Located on the outskirts of Toledo between the Church of San Juan de los Reyes and the Synagogue del Transito, the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca is one of the oldest synagogues in Europe.
The Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca, originally called the Synagogue of Ibn Shushan, was built in 1180. Designed by Arab architects for Jewish use, at a time when Toledo had already been conquered by Christian kings, this synagogue is a peculiar symbol of the cultural unity of the three different peoples who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula.
The building was erected in the Mudejar style. Thanks to the use of certain materials, stylistic elements and structures, this building is considered one of the best examples of Moorish architecture of the Almohad era.
In 1391, the temple building suffered a major fire. In 1405 the synagogue was converted into a Christian church dedicated to St Mary the White. The half-destroyed temple was empty for a long time. At the beginning of the 18th century, its premises were used to house the city's military forces. During the war with Napoleon's army, the church building was used as a military warehouse. Only at the end of the 19th century the synagogue was partially restored and began to be used as a church.
The interior of the synagogue is decorated with 32 octagonal pillars, which divide the room into five aisles. Each of the aisles ends with a chapel in the Spanish Plateresco style. The white colour of the walls of the interior, as well as the arches decorated with beautiful capitals and the ornate Plateresco altar give the interior of the building a majestic and elegant feel.
