The Sephardi Museum is located in the Transito Synagogue or Synagogue of Samuel ha - Levi, considered the most beautiful preserved medieval synagogue in the world. The permanent exhibition aims to make known the history of the Jews in Spain.
The exhibition presents the history of the Jews in Spain, their arrival in the Iberian Peninsula in Roman times, their cultural golden age during the Middle Ages, their expulsion by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, the phenomenon of conversion and its persecution by the Inquisition. The expository script reaches to the present day, focusing on the exile and development of Sephardic communities around the world.
Opening Time
Tuesday to Saturday: 09.30 - 18.00 hours (summer: 19:30) Sunday: 10:00 - 15:00 hours
Tickets: 3 Euros. Free on Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. and Sundays.
Resources for the visit
The Museum has a series of resources that facilitate the visit and make the tour of the permanent exhibition more understandable and accessible.
- Audio guides in four languages (Spanish, English, French and Hebrew) and a tour with audio description for people with visual disabilities.
- Museum app with accessible audiovisual content.
- Tablets to be able to use the museum App.
- Wifimuseum as a multimedia guide, without the need to previously download content, only with a connection to the museum's Wi-Fi.
- Room sheets in six languages (English, French, German, Hebrew, Arabic and Chinese) and in Braille.
- Guide plans.
Sephardi Museum Map
AddressSynagogue of El Transito and Sephardi Museum
Samuel Leví
45002 Toledo (Spain)
Sephardi Museum
The Sephardi Museum of Toledo collects testimonies of material culture from the arrival of the Jews to Hispania in Roman times until the so-called Golden Age in al-Andalus and later in the Christian kingdoms. In the moments of coexistence among its inhabitants, poetry, biblical exegesis, science, philosophy, grammar, etc. flourished, and important cultural manifestations occurred that were reflected in such well-known examples as theSchool by Traductores de Toledo, which marked the transfer of scientific and philosophical knowledge from the ancient world to medieval Europe.
The breakdown of this coexistence brought about intolerance and the convert problem that was attempted to be resolved with the Courts of the Inquisition and which culminated in the Decree of Expulsion in 1492. This decree meant the departure of Aragonese and Castilian people, of religion Jewish travel to Portugal, North Africa, the Mediterranean basin and the Netherlands.
The permanent exhibition aims to make known the history of the Jewish people in Spain, from their arrival in Roman times to their expulsion by the Catholic Monarchs, with special emphasis on the medieval period, the Golden Age of Spanish Judaism. Both the converts, who stayed, and those who left, taking with them the culture and customs acquired in the Peninsula, have developed a very peculiar cultural heritage, worthy of being known and preserved for future generations.
Expository speech
The exhibition discourse takes place in five rooms and two patios in which, based on the traditions and origin of the Jewish people, testimonies of Spanish-Jewish material culture are shown.
Room I - Traditions of the Jewish people and their origins
The Jews in the Ancient East. Judaism as a way of life. It shows archaeological pieces from Israel (Ancient Near East) and others that explain Judaism as a way of life.
Room II - The arrival of the Jews to Hispania
The Jews in Roman and Visigoth times. The Jews in al-Andalus.
Room III - The Jews in the Christian kingdoms (12th-15th centuries)
The Jews in the Christian kingdoms. New archaeological findings.
North Patio - Garden of Memory
North courtyard or garden of memory: includes a sound garden, a multisensory experience that recreates the everyday sounds of the Jewish quarter in the Middle Ages.
East Patio - Archaeological excavation and rest area
In addition to being a rest area for visitors, you can access the archaeological excavation, upon request to the Museum Directorate, which highlighted buildings prior to the construction of the Tránsito Synagogue.
Rooms IV and V - Women's Gallery. The Sephardim
Room IV and V (Gallery of Women and Sacristy): They explain the term “Sephardic” and make known the life and festive cycle of the Sephardic communities in the world.
Library and Archive
The Museum has a specialized library, with more than 15,000 volumes. In addition, it has an ancient collection of Hebrew books, considered one of the most important in Spain, which covers a chronological arc that goes from the 15th century to the beginning of the 20th century.
Sefardi Museum Pictures
