Talavera de la Reina at the Tajo is world-famous for its pottery of high quality and artistic value. We decided to stop here and take a walk, to admire the azulejos which decorate many parts of town.
The area around Talavera has been settled by Celtic tribes since ancient times. In 181 BC the place was conquered by the Romans. The Moors came in the 8th century. Traces of the siege can still be seen on the city wall. They built a fortress as well as irrigation systems and water mills. At the end of the 11th century, Alfonso VI of Castile and León conquered the city, which came under the Muslim rule of the Almoravids again in the years 1109–1113. Many parts of the city wall and gates are still visible in the city.
We were driving a little further today, to get to our starting point for a Via Verde we wanted to do tomorrow as early as possible – more on our next post!