Heritage · Cañete
Arco de la Sinagoga de Cañete
Cañete's Arco de la Sinagoga is a simple, elegant arch in an ascending alley above Plaza Mayor. An established tradition, unconfirmed by documents, makes it the synagogue entrance of the town's small Jewish community, documented from the 13th century until expulsion in the late 15th. Bezants on its imposts date it to the Catholic Monarchs' time.
- Municipality
- Cañete
- Jews
- Synagogue
- Aljama
- Catholic Monarchs
- Cañete
An arch in an alley
It stands in a narrow alley climbing from Plaza Mayor in Cañete. A simple, elegant arch opens onto a small courtyard, almost a passage. Balls on its imposts date it to the Catholic Monarchs’ time.
The community that has gone
Villagers have always said it was the synagogue entrance, although no document confirms this. Cañete had a small Jewish community from the 13th century until the expulsion of 1492. No other remains survive: this arch alone recalls it.
Plan your visit
Combine with
Plaza Mayor and San Julián church, a few steps away.
Frequently asked questions
Was it really the synagogue?
Tradition says so, but documents do not confirm it. Cañete's Jewish community is documented from the 13th century and lasted until its final expulsion in the late 15th.
How is it dated?
By the bezants on the imposts, placing it in the Catholic Monarchs' reign.
Carry on from here
Lands and landscapes
From here, follow the memory of the land
These readings connect Arco de la Sinagoga de Cañete with the stories, the work and the villages around it.
Where it is
Where the data on this page come from
- Name
- Ayuntamiento de Cañete source consulted, 5 October 2026
- Municipality (INE code)
- Ayuntamiento de Cañete source consulted, 5 October 2026
«Source consulted»: the primary source has been read. «Reference located»: the source has been identified but not yet read. «Open question»: the figure needs confirmation.