After eight o’clock in the afternoonand with Zocodover square full of people, the mayor of Toledo, Carlos Velázquezpressed the button to turn on the Christmas lights, made this year by a Toledo company that installed more than a million new lights throughout the city.
Before the lighting, the square was filled with people for first listen to the most famous Christmas carols of these dates performed by students of “Diego Ortiz” Municipal School. Once the performance was over, and to the surprise of the audience, the large ball placed in the center of the square was lit. This year, in addition, with many other newssince it integrates playing various images and Christmas details. And of course with music with the most typical and well-known sounds of these dates.
Furthermore, at the time of lighting, a tribute was paid to the victims of the terrible DANA which caused incalculable damage to Valencia, so at that time several verses of the Valencian anthem soundedwhich was greatly applauded by all the participants present in the central square of Zocodover.
Special routes
Once the Christmas program was inaugurated, the town hall announced mobility rules, as has happened in recent years. Thus, the The local police have established a special route guarantee road safety in the historic center of the city during the Christmas holidays, when a greater influx of people is expected.
The route aims to facilitate the pedestrian flow in certain streets of the city, particularly on days of greatest public attendance, which is why it was planned to arrange the busiest road axis in the city in one direction, as has been done in previous years, which makes it possible to relieve the flow of traffic and public crossings.
Said pedestrian axis is that included between the squares Zocodover and the Town Hall, made up of Comercio and Hombre de Palo streets, The latter being the one which supports the greatest influx of public, due to its narrowness, which is annoying due to the obstruction of the walk.
For all these reasons, over the next few days, a one-way street will be established for pedestrians. on Hombre de Palo Street, consisting of the one-way pedestrian walk from Zocodover and Comercio Street towards Plaza del Ayuntamiento; This measure will be warned and signposted, informing pedestrians of the recommended route for the return.
The recommended route starts from the Plaza de Zocodover and follows a natural route through Comercio and Hombre de Palo streets, reaching the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. From there, the indication and recommendation is to return via Cardenal Cisneros, Sixto Ramón Parro, Plaza Mayor and Tornerías streets; From there, any street is optional, either to exit again towards Comercio, through Martín Gamero or Solarejo, or to reach Plaza de Zocodover through Plaza de la Magdalena and Barrio Rey. Likewise, it is also advisable to avoid Comercio Street in the opposite direction during times of maximum public attendance.
The effective application of the said circuit will be established on the busiest days, from today until January 6, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., or when circumstances require it.