The Free Tour of the Inquisition and Witchcraft in Toledo

The Inquisition and witchcraft in Toledo represent a dark period in the city's history, marked by persecution, fear and superstition. If you want to know what happened to the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in Toledo, this is your tour!

Toledo was an important religious and cultural centre during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, which began in the 15th century and continued into the 19th century. The Inquisition was an ecclesiastical court established by the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, to persecute and eradicate heresy and other practices considered contrary to the Catholic faith. In Toledo, the Inquisition exercised strong control over the population and carried out public trials and executions in places such as the Plaza de Zocodover. Witchcraft, considered a form of heresy, was also persecuted by the Inquisition in Toledo.

“The legends and folklore of Toledo are full of stories about witches and sorcerers who met in secret places,” although many of these stories may be exaggerated or fictional, they reflect the climate of fear and superstition that prevailed in the city during the time of the Inquisition. Today, historic sites such as Calle de la Espadería and religious buildings such as the Toledo Cathedral or the Alcázar serve as a reminder of this turbulent period in the city’s history and offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the Inquisition and witchcraft in Toledo.

We will begin our route in Plaza de Zocodover, where most of the autos-da-fe in this city were held. We will pass by the old San Vicente Church, where we will talk about the end of the Inquisition in Spain and some of the stories of the most famous prisoners of the Inquisition in this city. Then we will continue the tour passing by the Church of the Jesuits and San Pedro Mártir, where the first auto-da-fe took place in the 15th century with more than 700 people. And before starting the way back to the meeting point, we will also pass by the Posada de la Hermandad, where we will talk about the prisons, punishments and torture methods used by the Holy Inquisition.