Sinagoga Major de Barcelona

My mum and I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Major Synagogue in Barcelona, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. From the moment we stepped through the doors, we were captivated by the rich history that enveloped this small yet significant place of worship. Anna, who works at the synagogue, truly enhanced our experience with her enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the history. Her passion for the synagogue's story resonated perfectly with my mum, especially since she has written a book about a synagogue she discovered in Palermo, Sicily. Anna shared a wealth of information that was not only accurate but also incredibly engaging. She highlighted every corner and detail of the synagogue, making the visit all the more meaningful. Despite its modest size, the Major Synagogue is the largest in Barcelona, and Anna's insights added depth to our understanding of its significance. We greatly appreciated the attention Anna gave to our questions and the thoughtful explanations she provided. It truly made our visit memorable. If you're in Barcelona and curious about its Jewish heritage, whether religious or not, I highly recommend visiting the Major Synagogue. It's a small gem filled with history, made even better by the passionate staff. We left feeling enriched and inspired.

Incredible experience!!! To be in a synagogue over 1000 years old... You can see the foundation from Roman times. The story of how it was uncovered is amazing. Make sure you follow a map because the entrance is so unassuming that you're liable to walk by the synagogue and never realize it's there.

Small and hidden synagogue, one of the oldest ones in Europe! Worth a visit, it contains two chambers only. Very kind staff inside.

Very interesting tour of this second oldest synagogue in Europe tucked away in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. A must see! Elena who was our docent was extremely knowledgeable about the history of this important synagogue that is lovingly and thoughtfully restored.

I didn’t have an opportunity to get in but the signs in the street were interesting. The yellow emblem is not related though.

Very small Synagogue (I know it's called Major, but it's tiny). Thats because jews weren't allowed to build big synagogues in order not to overshadow christian churches. I almost missed it, so be on the look. Ticket price is just 4 EUR, but I wish I left more to support this place. They have some interesting religious artifacts, including tora scripts, menorah, etc.

Located in the Jewish quarter within the Gothic quarter of the city, the Major Synagogue of Barcelona was the most emblematic point of the Jews in Barcelona, although today it is not a place of worship, its cultural objective is the evolution of the Jewish presence, its customs, the heritage and the relationship with the Catalan people. This synagogue was hidden for a long time after the Jews were expelled in 1492 and was recently rediscovered. A very small place full of history for a synagogue that dates back a 1000 years. The guide and explanations were very good and it is worth a visit to learn more about the community.

Not worth the €5 entry. We waited a few minutes outside of the building only to discover that the entire museum is basically just one small room. There’s another museum just a minute away (Muhba El Call) that only costs €2 and offers a lot more.

Arcaeologists proved the structure of the building was built in the 3rd or 4th century. The building was significantly expanded during the 13th century. Medieval Barcelona is known to have had several synagogues, and the main synagogue was certainly in the immediate area. King James I visited the synagogue in 1263 at the conclusion of the Barcelona Disputation. The Jews of Barcelona were massacred in 1391. The building was used for many purposes and its original use was forgotten. Over the centuries, additional stories were added to the building. In 1987, researchers identified this as the location of the Sinagoga Major. Research was based on a reconstruction of the route followed by a 13th century tax collector that ended at the Sinagoga Major.

A small synagogue located in the heart of Barcelona. It's hard to find but well worth visiting here. Lots of history, especially with Sephardic Jews in Spain. Much different than other synagogues I have attended.

it took us a couple of times to find the tiny, almost underground doorway leading to the synagogue but it was worth it. a powerful visit to a place where Jews worshipped one thousand years ago, but not in at least 600 years.