Spanish synagogue archaeological search continues
The search is focused on a 14th century building in the small city of Utrera in Seville, in the south-west of the country, but clues as to its past are proving hard to come by.
One year after archaeological work began to find the remains of Spain’s second largest synagogue, researchers and excavators have said they are still not sure if it is there.
The search is focused on a 14th century building in the small city of Utrera in Seville, in the south-west of the country, but clues as to its past are proving hard to come by.
“We still have no idea if the synagogue is there or not and what state it is in,” said Miguel Ángel de Dios, one of the archaeologists working on the Utrera project, speaking to JTA.
“If we find it, we believe a mikveh, or ritual bath, should be located outside the prayer room, as well as some sort of building for the women’s gallery.
“It may not have been preserved, but we can certainly seek for traces of some kind of distinction between men and women.”
Professor Jorge Eiroa, an historian at the University of Murcia, said: “When a synagogue is converted into a church, any Jewish vestiges are promptly removed. If we’re lucky, the Torah ark is transformed into a small altar, as in the case of Córdoba.”
Over the years, the building – which sits in the heart of the city’s Jewish quarter – has served as a hospital, a Catholic chapel, an orphanage, a school and, more recently, as a restaurant and cocktail bar.
After a period of abandonment, the city council bought it in 2018 and began the dig in February 2021, after historians pointed to a city priest’s 1604 reference to the site having been a synagogue.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
