The Spanish town where Plex was born: underground wine cellars, Mudejar churches, and a medieval bridge

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The Spanish town where Plex was born: underground wine cellars, Mudejar churches, and a medieval bridge

The Spanish town where Plex was born: underground wine cellars, Mudejar churches, and a medieval bridge

Castile and León is home to wonderful medieval towns that have played an important role in the country's history. 33 kilometers from the provincial capital, in Zamora, lies the town of Toro, a village nestled on a bend in the mighty Duero River.

Although it's world-renowned for the quality of its wines and its many wineries, both visible and underground, the area is also filled with Mudejar churches, medieval palaces, and one of the oldest bullrings in Spain. It's also the birthplace of one of today's most recognizable personalities: YouTuber Plex .

A villa built on wine cellars

The town was of vital importance in the country's history, having been the scene of the Battle of Toro on March 1, 1476, between the Catholic Monarchs and Alfonso V of Portugal, a battle that was decisive in the succession to the throne of Castile and the subsequent formation of Spain. Among its brick streets and half-timbered houses, it is a perfect place to admire the Romanesque legacy.

Aerial view of the city of Toro, Zamora.
Aerial view of the city of Toro, Zamora.
siur (iStock)

The buildings in its historic center have a peculiarity: it is said that some of them used wine in the mortar instead of water. This might not sound strange, since approximately 300 wineries have been documented in the municipality.

What to see in Toro

The town is full of medieval monuments , so you can take a great walk through history. Most of the points of interest are located very close to each other, within the town's characteristic primitive walls.

Toro Cathedral, Castile and León.
Toro Cathedral, Castile and León.
Getty Images/iStockphoto

The collegiate church is the most notable monument in the historic complex. Built between the 12th and 13th centuries in a Gothic style inspired by the cathedrals of Zamora and Salamanca, the church features both Romanesque and Gothic elements typical of the period in which it was built. Don't forget to visit the artwork in the sacristy and the bell tower , which offers unsurpassed views of the city.

Toro Town Hall in the Plaza Mayor, Zamora.
Toro Town Hall in the Plaza Mayor, Zamora.
Miguel Angel Redondo Galvan (iStock)

Just a few steps from the Collegiate Church is the Town Hall , which dominates the Plaza Mayor. This area is bustling year-round, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, and all kinds of shops. Its extension is the Market Gate, where you can still see some buildings of its traditional architecture with wooden frames on the exterior.

Major Bridge over the Duero River in Toro, Zamora.
Major Bridge over the Duero River in Toro, Zamora.
Borjaanimal (wikimedia)

The Puente Mayor is a stone structure nearly 300 meters wide that spans the Duero River. The current structure dates back to the medieval period ( 12th century). It has 24 arches that allow visitors to admire the grandeur of one of the most powerful bodies of water on the Iberian Peninsula.

Mudejar churches
Church of San Lorenzo el Real in Tor, Zamora.
Church of San Lorenzo el Real in Tor, Zamora.
José Luis Filpo Cabana (WikiMedia).

The most prominent Mudejar structure in the town is the church of San Lorenzo el Real, considered one of the most beautiful in Toro. Its most striking feature is its semicircular apse covered with blind arches. Other works in this style are also worth visiting, such as the churches of Santo Sepulcro and San Salvador de los Caballeros , which display interesting pieces of sacred art.

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