The Roman City

The Romans in Toledo had a number of buildings for their entertainment. The most important of these were put up early in the occupation. The circus is remarkable because it is one of the best preserved examples of those built in Roman Spain and it is the only 1^st century circus to survive largely unaltered. Recent investigations suggest that it formed a complex with the theatre. It is 423 metres long by 101 metres wide and runs northeast to southwest, the hemicycle or semicircular structure being at the northeast end. The starting gates with twelve carceres or stalls were at the opposite end, close to which was built the basilica of St Leocadia, on which site the Minim or St Bartholomew’s convent was founded in the 16^th century. Built in the high imperial period, the circus was still in use until the end of the 4^th century or start of the 5^th, after which, like many classical buildings, its stone was taken for the construction of new buildings. Later however, it became a refuge and shelter, then a pottery-making centre and, notably, in the 10^th and 11^th centuries, a maqbara or mausoleum.

As well as public buildings, there were quite a number of villas which provided leisure facilities. The most significant of these was discovered on the site of the Arms Factory at the start of the 20^th century when industrial workshops were being put up in the area. A salon and an octagonal based fountain were uncovered here, both decorated with mosaics.