The Jewish Quarter in Barcelona

The Jewish community of Barcelona - one of the oldest in Europe, the first mention of which dates back to the IX century. n. e. In the XIII century it became the richest and most influential community of Spain, there was a center of Jewish scholarship. At this time, the rest of Europe were in full persecution of Jews. Before Catalunya this wave reached only 1391 in upper Raval, when the massacre and Barcelona Jewish Quarter «El Call» was closed. Persecution 1391 the year ended with the murder 400 Jews and forced baptism of all other, except for a few, who managed to escape. After the unification of Spain, 1492 It was started the Inquisition, and the remaining Jews were expelled from the kingdom.

If you want to walk around the old Jewish quarter of Barcelona, called El Kohl, head towards the old town, here, in a maze of narrow alleys, where everything is steeped in antiquity and magic of the past, You can see and feel, how the Jewish community lived in the Middle Ages. Главная улица еврейского квартала называется Street Santo Domingo, just be sure to take a stroll through the streets of Sant Honorat, Sant Sever, Baixada de Santa Eulalia, Carrer del Call, Carrer de Marlet и Banys Nous.

Слово "The Call", which referred to the Jewish Quarter, It translates as "little street" or "lane". There is really very narrow streets, which it is still perfectly preserved medieval atmosphere. On Sant Domenec street was main synagogue and houses the most important members of the community, here is a central gateway for the entrance of the quarter.

On the small square, которая называется Square Manuel Ribé, It is the center of the Jewish community, as well as the museum quarter El Call. Located in an old building of the XV century, known as Alchemist's House or the House of Rabbi, it is one of the few buildings of the quarter, whose original details remain intact.

The Museum of the History of the Jewish Quarter of Barcelona presented daily use items XIII and XIV centuries,, including dishes with Hebrew characters, Xanuki, illuminated manuscript facsimile of the Sarajevo Bastards with scenes of the XV century and two tombstones with inscriptions in Hebrew. There are lectures by leading experts of Hebrew history and culture, tasting Catalan-Jewish cuisine, session of Jewish stories and summer schools.