And here I go again , finding treasures in my vault of pictures that have not told you about it and I should. These are wonderful memorable moments of my family travels, and that is the essence of my blog. Therefore, without further due , let me tell you about a hospital and castle in Toledo !!!
The Hospital Provincial of Toledo is located at the Subida Castillo San Servando near the castle, see below, The Provincial Hospital serves the Toledo Psychiatry field of action, being an agency dependent on the Toledo Provincial Council. Therefore, not something you come to see, but an off the beaten path wonderful architecture and history to merit a passedby , me think, The Hospital Provincial was created in 1931 and opened January 20 1933, It covers an area of more than 3,000 m2 of gardens and 4,000 m2 of green areas.
A bit of history I like tell us that its foundation is prior to 1445, although this date is considered as the beginning of its journey since it is from this moment when it gains new impetus, Regarding its character as a general hospital, the Hospital de la Misericordia or Mercy Hospital , since its foundation, was destined to cure to ‘poor sick and wounded’; those carriers of contagious and chronic diseases are excepted. Later, from 1847, all kinds of diseases are treated, except syphilis and childbirth. Finally, when the Hospital becomes dependent on the Diputación de Toledo or province in 1860, any patient is accepted in it with no other limitation than their poverty.
In addition, the Hospital de la Misericordia is the only existing general public hospital for health care in Toledo and its province from the time the Charity was organized until the Social Security was created and the Sanitary Residence was inaugurated. The Hospital de la Misericordia was born as a charitable-welfare institution during the first third of the 15C in the city of Toledo, having its first manifestations in the charitable practice exercised by a community of brothers without being able to specify the exact date of its beginning. The first time it is mentioned in the preserved documentation is in 1429, when a donation of a vineyard located in the Toledo area,to the brothers of the Hospital of Señora Santa María de la Misericordia (old full name) . Its foundation is attributed to an important donation in 1455 thus giving support and definitive consistency to the establishment. Governed jointly by the cathedral chapter and a secular brotherhood, it became one of the best-endowed charity centers and one of the most important. After the confiscation laws of the first half of the 19C (sep State and Church) , it came to depend on the Charity Boards created for this purpose, first of the Municipal, in 1840, later of the Provincial, in 1860, being governed by the latter until 1868, date in which, by Royal Decree of December 17, said Boards were abolished, entrusting the government and administration of charitable foundations at the provincial level to the Provincial Councils. Today it is known as the Hospital Provincial.
The health section of the Castilla La Mancha region on the hospital provincial: https://sanidad.castillalamancha.es/ciudadanos/centros/hospital-provincial#zoom=15&lat=39.8613&lon=-4.01331&layers=BT
The castle of San Servando is located next to the banks of the Tagus river. Its construction as a monastery began in 1024, in the time of Alfonso VI. In 1088 it became a fortress due to the threat from the Christian kingdom and the possible entry of Muslims through the Alcántara bridge. In 1147 , the castle was taken back from the hands of the Moors. With the total expulsion of the Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula, the fortress gradually lost its defense function, being relegated to oblivion.
A bit of history I like tell us that its reconstruction is documented around March 11, 1088, with the reconquest of the city by Alfonso VI, giving the name of the fortress to San Servando and San Germán, in gratitude to these saints because in the Battle of Sagrajas on March 23 October 1086, the feast of these martyrs, before the Almoravid troops of Yúsuf ibn Tasufín, he miraculously escaped in a desperate flight due to the defeat suffered. This name would be due to a nearby monastery (where the Provincial Hospital is today see above)), granted to the Benedictines in 1095 and to which monks from the abbey of Saint Victor in Marseille would arrive, who, due to the pressure exerted by the Muslims, would abandon it in 1110.
Faced with the threat of an auction and that the end of the castle would be its total demolition for the sale of the materials, the Provincial Monuments Commission, supported by the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, obtained its declaration as a national monument on 08/26/ 1874, being the first castle in Spain to receive this distinction, After small restoration interventions in 1911 and 1920, and in 1945 with a complete restoration undertaken with the aim of housing a minor school, which was inaugurated in 1958. Although the appearance and exterior perimeter were respected, inside, which was not preserved nothing original, a series of rooms were built in a too modern style, which is what is currently preserved as a hostel belonging to the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha.
In the 21C, the castle of San Servando was completely restored and, after successively serving as a minor school, seat of the Cortes de Castilla-La Mancha (parliament) and a university residence, it now serves as a hostel and a venue for courses and conferences. From the castle you can see a panoramic view of the city of Toledo and the Tagus, the river that borders it, in what was the medieval citadel.
The Castilla La Mancha region cultural heritage on the castle: https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/catalogo-patrimonio-cultural/castillo-de-san-servando-de-toledo
There you go folks, something off the beaten path in glorious Toledo, a city must to visit while in Spain at least. These buildings are part of its history with great architecture and we were glad to walked by them. Hope you enjoy the post on the hospital and castle in Toledo as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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