At the heart of Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter stands the city’s synagogue, one of the few in Spain to have survived from before the Catholic monarchs came to power. You’ll find it just to your left, tucked away in a small alley in the city centre. During the rule of the Muslim dynasties, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish communities lived side by side in Spanish cities. Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter, enclosed by walls and separated from the rest of the city, was home to many important monuments, including the Mosque-Cathedral. It now forms the centre of Córdoba’s historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 1315, the synagogue reflects Arab artistic influence and the characteristic Mudejar style of the time. When the Catholic monarchs came to power, the Jewish population was expelled from Spain, and the synagogue was turned into a hospital, then the Hermitage of San Crispin, and later a primary school. It was declared a national monument in the late 19th century and reopened to the public in 1985. A powerful reminder of Córdoba’s layered history, the synagogue now stands as a beautiful example of Mudejar architecture and a lasting symbol of the coexistence that once defined life under Muslim rule.