How to visit the Cristo de la Luz Mosque (Toledo): history, schedules, prices

The cultural confluence that you can see in Toledo, historic city that you can visit near Madrid, has one of its greatest expressions in the Mosque of Christ of Light.

Indeed, I am referring to a temple of Islamic origin, and its name is clearly Christian.

And that is one of the main characteristics of this old mosque, which has possibly survived to this day because it was transformed into a Christian church in the 12th century.

La Mosque of Cristo de la Luz is, together with the Mosque of Cordoba, the oldest preserved in Spain.

In the same city of Toledo There is another mosque from the second half of the 11th century, and it has a similar structure: it is the Tornerías Mosque, a fusion of Roman, Visigoth and Muslim cultures, which currently cannot be visited.

From the inscription seen at its entrance, it is known that the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz dates back to December year 999 .

What to see when visiting the Cristo de la Luz mosque in Toledo

The small building is located next to the Bib Al Mardon Gate, which is considered to be the oldest in the city.

This door located to the north of what is now inner wall of Toledo, was the main entrance to the city.

In this regard I recommend that in your visit of Toledo Organize your route so that you enter through this door, after passing the first door of the Christian outer wall, the one known as door hinge.

Where to see the Roman road in Toledo

The Bib Al Mardon Gate you come across the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz, but look first at the section of stone road that precedes it, since you find yourself before a ancient Roman road from the 1st century AD

These archaeological remains were not brought to light until the last and very recent remodeling of the monument of muslim originIn the year 2006.

The building externally maintains the aesthetics of a islamic temple, with a square interior, and nine vaults distributed in three naves.

But when you enter the interior of the mosque, in the background you see the christian apse which was built in the year 1190, after the reconquest of Toledo.

The apse of what became church of Christ of the Light, have a Toledo Mudejar architectural style, which mixes brick construction with horseshoe arches with Muslim ornamentation.

As a curiosity, the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz It was rediscovered at the end of the 19th century, since at that time it was surrounded by buildings and the façade was hidden.

After the remodeling carried out at the beginning of the 20th century, the mosque building could now be seen.

Likewise, more recently, the gardens surrounding the building of the old mosque have been restored, with characteristics typical of Arab gardens, and a viewpoint has been enabled from which you have very good panoramic views of this northern area of ​​the city of Todelo.

Cristo de la Luz mosque schedules in Toledo

The Visiting hours of the Cristo de la Luz mosque in Toledo They are, every day of the week, from March 1 to October 15, from 10 a.m. to 18,45:10 p.m., and the rest of the year, from 17,45 a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.

Of course, keep in mind that from Monday to Friday it closes between 14 and 15,30:XNUMX p.m.

Cristo de la Luz mosque ticket prices

El price of admission to visit the old mosque is 3 euros, with free pass for children under 11 years old.

Guided tour of the Cristo de la Luz Mosque

To visit this ancient mosque with the company of a specialized guide, you have the option of signing up for the tour Toledo three cultures.

In this guided tour in Spanish With a duration of two hours, said guide will accompany you on a visit to three key monuments of the city.

In particular, the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz, Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca and church of Santo Tomé, in which you will see the famous painting of El Greek, The Burial of the Lord of Orgaz.

Another alternative is to sign up for a full-day Spanish tour of Toledo from Madrid with a duration of eight hours in which you can visit the main monuments of the historic city of the three cultures, including the old mosque.