Museo Sefardí

The Museo Sefardí (Sephardic Museum) preserves and carries forward the legacy of Hispano-Jewish and Sephardic culture as an essential part of Spain’s history and cultural heritage. Its collections contain pieces of Hispano-Jewish material culture from the arrival of the Jews in Hispania through the ‘Golden Age’ of al-Andalus, and later in the Christian kingdoms.

Its iconic home, the Synagogue of Samuel ha-Levi or El Tránsito Synagogue, built in the mid-14th century in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, is thought to be the most important Hispano-Jewish building in Spain. It was built under the orders of Samuel Levi, a diplomat, royal treasurer and trusted man of King Pedro I of Castile. Its walls and wooden roof bear witness to the cultural melting pot that was Toledo.

After the expulsion, the synagogue was converted into a church and archive for two military orders. At the beginning of the 19th century, the space was a small hermitage, which served as a military barracks during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1877, the synagogue was declared a National Monument for its exceptional value, which led to its restoration and subsequent opening to the public in 1911. However, it was not until 1964 that the synagogue became a museum, created by Royal Decree. Its doors opened in 1971 after a new restoration. Throughout its 60 years as a cultural institution, the Sephardic Museum has evolved to adapt and offer its best version.