Description of the attraction
Located on the outskirts of Toledo between the Church of San Juan de los Reyes and the Del Tranzito Synagogue, the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca is one of the oldest synagogues in Europe.
The Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca, originally called the Ibn Shushan Synagogue, was built in 1180. Created by Arab architects for Jewish use, at a time when Toledo was already conquered by Christian kings, this synagogue is a kind of symbol of the cultural unity of three different peoples who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula.
The building was erected in the Mudejar style. Thanks to the use of certain materials, the use of stylistic elements and structures, this building is considered one of the best examples of Moorish architecture of the Almohad era.
In 1391, a severe fire broke out in the building of the temple. In 1405, the synagogue was transformed into a Christian church dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary White. The dilapidated temple was empty for a long time. At the beginning of the 18th century, its premises were used to house the city's military forces. During the war with Napoleon's army, the building of the temple was used as a military warehouse. Only at the end of the 19th century, the synagogue was partially restored and began to be used as a church.
The interior of the synagogue is decorated with 32 octagonal pillars that divide the premises into five naves. Each of the naves ends with a Spanish plateresque chapel. The white walls of the interiors, as well as the arches decorated with fine capitals, and the richly decorated plateresque altar give the interior of the building majesty and elegance.
