Synagogue of Castelo de Vide

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Portalegre > Castelo de Vide > Castelo de Vide

Location

The Synagogue of Castelo de Vide is located in the heart of the old Jewish Quarter, a historic area situated on the hillside of the mount where the castle stands. The environment is characterized by narrow, cobbled streets, typical of a medieval neighbourhood, creating a picturesque setting that invites calm exploration.

A Look into History

This building dates back to the 14th century, bearing witness to the presence of a significant Jewish community in Castelo de Vide at that time. It is one of the rare examples of medieval synagogues that survived in Portugal after the Edict of Expulsion in 1496. Even after that date, the place continued to be used, discreetly, by Jews who remained in the village, functioning as a meeting place and, it is believed, also as a school. Over the centuries, the building underwent several transformations, even being used as a private residence in the 18th century. Its original identity as a synagogue was only fully rediscovered and valued in works carried out in the 1970s.

The Architecture

The synagogue is a modest, two-story building that retains elements of its original construction and subsequent alterations. Noteworthy are the door and window openings, some framed by pointed stone arches, characteristic of the medieval period. In one of the ground-floor accesses, the mark of a mezuzah is visible, the small concavity where, traditionally, a case containing fragments of the fundamental Jewish prayer, the Shemá Israel, was placed.

The Interior and the Tabernacle

Upon entering the building, visitors discover what was the main prayer hall. The most remarkable element inside is the Tabernacle, also known as Aron Kodesh (or Hekhal in Sephardic communities). Carved in stone in the 15th century, this space was intended to house the Torah scrolls, the sacred scriptures. It was rediscovered in 1972, hidden within one of the walls. Next to the Tabernacle, to the left, there is a small pedestal that served as a support for the scriptures. This pedestal features an ornamentation with seven small spheres, symbolizing the six days of Creation and the seventh day, the day of rest (Shabbat).

A Space of Memory

Currently, the old synagogue building functions as a museum dedicated to the history of the Jewish community of Castelo de Vide. It allows visitors to understand not only the religious and social function of the synagogue, but also to trace a little of the journey and legacy of the Jews in this Alentejo village, from medieval times until their assimilation or dispersion.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt