Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca, Toledo
Interactive satellite map of Santa Maria La Blanca (center marker).
For a larger view, see our Toledo Map or Google Earth download.
Founded in 1203, the Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca is nearly two centuries older than the more elaborate and more crowded Tránsito Synagogue in Toledo.
The synagogue was designed and decorated by Mudejar architects (defined as Moors working on Christian soil on non-Islamic buildings) and the Islamic influence is readily apparent. The white interior features graceful horseshoe arches, ornamental horizontal moldings, and a forest of pillars supporting capitals of enchanting filigree workmanship.
Stormed in the early 15th century by a Christian mob led by St. Vincent Ferrer and converted into a church, the synagogue was later used as a carpenter's workshop, a store, a barracks, and a refuge for reformed prostitutes.
Most of the original synagogue remains, including five aisles divided by four rows of seven horseshoe arches, each with elaborate Mudéjar decorations molded in plaster. The carved capitals feature vegetal decorations that suggest Almohad influences and the dark red floor is dotted with decorative tiles.
The overall effect is very much that of a mosque rather than a synagogue, and it notable lacks a women's gallery. But the round windows and relatively plain exterior are in keeping with most European synagogues.
Reflecting the synagogue's later use as a church is a fine 16th-century altarpiece at the end of the center aisle.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca; Synagogue of Santa Maria La Blanca; St. Mary the White |
| Type of site: | Synagogue (converted to a church; now a museum) |
| Architecture: | Mudejar and Almohad |
| Dates: | Completed 1203; converted to church early 1400s |
| Address: | Calle Reyes Católicos 2, Toledo, Spain |
| Location: | Western edge of the city, midway between the El Greco museum and San Juan de los Reyes. |
| Bus: | 2 |
| Phone: | 92-522-72-57 |
| Hours: | Apr-Sept daily 10am-2pm and 3:30-7pm; Oct-Mar daily 10am-2pm and 3:30-6pm |
| Cost: | €2 |
Related Travel Resources
- Toledo Hotel Reviews - ratings and reviews from fellow travelers
- Toledo Car Rentals - guaranteed low rates from AutoEurope
- Toledo Travel Forum - get answers about tourism in Toledo
- Spain Rail Passes - save money on train travel in Spain
Sources
- Personal visit (April 2, 2007)
- The Rough Guide to Spain
- Frommer's Spain
- Spain.info.
