The district that you will recognize by being the Girona Jewish Quarter is a singular area of the city, where history lies in every corner, with beautiful places to see.
In it, you will find a museum that once was one of the synagogues of the quarter.
Today, it honors the history of Jews in the city.
Wandering through the iconic and popular streets of the Girona Jewish Quarter, take the time to enjoy its eye-catching architecture.
The winding alleyways will take you back to ancient times when this zone had a vibrant life.
Discover the Girona Jewish Quarter and enjoy its history!
Discover the Girona Jewish Quarter, a fascinating neighborhood
Girona lies north of Barcelona.
In only a one-hour drive from the capital of Catalonia, you will get to discover the best that the northern city has to offer.
Moreover, it is located very close to two other small villages with a charming medieval ambiance: Besalú and Castellfollit de la Roca.
So take advantage of the trip and visit them too!
Now, let’s discover more deeply the Girona Jewish Quarter and explore what it encloses.
The oldest proof of the stay of the Jews in Girona is a document that dates back to the year 888.
It talks about the existence of 25 families that lived in the houses of the city, more specifically in the Carrer de la Força (Força Street).
However, it was not until decades later, in the 12th century, that a grown community finally settled.
Thus, about 800 Jews got to inhabit the town.
By that time, the population began to gain economic power.
They were permitted to use the zone today known as Montjuïc (the Jew’s mountain) as a graveyard.
They bought properties and invested in businesses.
This began to bother the Christians of the era, who, supported by the Inquisition, started to exercise brutal repression against anyone who practiced the Jewish faith.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, many Jews from the Girona Jewish Quarter were obliged to convert.
Many others sought refuge in other places, leaving the town behind.
Nonetheless, they did not abandon Girona without leaving an unbreakable legacy that tells the stories of their presence in the city.
A heritage that today can be discovered in the narrow stone streets of the Call.
Wander the streets of the Girona Jewish Quarter, do not miss these sites
Call is the Catalan name for the Girona Jewish Quarter.
That place of the Old Town, adjacent to the Cathedral, encloses many mysteries.
Embraced by the Onyar River, the city’s Jewish district is among the most popular and visited places.
Would you like to discover what to see on this trip to the Middle Ages, where we can also accompany you to discover the zone in depth?
The Força Street and the surrounding area
The main street of the Girona Jewish Quarter is the Força Street.
In this and in the small, winding, cobbled streets around it, was where the Jews settled centuries ago.
It is well worth strolling around the district, one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Spain.
You will notice that the sunrays barely bathe these narrow alleys.
This is where the Jewish memory resides, and now you can take pictures that turn into incredible postcards.
For that purpose, go to the Pujada de la Mare de Déu de la Pera (also known as the Pujada de la Catedral), or to the square of the Institut Vell.
Jewish History Museum
Are you keen on museums?
Then, you cannot miss this one!
The building that holds the Jewish History Museum once was a synagogue in the quarter.
However, it was reconverted to the current cultural venue to honor the history of the Jews in Girona and Catalonia.
It is located in the Centre Bonastruc ça Porta, and there is a Star of David on the courtyard floor.
The building also houses the Institute of Nahmanides Studies.
You will find the most important collection of Hebrew burial tombs in Spain, as well as documents and objects that illustrate the life of the Jews in the Middle Ages.
This fascinating museum is located in the heart of the city, in the Old Quarter, where you can still enjoy the architecture that surrounds it.
And, in case you would wish to visit more interesting museums in the area, go to the Dalí Museum in Figueres.
La Pabordia
This name refers to a building in the Call (the Jewish Quarter).
A Pabordia was an administrative authority, dependent on a cathedral or monastery, in charge of managing properties.
The one in Girona is located at the borders of the Jewish Quarter and was sold to a small group of people from the district.
Later, with the expulsion of the Jews from the city and from Spain, in 1492, the building was once again in possession of the Church.
What links it to the Jewish period are the baths found in 1975.
If you visit them, you will see water channels.
Moreover, if you want to discover more of that part of the city, you can ask your private guide.
It is one of the advantages of private tours.
Discover more of the beautiful city and the Girona Jewish Quarter
Today, the Girona Jewish Quarter continues to be an economic engine for the city, as many people visit it.
Moreover, it has become a symbol of the identity of the town.
It is not unusual to see tourists and even locals wandering peacefully and taking pictures.
This neighborhood, which encloses the history of the Jews in Girona, is in the heart of the Old Town.
This means that, with only a short walk, you will be able to discover other interesting sites, like the Cathedral, the Arab baths or the city walls.
Miss neither the wonderful bridges that cross the river, giving a characteristic touch to the town.
Would you like to discover the Girona Jewish Quarter with us? It will be amazing!
