Moment of our Barcelona Jewish Quarter Walking Tour

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Possible old mikvah seen during our Barcelona Jewish Quarter tour

Exploring The Jewish Heritage In Barcelona

JEWISH SITES IN BARCELONA THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT​

The Barcelona Jewish Quarter was attacked and destroyed in 1391, already 100 years before the Inquisition. This is the main reason why there aren’t many visually attractive elements left from our middle ages. However, if you are interested in what’s left of the Jewish heritage in Barcelona and you have an interest in history of the Jews in Barcelona, you’ll be able to retrace the steps back to the times when the “Call” or Barcelona Jewish Quarter was in its full bloom.

Here are the Jewish sites in Barcelona selected for you:​

1

Medieval Synagogue​

Hidden in the maze of narrow alleys of the Barcelona Jewish Quarter. The medieval synagogue in Barcelona was saved from becoming a bar a few years ago, and now it is open as a museum but it is also occasionally used for services, and it is considered to be not the oldest synagogue in Spain but possibly of Europe. 

Despite not much more than its walls has been preserved, its history is fascinating. The antiques and artwork decorating it are donations. It is a main stop of all our Tours of the Barcelona Jewish Quarter.

2

Interpretation Center of the Call​

The Museum of History of Barcelona opened in this house where a medieval weaver lived, a center providing information about the history of the area and the Jewish Heritage in Barcelona. See maps of the area, a small collection of medieval Jewish ceramic and a couple of Hebrew tombstones.

3

Remains of a possible Mikhva in a shop in c/Palla​​

If you ask permission first, at the Olivé store they’ll let you walk to the end of their shop where have been preserved a few columns and arches that might have been part of the structure of the medieval Mikhva of the Barcelona Jewish Quarter. Despite the documents locating it in that area, historians haven’t confirmed yet this theory though.

4

Hebrew inscription in c/Marlet​​

During the demolition of a building in 1920, they found this medieval inscription remembering the rabbi Samuel Hassardí. The experts haven’t agreed on what would be its right translation, as it seems to be written in a quite cryptic way…

This was just a quick list of sites and their basic description, but there is more to that! Make sure to take one of the tours of the Barcelona Jewish Quarter to learn more about the Jewish heritage in Barcelona.

explanation

5

Hebrew Tombstones in Plaça Sant Iu​​

After the Jewish cemetery in the hill of Montjuïc was abandoned, some tombstones near the stone quarries where used to build buildings in the Gothic Quarter. If you look around, you might be able to discover a bunch of them in one of the walls of this tiny plaza beside the Cathedral.

AND BONUS! Here is one last place to get immersed in the Jewish history of Barcelona:​

6

Museum of History of the City​

The best part of the visit of the Museum of History is the underground Roman ruins, and if you pay attention you’ll discover there some Jewish tombstones embedded in the walls. And then, in the Medieval Section you’ll find some cages with objects to learn more about the Jewish Heritage in Barcelona.

Have you been to the Barcelona Jewish Quarter?​

Marta

Author Marta Laurent Veciana

AUTHOR BIO

Marta is the founder of ForeverBarcelona. She is a passionate tour guide that loves Barcelona and loves writing too. She is the main author of our Blog, and is committed to sharing her knowledge about Barcelona and her best tips with our readers.

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2 thoughts on “Exploring The Jewish Heritage In Barcelona”

  1. Please let me know if there have been any new Jewish related discoveries in Barcelona or Giorona. Thanks very much.

    1. Hi Malka!
      Well… that depends on how updated are you on the local Jewish history… The Museum of History of the Jewish of Girona uncovered what seems to be the remains of their Mikhva, but it’s already been a couple of years since it was added to their museum visitable area… And there’s history lovers who keep doing research and publishing articles about their findings on the medieval and more recent (1800 and early 1900s) local Jewish History. If you are interested in something in particular, contact us for a custom Jewish Tour!

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