Španělská synagoga Photos
Recommended Reviews - Španělská synagoga
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Beautiful Spanish Synagogue Inspired by Alhambra Built in 1868, it shows a Moorish Revival-style inspired by Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Frantisek Skroup, who composed the Czech national anthem, was the organist here. It was built on the site of the Old Synagogue which was the oldest synagogue in Prague. The synagogue design was inspired by Arabic architecture and art. The bimah is situated at the eastern wall. The aron ha-kodesh is designed in the style of mihrab, and has no curtain (parochet) to cover the ark and Torah. During the WWII, the synagogue served as a storage place for confiscated properties of Czech Jewish Communities. After the war, the synagogue was given to the Jewish Museum and completely restored. It was neglected in the 1970s and closed a decade later. It was then restored again and the reopened in 1998. Today, it can be visited as part of the Jewish Museum in Prague.
This is the "newest" of the six historic Prague synagogues. It was built in the Spanish Moorish style in the second half of the 19th century, and features colorful stained glass, stylized oriental touches, a cool organ (marking its Reform pedigree) and a warm glow of gold. Gayle and I came here for a concert, rather than daven. We marveled at the architecture and thoroughly enjoyed the orchestral and vocal performance.
So much history in Josefov. It was initially a bit confusing, trying to understand where things were located, how it was situated, and where we needed to go, but once we spoke with a ticket agent, it all made sense. Josefov was crowded the day we went - all the synagogues, all the museums, even the cemetery were full of tourists. It was great for them, because I'm sure the funds will go a long way in helping to preserve the landmarks, but it made navigating through spaces a bit of a challenge. There were so many great displays within the Spanish Synagogue. They line every wall, and every one of them has a story to tell. Most of the displays had placards with English translations on them, but there were a fair number that did not. You can get a sense of what they're trying to tell you based on the artifact and the surrounding plaques, but there were a lot of gaps in information because of that. I'm not one of those travelers who expects the rest of the world to speak English, but it's confusing that some are translated and some aren't. The architecture and decor within this synagogue were beautiful. There's quite a bit to see - two levels worth, as a matter of fact - and though it can get crowded, it won't feel nearly as pinched as some of the other locations in the area. Definitely worth the time and money, for the history alone, if for nothing else.
This place was very nice. It was like a museum inside, with information on Jews in Bavaria and Jews in Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia throughout history. The structure itself was beautiful. I also went to a concert there at night where they were playing Gershwin music, which was very nice.
This is a beautiful synagogue in the Jewish quarter. The Synagogue dazzles with its golden Moorish designs, blue and red patterns, and soft natural light. It's one of the most ornate synagogues in Europe, and stepping inside feels like entering another world entirely. Here, memory isn't heavy -- it shines. The music that often fills the space, whether classical or klezmer, feels like an act of defiance and joy. It's a reminder that the story of Jewish Prague is not only about sorrow, but about resilience, creativity, and renewal. It was a nice cultural and historical stop in our Prague walking tour. read more
Beautiful Spanish Synagogue Inspired by Alhambra Built in 1868, it shows a Moorish Revival-style inspired by Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Frantisek Skroup, who composed the Czech national anthem, was the organist here. It was built on the site of the Old Synagogue which was the oldest synagogue in Prague. The synagogue design was inspired by Arabic architecture and art. The bimah is situated at the eastern wall. The aron ha-kodesh is designed in the style of mihrab, and has no curtain (parochet) to cover the ark and Torah. During the WWII, the synagogue served as a storage place for confiscated properties of Czech Jewish Communities. After the war, the synagogue was given to the Jewish Museum and completely restored. It was neglected in the 1970s and closed a decade later. It was then restored again and the reopened in 1998. Today, it can be visited as part of the Jewish Museum in Prague. read more
This is the "newest" of the six historic Prague synagogues. It was built in the Spanish Moorish style in the second half of the 19th century, and features colorful stained glass, stylized oriental touches, a cool organ (marking its Reform pedigree) and a warm glow of gold. Gayle and I came here for a concert, rather than daven. We marveled at the architecture and thoroughly enjoyed the orchestral and vocal performance. read more
11 years ago
So much history in Josefov. It was initially a bit confusing, trying to understand where things were located, how it was situated, and where we needed to go, but once we spoke with a ticket agent, it all made sense. Josefov was crowded the day we went - all the synagogues, all the museums, even the cemetery were full of tourists. It was great for them, because I'm sure the funds will go a long way in helping to preserve the landmarks, but it made navigating through spaces a bit of a challenge. There were so many great displays within the Spanish Synagogue. They line every wall, and every one of them has a story to tell. Most of the displays had placards with English translations on them, but there were a fair number that did not. You can get a sense of what they're trying to tell you based on the artifact and the surrounding plaques, but there were a lot of gaps in information because of that. I'm not one of those travelers who expects the rest of the world to speak English, but it's confusing that some are translated and some aren't. The architecture and decor within this synagogue were beautiful. There's quite a bit to see - two levels worth, as a matter of fact - and though it can get crowded, it won't feel nearly as pinched as some of the other locations in the area. Definitely worth the time and money, for the history alone, if for nothing else. read more
10 years ago
This place was very nice. It was like a museum inside, with information on Jews in Bavaria and Jews in Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia throughout history. The structure itself was beautiful. I also went to a concert there at night where they were playing Gershwin music, which was very nice. read more
11 years ago
Beautiful synagogue located in the Josefov neighborhood. It's two floors of artifacts and impressive art. Loved the beautiful stained glass and huge organ. It's a great place to visit though it does get quite crowded. It's part of the Jewish Museum so the CZK300 which is a bit more than $12 is included and worth it. read more
