to the national patron saint SANTIAGO MAJOR. He spoke of: “a journey in several stages, each revealing an aspect of the richness of a great country that has embraced the word of the Gospel for almost two millennia. Tradition has always associated the first evangelization of the Iberian Peninsula with the preaching of the Apostle James the Greater. This connection is of considerable theological significance, as it expresses the local Church’s awareness of being in continuity with the apostolic mission stemming from the event of Pentecost. The ancient connection between the Christian faith and this land… has profoundly shaped its culture and represents a source of hope and guidance amidst the challenges we face together today as a human family.”

That a place on the Iberian Peninsula is listed among the three most famous pilgrimage destinations in the Christian world – along with Jerusalem and Rome – is thanks to one of Jesus' apostles, who is said to have preached here. After his martyrdom, about which the Acts of the Apostles report very briefly, his body miraculously found its final resting place here: Saint James the Greater. A small local shrine was initially built over his tomb, later a city developed, which even bears his name (Santiago de Compostela), and the church in his honor became a cathedral, i.e. a bishop's church. According to national legends, Saint James also played a significant role in the Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors and is the patron saint of Spain.

Built in 999, this church was first a mosque and later converted into a Christian temple after the Reconquista. The main facade is made of unplastered brick and features three doorways. One has a semicircular arch, another a horseshoe arch, and the third a five-lobed arch. Above these runs a frieze of interlaced horseshoe arches, a network of lozenges, and the founding inscription. You can visit the monument from Monday to Sunday during the following hours: Summer Hours March 1 to October 15 10:00 AM – 6:45 PM Winter Hours October 16 to February 28 10:00 AM – 5:45 PM Prices vary, and there is also the option to purchase a tourist bracelet that includes other monuments, thus reducing the price.

It is located on Corredera del Cristo Street, near the Plaza del Reloj (Clock Square), in the old town of Talavera de la Reina, Toledo. It is visible from the street, and it is common for passersby to cross themselves as they pass by, continuing a deeply rooted popular tradition.