Medieval Synagogue Discovered Under Spanish Church

In a remarkable discovery, archaeologists working on the Santa Maria la Blanca church in Seville, Spain, have uncovered remnants of a medieval synagogue Ark. The Ark, or aron kodesh, where Torah scrolls were traditionally kept, had long been hidden behind the church altar.

José María Rincón, the director of the restoration, revealed that the Ark had been concealed by a grand, gilded baroque altarpiece built in the mid-1600s. “This is a unique opportunity to witness an element unseen for 350 years, soon to be veiled once more, likely never to be seen again,” Rincón remarked. He also noted that the Ark was in an "exceedingly precarious" condition.

The Santa Maria la Blanca church has a complex history. Originally functioning as a mosque from the 11th century until the Catholic reconquest of Seville in 1248, it was then transformed into a synagogue located in the heart of the medieval Jewish quarter. However, following the 1391 pogroms and forced conversions of Jews to Christianity, the building was turned into a Catholic church.

The Spanish Inquisition further altered the fate of Spanish Jews. In March 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella issued the Alhambra Decree, ordering the expulsion of between 45,000 to 200,000 practicing Jews from Spain. Many Jews who converted to Christianity, known as conversos, continued to practice their faith in secret as Crypto Jews.

Over the centuries, the Santa Maria la Blanca church underwent numerous architectural changes, culminating in its current Baroque style, which includes the intricate altarpiece constructed between 1657 and 1660. This structure, featuring twisted columns framing an image of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, had concealed the synagogue Ark for centuries.

Prior to the restoration work that began in November 2023, Rincón had anticipated uncovering the remains of the medieval synagogue. Historians had long suggested that the altar’s location was the site of the original Synagogue Ark. The altarpiece was dismantled for restoration by the Heritage and Urban Planning Department of the Andalusian regional government, leading to the discovery.

Despite the significant find, the remnants of the Ark will once again be obscured by the altarpiece once restoration is complete, leaving the medieval treasure hidden from view once more.

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