Located in the heart of Córdoba's Jewish Quarter, and just blocks away from the Mezquita, sits one of Spain's most unique connections to the past: the Synagogue of Córdoba.
Constructed in the 14th century, Córdoba's synagogue is the Judería's (Jewish Quarter's) main attraction and is one-of-a-kind in the Andalucía region. This is because, while the Jewish community once played a very key role on the Iberian Peninsula -- especially during the Moorish Caliphate -- much of Jewish culture was eradicated and expelled in 1492 during the Spanish Inquisition. As a result, Córdoba's synagogue and two others in the city of Toledo remain as the only lasting structures of their kind from pre-Inquisition Spain.
The small Córdoba synagogue houses a courtyard, prayer room and women's gallery. With a humble brick exterior, the small interior features walls with intricate Hebrew inscriptions, scalloped archways and Mudéjar plasterwork, reminiscent of the ivory-colored carvings you might see in the Alcázar of Seville or even the textured facades of the Alhambra Palace.
After serving as a place of worship (which ended, of course, with the Spanish Inquisition), the once-synagogue had various functions: from that of a hospital to a chapel and even a school. Now, it is open to the public as a museum, providing a rare look into the Jewish culture's presence in Spanish history.
The synagogue is open every day of the week except Mondays, and is free to enter for European citizens, and only €0.30 for everyone else. It’s quite small, and located near the Grand Mosque; therefore worth the quick visit.