When you enter inside the Santa María la Blanca Synagogue, during your visit of Toledo, near Madrid, you may be tempted to go outside again to check the signs that the building was indeed a synagogue.
La Santa María la Blanca Synagogue It is, without a doubt, one of the most curious and surprising monuments that you can see in Toledo.
It is a building built at the end of the 12th century to fulfill its functions as a place of Jewish worship, but whose decoration, with an unmistakable Mudejar style, easily leads you to think that you are in a mosque.
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Curiosities history Santa María la Blanca Synagogue
The reality is that the building that you can now visit to the west of Toledo, very close to the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, it is not known for sure which synagogue this is that was in the city at that time.
That is, if it was the building of the old Major Synagogue of Toledo, from the end of the 12th century, or if instead it was the so-called New Synagogue built at the same time.
Be it one or the other, the building was built on behalf of a Jewish official who was in the service of the King Alfonso VIII.
The point is that, to build the synagogue, he called in Almohad architects and craftsmen from Cordova, with which the building was raised with Mudejar architectural style.
The synagogue suffered the consequences of the attack that the Jewish community of Toledo suffered in 1391, and in the XNUMXth century it became a building dedicated to Christian worship, becoming known as the church of Santa Maria la Blanca.
What to see when visiting Santa María la Blanca in Toledo
La Santa María la Blanca Synagogue It is a relatively small building, and as soon as you enter you find yourself facing five naves separated by arcades of circular arches, which are supported by octagonal brick columns.
The ceiling is covered with a characteristic Mudejar coffered ceiling.
Come on, in a way it can give you the feeling of being in the Mosque of Cordoba…but no, it was a jewish synagogue.
With the passage of time, the building had various vicissitudes: from being during the 16th century it became a beguinage for repentant public women, only to be abandoned in the following century, and in the 18th century to house a military barracks.
After Civil War became a Catholic church again, and was later declared National Monument.
In your walk through the interior of the synagogue, you will see various corners of great decorative richness, although the predominance of white in the arches and columns will catch your attention.
Schedule to visit Santa María la Blanca Synagogue
The Visiting hours of the Santa María la Blanca Synagogue They are every day of the week, from March to October 15, from 10 a.m. to 18,45:17,45 p.m. (last entry), and in the rest of the year, it is open until XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.
Ticket prices for the Santa María la Blanca Synagogue
El price of admission It is 3 euros, with a reduced rate of 2,50 euros for students, Youth cards and children from 11 to 14 years old, and free visit For children under 11 years old.
You have to keep in mind that this synagogue is one of the places you can visit if you acquire the Toledo tourist bracelet. that allows you visit seven monuments for a combined price of 12 euros, and that you can purchase at the tourist office.
La Santa María la Blanca Synagogue It is one of the seven monuments that you can visit with the Toledo Card tourist card
Guided tours of the Santa María la Blanca Synagogue
If instead of going on your own, you prefer to include the Santa María la Blanca Synagogue in a tour in group with guide in spanishl, you have the options to sign up for Complete tour of Toledo, Tour of the three cultures or a Private tour of Toledo.
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