During excavations prior to the construction of the Parador de Lorca, a large prayer room belonging to a synagogue came to light. This discovery was not surprising, given that the building is located next to the iconic castle of the Murcian city, a fortress that, centuries ago, marked the boundary between the Castilian and Muslim territories. Within its walls, for more than two centuries, a large Jewish community resided, engaged in trade, crafts, translation of Arabic texts and even the rescue of captives.
Next to the old citadel, an Islamic cistern and part of the Almohad wall, is the 15th century temple revealed by the Parador de Lorca, which is today one of the architectural jewels that visitors can admire. This place is unique in Spain, as it preserves in its interior the hejal, the space used to keep the Torah, and the bimah, the pulpit where the rabbi proclaimed the sacred texts. In addition, in its underground construction, designed so as not to exceed the height of the churches, 2,600 fragments of glass were found, which were used to reconstruct the 27 original lamps, currently on display in the Archaeological Museum of Lorca.
This discovery, which integrates harmoniously with the historical sites in the area, has allowed Lorca to become part of the Network of Spanish Jewish Quarters "Caminos de Sefarad" since 2019, along with other cities such as Toledo, Cordoba, Avila, Girona, Besalú, Barcelona, Hervás, Cáceres, Segovia and Seville.
