CIGARRAL DEL ÁNGEL

Dominating the once called Agalem Valley, gently caressed by the Tajo, is the cigarral dedicated to the Custodian Ángel, guardian of Toledo, city to which he presides and defends from the top of his watchtower at the very door of Bisagra.

The privileged situation of this Toledo enclave captivated, from the first centuries of our era, illustrious characters such as Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, Marques de Villena and Cardinal Sandoval and Rojas among others.

Its exclusive panoramic view of the Imperial city, its immediacy to the riverbank, the mildness of its summer temperatures, its colorful and lush vegetation,

They made it the perfect place for great celebrations, as well as a meeting place for poets, historians and scholars, who, under the patronage of their patrons, held gatherings and meetings for the cultivation of arts and sciences.

We are therefore facing the oldest Cigarral in Toledo, a unique and exceptional site, surrounded by a magical atmosphere, which has made it worthy of being the scene of a beautiful Toledo legend: «Gold Fishing».

Without extending further, so as not to rob visitors of the pleasure of discovering it for themselves, we welcome you to the Cigarral del Ángel.

HISTORY

Cigarral del Ángel is the oldest of the existing Toledo´s cigarrales. Its origins date back to Arab domination when, in the XIth century, on the remains of a Roman arena, the summer palace of Governor Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Aziz was built, and it was the place where he married the Infanta Mrs. Teresa de León, daughter of Bermudo II and sister of Alfonso V.

Legend has it that during the splendid banquet, gold plates and cups were thrown into the river so that skilled fishermen had a memory of the magnificence of the event.

Subsequently, it belonged to the Marquis de Villena until in the XVIth century it became the property of the Cardinal of Toledo Mr. Bernardo de Sandoval y Rojas, who, on March 4, 1611, donated part of the estate to the Capuchin Religious Order San Francisco, making it the seat of one of its most famous convents. From that moment on, the Capuchins are responsible for the protection and conservation of the convent. Its foundation was intended, among others, to be a center where to instruct future monks and overseas evangelizers.

The plans of the chapel are attributed to Juan Bautista Monegro, considered one of the leading figures of the Baroque-classical architecture of the Castilian school, finishing the works in 1633. It consists of a single nave with two lateral chapels at the height of the presbytery.

The main altar is chaired by a spectacular canvas seven meters high and four meters wide by Vicente Carducho, painter of the court of Philip III.

In the last 200 years the Cigarral del Ángel ceases to be a convent center to become an exclusive private summer residence, being one of its last owners the writer, poet and composer Fina de Calderón, who made the Cigarral a meeting place for poets and cultural activities of international relevance.

Currently, the 17th-century chapel is perfectly preserved and restored, as well as part of the Convent, several courtyards, terraces and gardens, forming an unmatched set that makes it a cigar for the celebration of weddings and events in Toledo.

2.-Ribera-del-Tajo-en-el-Cigarral-del-Ángeljpg

3.-Imágen-histórica-del-Cigarral-del-Ángel

5.-Vista-del-Casco-histórico-desde-la-casa-de-Fina-de-Calderón

A CIGARRAL OF LEGEND: «THE GOLDEN FISHING»

It was the year 1007 of our era and had as its reason the celebration of a wedding in Toledo. Right here, in this same landscape, then known as Valle de Agalem, with the same magical setting of the city of Toledo in the background, one spring afternoon, was celebrated according to the legend, the bridal bond of Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Aziz, the Moorish king of Toledo with Teresa, a Christian princess, sister of the leonese King Alfonso V.

A wedding feast of such annoying was not remembered in the city of Toledo. It was all a show of exuberant beauty and splendor. The vegetable canopy of the banks of the Tajo looked with its best flavors of aromas and colors, and the banquet, in front of the dazzled guests of the Leonine entourage that accompanied Teresa and those of the Toledo court, offered the most varied and rich repertoire of delicacies, each served in different dinnerware, the first silverware, and all the following of bright shine. To everyone’s amazement, as they were being removed from the tables, the servers threw them into the waters of the Tajo as a despicable thing. After the banquet, Abdallah, accompanied by his wife, addressed everyone present to announce that they were going to witness a wonderful show with which

also, as a sign of his love, he wanted to entertain his beloved. At that precise moment, several boats, luxuriously packed, bordered with pennants and garlands and directed by skilled rowers, furrowed the waters, and, along with the music, they took from the bottom of the river an immense treasure contained in a wide network. In it, with ingenious foresight warmed by the enraged Saracen king, all the pieces of the rich dinnerware that had been thrown into the waters by the bridal banquet servers as low-value merchandise had been collected.

It was The Golden Fishing. It was the same king who, as a wedding gift, took in his hands the most luxurious and most valuable pieces to be distributed among all his guests, who were fascinated by such unusual wonder they had broken into frantic applause, exclamations of jubilation and congratulations to the main couple of the link. The Cigarral del Ángel. A wedding estate in Toledo … with a lot of history!

One of the chroniclers of the episode ends the narration like this:

«The mantle of the night began to cover the broad bottom of the sky, and the mists rose from the river, wrapping everything in its clouds.»

Pilgrimage of

Sto. Guardian Ángel

The pilgrimages in Toledo are a tradition that is transmitted through generations of brothers and sisters, which, in the case of Cigarral del Ángel, allows this magnificent place to be open to the public for the enjoyment of Toledo´s people and visitors.

The celebrations begin on Saturday afternoon with a mass in honor of the deceased brothers, and the tasting of the water of the Holy Spring. Sunday morning is the time for the traditional mass, after which the bread threads of the Saint that the attendees will receive along with lemonade are blessed. Also, visitors have fun with traditional Toledo´s games like quinolas with ceramic figures

It is at the end of the afternoon when the brothers take out the image of the Ángel in procession, beginning and ending in the Chapel and touring all the facilities of the Cigarral, through groves and floral walks, patios of Arab origin and fountains … One of the most emotive takes place at the end of the act, in which the people dance to the Ángel to the sound of the national anthem while the faithful throw rose petals.

Telephone attention from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 925 25 67 45 / 683 66 62 00

Atención telefónica de 9 a 15h. 925 25 67 45 / 683 66 62 00

Atención Personalizada:
683 666 200 – 925 256 745
info@cigarraldelangel.com

CIGARRAL DEL ÁNGEL – RESTAURANTE – BODAS – EVENTOS

CIGARRAL DEL ÁNGEL

HISTORY

A CIGARRAL OF LEGEND: «THE GOLDEN FISHING»

Pilgrimage of

Sto. Guardian Ángel

CONTACT US

CONTACTA CON NOSOTROS