University of Toledo - Blockhouse Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

Page 27 text:

Plaza cle Zocodover HE Plaza ol' Zocodover is the center ol' life in Toledo. On one side of this square, sur- rounded by ancient buildings and a series ol arches and columns, one observes a picturesque scene, s s The Bloody Arch. This Moorish arch of simple but beautiful type, with what one sees behind it, truly form a picture worthy of contemplation, especially in the moonlight. This square is an historical one, where, in the course of time, all the languages of Europe have been spoken, and where during the most flourishing period, as on the streets, all the products of the Orient and Occident were displayed. Z , -g .JA W Zotodover Square, liueki:roui1di'I'l1e Alcazar. Toledo, Spain Street ol Santa lsahel. Baekuround Y Tower of the Cathedral. Toledo, Spain

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Streets of Toledo, Spain HE absence of traffic in the maze of narrow wind- ing streets creates a silence uncommon in a city of 26,500 inhabitants. These narrow, almost ima passable streets were in ancient times of more pleasant aspect and very picturesque. The abundance of awnings, and the variety of colorful curtains hanging from the double arched windows gave these streets a very beautiful and gay appearance. On these streets met merchants of the Occident and Orient. Rich cloths, pearls from the Orient, coral from Barbary, jewels from Venice, amber and myrrh from Asia Minor, rugs from Persia, etc., were sold here. Madison Avenue, luletlu, Ohio

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regutinnSlini1icr Iimiumin AlL'NKl?'lTT'Cl11DlC, Toledo, Ohio Santa Maria la Blanca, Toledo, Spain N the eastern section of the City the jews had a large colony and their famous Synagogue, Santa Maria la Blanca. Later, this Synagogue was trans- formed into a mosque, and then taken and conscf crated by the Christians. Since there is little in architecture which is purely Hebrew, the Synagogue is of Arabic architecture. Built about the Xl cena tury, they took the ancient basilicas as model to build the interior of the Synagogue. There is little of interest about the exterior, with the exception of the patio where one finds the pools for the abluf tion ceremony used by the early worshipers. Contemplating the magnificent naves of its interior and thc twentyfcight arches, which, in form of a horse shoe, rest on thirtyftwo columns with mosaic and capitals, one has the impression as Gautier said, of finding oneself really in the Orient. Someone else remarked that the interior of this Synagogue is more beautiful and more delicate than the Roman edifices. EI Transito HIS is another synagogue which is a sample of the Opulence of the Israelites in Toledo and of the luxury of the XIV Century. This Synagogue, built by a jew, Samuel Levi, Treasurer of King Don Pedro the Cruel, does not resemble in any way