Jewish Cordoba

At the heart of the Jewish quarter of Cordoba, opening at the end of the Jewish Street is Maimónides Square. For centuries, the name of Maimónides Square has been changing. In times of yore, Maimónides Square was known as the Armentas, Arcediano and Bulas square. Around the square, there are many ancestral houses, such as the Renaissance house of Bulas, where the Córdoba Bullfighting Museum is currently situated. At the opposite end of the square, at the corner with Tomás Conde street, another noble building of note: the house of the Counts of Hornachuelos.

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Cordoba Synagogue

The Córdoba synagogue is a historic edifice in the Jewish Quarter of Córdoba, Spain, built in 1315. The synagogue's small size points to it having possibly been the private synagogue of a wealthy man. It is also possible that Córdoba's complex of buildings was a yeshivah, kollel, or study hall. Another possibility is that this was the synagogue of a trade guild, which converted a residence or one of the work rooms into the synagogue. The synagogue was decorated according to the best Mudejar tradition. After the expulsion of the Jews in 1492, the synagogue was seized by the authorities and converted into a hospital for people suffering from rabies (hydrophobia), the Hospital Santo Quiteria. In 1588, the building was acquired by the shoemakers guild, who used it as a community center and small chapel, changing the patron saint of the building to Santos Crispin-Crispian, the patron saint of shoemakers. It was declared a National Monument in 1885. Since then it has undergone several phases of the restoration including that of Felix Hernandez in 1929. In 1935, the Spanish authorities marked the eight-hundredth anniversary of Maimonides' birth by changing the name of the square in which the synagogue is located to Tiberias Square, honoring the great native-born philosopher, who is buried in Tiberias. At this celebration the first Jewish prayer service in 443 years to occur openly and with full knowledge of the authorities was held at the synagogue. Another restoration was begun in 1977 for the reopening of the building in 1985 to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Maimonides birth. It is the only synagogue in Córdoba to escape destruction during years of persecution. Although clearly no longer functioning as a house of worship, it is open to the public.

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Cordoba Jewish Quarter

The Judería de Córdoba, also known as the Jewish Quarter of Córdoba, is the area of the Spanish city of Córdoba in which the Jews lived between the 10th and 15th centuries. It is located in the Historic centre of Córdoba, northeast of the Mezquita Catedral (the Mosque-Cathedral), in the area of the following streets: Deanes, Manríquez, Tomás Conde, Judíos, Almanzor and Romero. It is one of the most visited areas by tourists given that, besides the Mosque, you can see monuments such as the Sinagoga (Synagogue), the Zoco Municipal (Zoco Municipal Market) or the Museo Taurino (Bull-fighting Museum), among others. It is part of the historic centre of Córdoba which was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.

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Tours of Cordoba

Tours

Nora Kaplan Sephardic Tour

Come and experience the history of Jews in Spain: explore museums and world heritage sites, walk through the old cobbled lanes of Jewish neighborhoods, take in the splendid architecture and eat delicious food, drink Spanish wine while learning about the Golden Age of the Jews of Sepharad on this unique family run, multi-day Jewish Heritage Tour to Spain.

Tours

Jewish Cordoba: The City of Maimonides

The Jewish quarter of Córdoba is one of the best preserved medieval Jewish quarters in all of Europe. Home of great thinkers and unsurpassed beauty, its streets and houses keep secrets that fascinate both locals and visitors. In it we can visit the only medieval synagogue preserved until today in Andalusia. Discover with us the fascinating history of this neighborhood, declared a world heritage by the UNESCO, as well as the life and work of its most famous inhabitants such as the great thinker Maimonides.

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מסעדות בסגנון יהודי JEWISH STYLE RESTAURANTS

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מדריכים בעיר CITY GUIDES

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קראו עוד בלוגים וספרים אלקטרוניים READ MORE BLOGS AND EBOOKS

World Jewish Travel Official February 27, 2023

The Jewish Story of Cordoba, Spain

Situated on a river and fertile farming land, Cordoba has a diverse and varied history of both Muslim and Christian rule which can be seen in the amazing architecture or churches and mosques alike. Cordoba is also home to the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, the palace of King Ferdinand and Isabella - the palace where Christopher Colombus bid farewell before sailing to the Americas and the main tribunals of the Spanish Inquisition. Cordoba's inns are also mentioned in Don Quixote. Famous personalities: Abraham ibn Daud (1110-1180) Abraham ibn Ezra (1089-1167) Isaac Al-Fasi (1013-1103) Hasday ibn Shaprut (910-975) Moses ben Maimon, Maimonides (03/30/1135 - 12/13/1204) Judah Halevi (1070-1141)