2 Euro BU

Toledo is situated on a hill above the Tajo and was a political and religious centre of the Iberian Peninsula in various periods. Under the Visigoths, the city served as a seat of power; after the Islamic conquest, it became part of al-Andalus. In 1085, King Alfons VI of León and Castile captured Toledo. Later, the city was at times a residence of the Castilian court and was closely associated with the rule of Karls V. The historic cityscape therefore brings together Roman, Visigothic, Islamic, Jewish and Christian traces. The Old Town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986.

The term Mudéjar refers to an architectural and artistic tradition that developed in the Christian-ruled areas of Spain. It adopted forms and techniques of Islamic architecture, including horseshoe arches, brickwork, geometric decoration, wooden ceilings and ornamental stucco. Muslim craftsmen who lived under new rule after the Christian conquest also contributed to it. Toledo is one of the places where this combination of different building traditions is particularly clearly recognisable.

The Puerta del Sol is a fortified city gate within Toledo’s historic walls. Its passageways, towers and battlements served both defensive and representative purposes. Its present name derives from a sun symbol that was later affixed to the gate.

The synagogue was built at the instigation of Samuel ha-Levi, a high-ranking official at the court of King Peters I of Castile. Its richly decorated prayer hall reflects the Jewish community of Toledo at the time and, at the same time, the cultural exchange in medieval Castile. After the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, the building was used by Christians. Today, it houses the Sephardic Museum.

The issue forms part of a Spanish coin series that has presented UNESCO World Heritage sites in the country since 2010. Toledo was therefore selected not because of a single anniversary, but as another part of this ongoing series.