Spanish Synagogue

The Spanish Synagogue dates from 1868. It stands on the site of a previous synagogue, Prague’s first, the Old School. It derives its name from two factors. It arose during a period when the Sephardic Jews (Spain) desired a temple reflective of their needs. Its architectural style, a Moorish-style, is also conducive to the name. The walls and stucco reflect the décor of Alahambra temples in Spain. There are vivid reds, blues and greens in floral motifs on the walls and echoed in the stained-glass windows. Today, it houses a permanent exhibit on the history of Judaism and Jews in Bohemia. There is a section on Prague’s early German-Jewish writers, including F. Kafka. Before you enter, cast your eyes upwards. Carved deeply into the façade are the Ten Commandments.