Córdoba Synagogue

This is the only remaining synagogue in Andalusia and one of just three preserved in all of Spain. Built in 1315 by Isaq Moheb in the Mudéjar style, it is small in size but renowned for its intricate decoration. After the expulsion of the Jews in 1492, it was used as a church, hospital, and school before being restored and preserved as a historic monument and cultural site.

I have never seen anything like it in my life. The architecture is amazing, an extraordinary combination of styles and cultures. Incredible atmosphere, definitely worth a visit

The only synagogue that survived the expulsion and Inquisition in Andalucía. Built during the Jewish Golden Age under the Umayyad caliphate, some say this could have been a private synagogue due to its small size. It is accessible to wheelchair users. Entrance is free

All the info about the synagogue you can find online - one of the three best preserved Medieval synagogues in the whole of Spain. Synagogue was build in 1315, and I visited it on Passover eve, day when back in history, more than 880 years ago was born here in Cordoba Maimonides (Rambam), Sephardic Rabbi and philosopher - the most important Torah scholar of the Middle Ages. Very special place in time. Synagogue is a square room with high walls covered with decorative plaster Mudejar-style plant motifs and Hebrew verses mostly from the Psalms, most of them were deciphered. On the right side of the The hekhal (ark), where the Torah scrolls were kept, is a Hebrew inscription that states that this place has been refurbished by Yitzhak Mahab son of the wealthy Ephraim in the Hebrew year 5075 (1315 C.E.). Piece of Jewish history in Cordoba - definitely worth to visit, even if you are not Jewish

Too busy too many people permitted in at the same time for a small area, hard to enjoy.. 1 menorah and thats all. A little disappointed

One of the most amazing sights in Spain. The Mezquita as it is known as is a classic example master that knew how to build a ppace of worship. The mosque-cathedral is truly beautiful and pictires almost wont do it justice. The arches and whole complex is one amazing plave that takes you back hundreds of years ago and once inside you can truly experience and appreciate the history. The ground was vroken more than 1000 years ago and in its current form, more than 400 years old. Its been a unesco world heritage site since the 80's

It's a small synagogue in the Jewish quarter. It doesn't have any services now as it's a sort of museum. People can imagine how it was centuries back. One of the most preserved synagogues in Spain, second to that of Toledo, it shows the altar and the place where women congregate separate from men.

Very small, remainings of the synagogue, I was very astonished that there is no entrance fee. Actualy it is just one room very well conserved, you can see the writings on the wall, next to it is translated. Worth visiting if passing by !

Peaceful with free entry. Amazing to see it redone after all the history!!!!!! Beautiful restoration

Very moving. Built in 1513. Proof that the Spanish Catholics of the 1500s were terrible people in their persecution of the Jews. €zero

Sorry, but I found this pretty depressing. I mean, it's nice that Cordoba has decided to keep a tiny reminder of the city's former Jewish population, but really I looked around the simple, bare room - apparently the only synagogue in all of Andalucia that survived the expulsion of the Jews in 1492 - and my thought is "Really? The Jews must have been a tiny proportion of the population to have such a small synagogue relative to the mighty churches - and mosques - scattered throughout Andalucia. And you had to persecute and expel these people?" After the expulsion, the synagogue was turned into a church, which I believe is the only reason that it survived to the present day when (I think) it has been deconsecrated for use as a museum. Try to visit before or after one of the many tour groups that squeezes its way inside. The synagogue really is small and you may be able to better appreciate the space and enjoy a moment of contemplation if you can visit when it's not jam-packed with tourists. So there you go. There's not much to see here and (especially if you're Jewish) you may find it pretty depressing, but it does serve to commemorate the expulsion and I guess that makes it better than just sweeping it under the rug entirely. There is a statue of Cordoba-born Jewish philosopher Maimonides near the synagogue. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maimonides Again, it may be hard to appreciate and contemplate the memorial amid the crush of tour groups that stop there, but I suppose it is nice that Maimonides is honored by Cordobans and admired by tour groups from around the world. Maimonides was ultimately forced to leave Cordoba when the intolerant Almohad dynasty conquered the city and demanded that Jews and Christians convert to Islam, flee or be killed. He ultimately ended up in Morocco and then in Egypt, where he served as physician to the sultan. The Muslim philosopher Averroes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Averroes#Biography) was also born in Cordoba. I think there is a statute to him there too. Averroes was eventually banished from Andalucia for his writings, especially his commentaries on the work of Aristotle. FYI, there is a museum nearby (Casa de Sefarad, http://www.casadesefarad.es/in/entrada.html) that contains stories of Sephardic Judaism - http://www.casadesefarad.es/in/entrada.html. And the gift shop there has some Judaica items - mezuzot, kippot, jewelry - some made in Spain, some made in Israel.

I've giving it five stars because I feel it's important to see because being in that tiny room, the only remnant left of Andalusia's Jewish population, you realize how completely and totally the Catholic monarchy committed genocide against the Jews living there. The room is almost barren and found by accident in the 1800s. No records exist relaying how many synagogues were in the area and we will never know the totality of the destruction. However, I agree with other reviewers that it will not take more than 10 minutes to see.

the cordoba synagogue is the oldest synagogue in cordoba and sits in the jewish quarter of the city. it was built in 1315, and 700 years later, still stands and is open to the public as a historical attraction. the interior was really small, as there is just the prayer room with four walls, each showcasing etchings in the mudejar style. we spent at most 10 minutes visiting this site as there wasn't that much to see. at least admission was free and we can come home and tell our friends that we visited a seven centuries old synagogue!

Interesting spot and free. It takes 5 min but worth going in. The museum of the Sephardi next door is also interesting.