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Synagogue · Toledo, Castela-Mancha
Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca
Old Sinagoga Mayor de Toledo, dating from 1180, with five naves of horseshoe arches on white pillars. Built by Muslim craftsmen for Toledo's Jewish community and later converted into a church.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca
An inscription on one of the beams dates the construction to 1180. The building was erected on Christian territory, in the Kingdom of Castile, by Muslim builders for Toledo's Jewish community. It was known as the Sinagoga Maior, the city's main Jewish temple.
The interior has five naves separated by 32 octagonal brick-clad pillars that support horseshoe arches. The capitals feature pinecone and volute motifs, and above the arches run friezes with geometric designs of Almohad origin. The exterior is plain, and almost all the decoration is on the inside.
After 211 years as a synagogue, the building was seized and transformed into a church in the wave of violence against the Jews in 1391. That is the origin of the Christian name Santa María la Blanca. The chancel has plateresque altars and a retable linked to the school of Berruguete.
Today the building belongs to the Catholic Church but is not used for regular worship: it is open to visitors and used for cultural activities. The model of rows of horseshoe arches inspired synagogues built in Europe and the Americas in the 19th century.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 30 minutes.
Best time
Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when there are fewer groups in the Jewish quarter. Check opening days and hours before you go.
How to get there
It is located on Calle de los Reyes Católicos, in the old Jewish quarter, about 100 metres from the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes and roughly a 15‑minute walk from the Plaza de Zocodover.
Tip
The entrance is part of the Pulsera Turística, a combined ticket that also includes Santo Tomé, San Juan de los Reyes, the Cristo de la Luz and the Iglesia de los Jesuitas. If you plan to visit several of them, compare it beforehand with individual tickets.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca
Why does a synagogue carry the name of a church?
Because the building was converted into a church after the violence against the Jews in 1391 and was given the name Santa María la Blanca. Today it does not serve as a place of worship and functions as a monument open to visitors.
Who built the synagogue?
Muslim builders, for the Jewish community, within a Christian kingdom. That's why the interior resembles a mosque, with horseshoe arches on pillars.
How long does the visit take?
About half an hour. It is a single space, with no extra rooms, and pairs well with San Juan de los Reyes, right next door.