Synagogue of Transito

Exiting the gardens, you’re greeted by the lovely façade belonging to the Synagogue of El Tránsito. Do not be fooled by its simplicity—its interior is a striking contrast: richly adorned with intricately carved mudéjar decoration and beautifully crafted coffered ceilings. It’s an absolute must-see! The synagogue was built in 1357 on what was once a former temple, in the heart of Toledo’s judería, the Jewish quarter. At the time, the area already had many synagogues, so building new ones was prohibited. This one makes the exception, as it was commissioned by the treasurer of King Peter I of Castile, who benefited from special privileges. Just over a century later, the Catholic Monarchs rose to power—and you probably already know, but they’re aren’t the best at tolerating religious diversity. In 1492, they expelled the Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. Judaism was declared a “grave and detestable crime,” and Jewish residents were forced to either convert to Christianity or permanently leave. This led to the mass exile of an estimated 100 000 Sephardic Jews, who dispersed throughout North Africa, Italy, the Netherlands, and particularly the Ottoman Empire, which offered both religious tolerance and economic opportunities. This expulsion marked a turning point in Jewish history and drastically reshaped the presence of Jewish communities across Europe. So most synagogues were destroyed in Toledo, except for this one. It only survived because it was gifted to the Order of Calatrava, Spain’s first military order, which converted it into a church called Nuestra Señora del Tránsito. Today, it’s one of the best-preserved synagogues in Spain and houses the Sephardic Museum, dedicated to preserving Judeo-Hispanic heritage. It is listed as a Spanish Property of Cultural Interest and is part of the UNESCO-protected historic center of Toledo.