Quotes of the Day

The ancient Chinese invented it, medieval Arabs adapted it and modern Germans made it a winter staple. But the world's finest marzipan — that oh-so-sweet confection of sugar and almond paste — is made by the cloistered nuns of holy Toledo, Spain. The city, once capital of much of the Iberian peninsula, has several other tourist draws: one of the world's finest Gothic cathedrals, exquisite gold-inlaid damascene jewelry and magnificent swords. But the Spanish themselves say no Christmas celebration is complete without the nun-made sweets.

The best stuff is produced by nuns of the convent of Santo Domingo el Antiguo. The Cistercian sisters use very little artificial coloring and not a whole lot of sugar, so their marzipan is usually a dull off-white, but delightfully light. Buy a $5 box and grab a coffee from one of the cafés near Plaza Zocodover, then board the Tren Imperial (a toy train on wheels) for a scenic ride around the city. It's a feast for the stomach, the eyes and the soul.

• BOBBY GHOSH
• Nun-made marzipan heads the list of this former capital's attractions