Carrer de la Força and the Call

The tour departs from the Centre Bonastruc ça Porta, an institute of Jewish learning built around the old Synagogue on Carrer de la Força, the main artery of the medieval quarter which has remained amazingly intact over the centuries. Containing the most accurate information about medieval Jewish communities in Spain, particularly those in Catalonia, the museum’s exhibits provide a picture of daily life in the quarter, Jewish traditions and the region’s most influential calls. Recently, much of the Call has been restored under the supervision of the Centre also home to the Museu d'Història dels Jueus (Jewish History Museum) – which has developed a map of the maze-like streets and hosts small exhibits on Carrer de la Força. The Call or the Jewish district is, whitouth doubt, the most beautiful neighborhood of Girona. This is the most preserved Jewish Quarter and one of the most important in Spain. "Cúndaro" and "de Sant Llorenç" streets and are pretty narrow, just like the streets around the "Calle de la Força". This is the place where Jewish lived for around 600 years. The Jews of Girona enjoyed periods of peaceful coexistence with Christians alternating with times of persecution during 890. Anti-Semitism started to grow and the Jews were forced to retreat into the close confines of the Jewish Quarter. They were required to seal the doors and windows that opened on to surrounding city’s streets until there was only one access into the call. Then, in 1492, King Ferdinand expelled the Jews from Spanish Territory entirely. Only those who agreed to convert to Christianity remained in the country. Before leaving Girona, the Jews were permitted to sell their properties and Christians were permitted to buy them. The new owners unblocked the Jewish quarter to give it free access into the city.