Arab Baths of Santa María

The Arab Baths of St. Mary´s, often visited by Cordoban Jews, were very popular and abounded in the Córdoba of the Caliph and even preserved after the Christian conquest. They were built during the time of the Caliph and reconstructed in the 14th century by Mudejar master builders. The baths are located between Velázquez Bosco street (the former Comedias street) and Céspedes street (which was Baño Bajo street). The monument includes a rainwater tank and three vaulted rooms corresponding to the frigidarium (cold baths), the tepidarium(warm baths) and the caldarium (hot baths). The first room contains the cold baths, covered by a half-barrel vault and compartmentalised into several rooms, has remained integrated in the current house at number 10 Velázquez Bosco Street, which is open to visitors. Today, the tepidarium room is a square courtyard which is 7.5 metres long each side with galleries whose weight is borne by eight columns which support horseshoe arches and semi-circular domes perforated by truncated pyramid-shaped chandeliers. Finally, the caldarium, a rectangular room, which measures 10.3 by 3.1 metres with brick and stone ashlar walls covered by a stone barrel vault and three series of skylights which are currently covered. On the western side of the room, two horseshoe arches open out which originally were the setting for several swimming pools, and between both, a narrow vaulted gallery providing a connection with the rainwater tank.

Old Citadel (Alcázar Viejo)

The Old Citadel district was where the Jews settled after the Christian conquest of the city in 1236. Then, in 1478, the Jews were moved to the Old Citadel district by the Chief Magistrate Francisco Valdés. However, the Jewish community complained to the Catholic King, allowing them to return to their former site within a year.

Tiberiades Square

The private Tiberiades square opens at the end of the jewish Street, where the bronze sculpture of Maimonides is situated. The work of Amadeo Ruiz Olmos, is a small square for a great man, the greatest of those coming out of the Cordoban aljama, so much so that amongst the Jews the expression arose De Moisés a Moisés no hubo otro como Moisés (Moses come and go but there was none like Moses), alluding to the first name of Moses ben Maimón, better known as Maimonides, or also by his Hebrew initials which formed the name Rambam. The sculpture was inaugurated in 1985 to commemorate the 850th anniversary of the birth of the Sephardi scholar and the square received the name of Tiberiades. The Palestinian settlement in Galilee where the cenotaph is situated pays universal tribute to Maimonides. Dressed in Arabian style, sitting in melancholy fashion with a book between his hands, the universal master seems to be recalling, right in the heart of the Jewish quarter which he saw come to light, a life packed with deeds and visions.

Archaeological Museum of Cordoba

The Archaeological Museum of Cordoba is one of the most complete archaeological museums in Spain. It is located at Jerónimo Páez Square right in the heart of the city’s old town, near the Mosque-Cathedral. It occupies a palace from the Renaissance which belonged to the Páez de Castillejo family. Despite the fact that the building conserves some structures from the Late Middle Ages as it was a Mudejar house, it was remodelled in the 16th century. It was bought in 1496 by the Páez de Castillejo and it is the latter who undertook the Renaissance remodelling, highlighting the main stairs and the doorway. Subsequently, between 1944 and 1959, after being used for various purposes, the palace was adapted by Félix Hernández to accommodate the Archaeological Museum which was set up therein in 1960. The museum was extended in 2011 with a new building housing offices, laboratories and a permanent exhibition.

Gate of Almodovar

The Gate of Almodóvar, known as the Puerta del Nogal (walnut gate or Bad-al-Chawz), is of Arab origin. The gate of Almodóvar once closed the Jewish Quarter, but today, welcomes the Jews between fountains and walls that surround the Jewish quarter. This gate, greatly remodelled in the Christian era, underwent a further major renovation in the 16th century, later being restored in 1802, and more recently, in the 1960’s. It is the sole surviving example of the systematic destruction of walls and gates which started in the late 18th century. This disaster originated from demographic expansion experienced by the city after its calmness for three centuries. The whole walled stretch to the south of the gate is conserved which is prolonged as far as Campo Santo de los Mártires throughout Cairuán street. This wall, seriously remodelled in the 14th century, underwent major restoration in the 1960’s carried out by José Rebollo who added the moat and the lower promenade which surrounds it.

Sefarad House (Casa de Sefarad)

Directly facing the synagogue, casa de Sefarad, or the House of Memory is a 14th century property which is linked, according to various sources, to the Jewish temple. The coloured circles of the courtyard chapter are one of the original elements of this building, restored conscientiously to recreate the spirit of the Cordoban Jews. The Sepharad House, home of memory, is a private initiative dedicated to the interpretation and promotion of Sephardi heritage. Now, the Casa de la Memoria (House of Memory) is a cultural centre where concerts and acts of many kinds are staged and it boasts a specialised library and shop where you can find a wide range of Jewish-related objects.

Great Synagogue of Barcelona

The Sinagoga Mayor, also known as the Great or Ancient Synagogue, is believed to be an ancient synagogue located in the centre of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It has been described as one of the oldest synagogues in Europe. After many centuries of being used for other purposes, the building re-opened as a synagogue and museum in 2002. Though the synagogue is not open for regular prays services, it is used for special and festive occasions.

 

Archaeological investigations show that the original structure of the building was built in the third or fourth century, though whether this structure was the synagogue cannot be said with certainty. The building was significantly expanded during the 13th century. King James I visited the synagogue in 1263 at the end of the Barcelona Disputation. Shlomo ben Aderet served as the rabbi of the Sinagoga Major for 50 years.

 

When the Jews of Barcelona were massacred in 1391, the building was used for many other purposes, with its original use being forgotten. However, in 1987, Jaume Riera y Sans began researching the location of the Sinagoga Major. His research was based on a reconstruction of the route followed by a thirteenth-century tax collector that ended at the Sinagoga Major.

 

Riera’s work led Miguel Iaffa to examine the exterior of the building and he noted that the structure had been built in compliance with religious requirements that the building should face Jerusalem and that it should have two windows. In fact, the eastward orientation of the building (toward Jerusalem) broke with the northwest/southeast alignment of the streets in its neighborhood. Iaffa purchased the building in 1995 when its owner put it up for sale. The Call Association of Barcelona (Catalan: Associació Call de Barcelona), led by Iaffa, undertook the recovery and restoration of the synagogue. The opening of The Sinagoga Major to the public in 2002 drew in 20,000 visitors during 2005. In 2003, two Canadians became the first couple to be married at the Sinagoga Major in more than 600 years, and in 2006, a New York attorney donated a 500-year-old sefer Torah (Torah scroll) to the synagogue.

Rei Square (Placa de Rei)

Plaza del Rei, the King’s square, is located in the center of the Gothic District, radiating its cultural charm. Here, you can find the Palau Reial alongside, where the notorious Disputation of Barcelona ran its course in 1263, between the Dominican convert Pau Cristià, a great polemicist and expert in the Talmud, and the Jew from Girona, Moses ben Nahman, or Nahmanides, one of the great learned men of the age.

The Plaça Reial stands in front of the former palace of the King of Aragon, location of the famous Disputation of Barcelona, a contest of words between Nahmanides, the Kabbalist of Girona who had close ties with the King, and Pablo Cristiani from Montpellier, a Jew who had converted to Catholicism. The debate went on for 4 days, with topics ranging from debates around the Messiah to which religion showed the truth. The aim of such debates was to show the flaws in Judaism in front of an angry public, humiliating Rabbis who were not allowed to ask questions, but merely defend those presented to them. Though King Jaume I said that “never before had he heard an unjust cause so nobly defended”, and had a good relationship to Nahmanides, he still banished him, albeit with a large sum of money in his hand.

Plaza Sant Jaume

Situated in the heart of the old district, Sant Jaume Square is located on the former forum of the Roman city and indicates the limit of Call mayor, or the main Jewish quarters in Barcelona which opened out to the northwest. Today, the square is a true symbol of Catalan public life. However, in the Middle Ages the square was little more than a widening between the current Llibretería and Call streets. Jews have been a presence here in Plaza Sant Jaume with their houses and workshops around the square, all being documented here outside the limits of the district just like other Spanish cities. Jews were able to live all over Barcelona before the royal decrees required them to be concentrated in a specific space.

Magic Fountain of Montjuïc

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc is a fountain located at the head of Avinguda Maria Cristina in the Montjuïc neighborhood of Barcelona, Spain. The fountain is situated below the Palau Nacional on the Montjuïc mountain and near the Plaça d’Espanya and Poble Espanyol de Barcelona. Remains of a medieval Jewish cemetery have been found at Montijuic and the name of the hill translates to “Jewish Mountain,” named for the Jewish community living in the area.

🌍 Celebrating One Year of the Jewish Silk Road Portal

World Jewish Travel was thrilled at #IMTM 2024 to present a copy of the WJT Jewish Silk Road Pressbook to the CEO of the Azerbaijan National Tourism Board Florian Sengstschmid and Jamilya Talibzade its Israeli representative Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB).

The Pressbook celebrates the one year anniversary of the Jewish Silk Road Portal launch, an amazing example of using Jewish travel as a means of cultural diplomacy, whilst highlighting the significant Jewish contribution to the ancient trade route. Kudos to our participating partners from the Kiriaty Foundation (Turkey), National Board of Tourism of #Georgia, National Board of Tourism of #Uzbekistan, and Israeli Embassy of #India. 

See the overwhelming reaction from the press, by downloading our free pressbook. Special thanks to Moshe Gilad of the @haaretzcom for highlighting this forgotten but important story in the Galeria section of the newspaper and available to download on WJT.

👉Link to WJT Jewsih Silk Rad Pressbook and more is in our bio

🌍 Celebrating One Year of the Jewish Silk Road Portal

World Jewish Travel was thrilled at #IMTM 2024 to present a copy of the WJT Jewish Silk Road Pressbook to the CEO of the Azerbaijan National Tourism Board Florian Sengstschmid and Jamilya Talibzade its Israeli representative Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB).

The Pressbook celebrates the one year anniversary of the Jewish Silk Road Portal launch, an amazing example of using Jewish travel as a means of cultural diplomacy, whilst highlighting the significant Jewish contribution to the ancient trade route. Kudos to our participating partners from the Kiriaty Foundation (Turkey), National Board of Tourism of #Georgia, National Board of Tourism of #Uzbekistan, and Israeli Embassy of #India.

See the overwhelming reaction from the press, by downloading our free pressbook. Special thanks to Moshe Gilad of the @haaretzcom for highlighting this forgotten but important story in the Galeria section of the newspaper and available to download on WJT.

👉Link to WJT Jewsih Silk Rad Pressbook and more is in our bio
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Step into the soul-stirring Pesach traditions of Jerusalem virtually. Experience the resonating echoes of Birkat Kohanim🌿

 Link is in our bio

#VirtualTravel #JerusalemVibes #SpiritualJourney #JewishTravel #Isarel  #BirkatKohanim #JewishJerusalem

Step into the soul-stirring Pesach traditions of Jerusalem virtually. Experience the resonating echoes of Birkat Kohanim🌿

Link is in our bio

#VirtualTravel #JerusalemVibes #SpiritualJourney #JewishTravel #Isarel #BirkatKohanim #JewishJerusalem
...

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Discover the enigmatic “Donkey Stable” in Jerusalem's underground. Unveil the city's secrets from home. 🌌

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#JerusalemUnderground #CitySecrets #ExploreHistory #JewishTravel #Israel #Travel #WesternWall

Discover the enigmatic “Donkey Stable” in Jerusalem`s underground. Unveil the city`s secrets from home. 🌌

Find link in our bio

#JerusalemUnderground #CitySecrets #ExploreHistory #JewishTravel #Israel #Travel #WesternWall
...

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