Casa de Sefarad — Attraction in Córdoba

The best museum about the Jewish diaspora I've been to. While the story of Sephardim is tragic, too often museums about Jewish history reduce the narrative of Jewish groups to tragedy and dispossession, projecting the beauty and depth of culture into a sort of "lost past," and therefore essentializing Jewishness into a sort of "ahistorical", unchanging tale of repeating tragedy. In a sense, this doesn't give any room to express or celebrate the culture, art, or existence of Jews in the diaspora.

Rather than reduce the narrative of diasporic Jewish existence to a) descent from biblical times and b) tragedy and destruction, the museum does a great job of introducing the public to the richness and depth of Sephardic culture, both as it existed in al-andaluz and later in different countries, as the Sephardim were ejected by the christian kingdoms.

The house gives us concrete examples of practice for crypto-jews or "marranos" in Iberia, and shows how different elements of culture evolved over the centuries after the reconquista and the outlawing of non-christian religions.

We also get to see how Sephardic traditions overlapped, exchanged, and entered into dialogue with other religious, theo-philosophical, and cultural traditions, both within Islam and Christianity. The museum does this by introducing us to Jewish philosophers, artists, and other figures — most notably, of course, Maimonides — through their texts and ideas. We are shown a dynamic culture, which continues to evolve in spite of tragedy rather than become defined by it.

Every hour or half hour, make sure to catch the chant performed by museum staff in prayer Hebrew, ladino (judeo-español), and a third...

Well, this museum is WOW! It's definitely MUST to visit when in Cordoba. Museum is in old Jewish house with internal patio, typical house of Juderia quarter. Ground floor is dedicated to forbidden books and showing what books were banned and burned during the far or close history in different countries as a forbidden or dangerous. Three more small rooms host exhibition of silver Jewish religious objects, Chanukiya candelabras, mostly from north Morocco, one room dedicated to Jewish music, other to paintings of important women in Jewish history. One other room with traditional Jewish clothes of Andalous and Morocco is right behind the cashier in the entrance. I got there exactly when there were short performance of traditional Jewish Andalousian songs, in Hebrew and Spanish - Ladino performed by guy who sell the tickets there. He got to visitors also explanation in 3 languages, Spanish, French and English without any accent in every and each one. Really talented! Upper floor is dedicated to Synagogue of Cordoba and its internal reconstruction, to Rambam- Moshe ben Maimon - Maimonides, and showing also old book and document from the 15th century Inquisition processes. Over all very informative, very interesting museum showing past Jewish life in Cordoba before expulsion of Jews from Spain by catholic...

Fascinating museum covering the Jewish history in Cordoba (and Andalusia) with a very friendly host who plays traditional music about 5pm.

The house has two floors with a large courtyard downstairs, set similar to how it would be in Cordoba in the Islamic period. The rooms each feature artefacts and displays covering Jewish religious practice, food and clothing. There are some fantastic pieces, including the Torah, Jewish religious clothing and formal clothing, books and maps. The room dedicated to the Inquisition is only in Spanish but you are given a helpful translation in English.

I also really liked the gallery which features Sephardic Jewish women over history.

This is a really lovely museum and a great place to visit when the sun is high as it’s very cool and shaded. The museum is family friendly and children will enjoy seeing...