Back in the days of the Moorish conquest, many of Spain’s major towns and cities were fortified behind walls in order to protect them from the invaders. Fast-forward several centuries and few of the walls remain aside from remnants. However, Toledo — a Visigoth capital and once the capital of the powerful Spanish Empire before they moved it to its current location in Madrid — managed to preserve virtually all of its walls. For whatever reason, tourists tend to overlook Toledo. Perhaps because they associate it with the super boring town of Toledo, Ohio? More likely it is simply overshadowed by the aforementioned Madrid, along with Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville. Toledo is unique in that it maintains characteristics of its Islamic, Jewish and Christian pasts and present.
6. York, England
No article about medieval walled cities would be complete without mentioning England! Although the country has plenty of towns and cities with some vestiges of their walls and ramparts dating back to the days of the Roman Empire, York has them all beat. The walls here date from the 12th through 14th century and were effective in fighting off those dreaded Vikings! In total, you’ll find 34 watchtowers, four extremely impressive gates, and in total 2.5 miles worth of wall. It’s also impossible to enjoy the town without a visit to York Minster!
Do you love walled towns and cities as much as we do? Have you visited any of these six? Do you have any recommendations yourself?
