One and a quarter meters in width, plaster plaster walls were discovered during works to repair the street in Toledo. Near these walls, the remains of a vault and crypt were discovered. These remains could be belonging to one of the ten synagogues this city used to have -only two of them remain today). They were found at the entrance of the old Jewish quarter in Toledo, right between Puerta del Cambron (Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes). They could also be remnants of the Church of San Martin that was built before the 15th century.
Noelia de la Cruz (Councilor for Works of the Toledo City Council) stated that archaeologists are “evaluating the finding to determine the extent of these remains, and the necessary actions to preserve this heritage.”
Since they were found just meters from San Juan de los Reyes monastery, the hypothesis that these remains belonged to a synagogue is strengthened. This temple was built by the Catholic Monarchs to commemorate the victory at Toro (1476) over the troops of Alfonso V. Portugal in the war for Castilian succession. Isabella the Catholic received the Crown of Castile. Built on the site of a demolished synagogue, the monastery is meant to be a symbol for Christianity’s victory over Judaism. It was also intended that the Catholic Monarchs would be buried there. At the request of Emperor Charles, the mortal remains of Isabella I of Castile, Ferdinand V of Aragon, and Ferdinand V of Aragon were buried in the Royal Chapel of Granada.
The church of San Martin was also located in the area, and its ruins were destroyed in the 19th Century. However, the items found could be related to that church.
These remains were discovered months ago by the same workers who worked on improving the road in Toledo-Reyes Catolicos street. Another discovery was made: a Jewish well measuring nine meters deep with a diameter six months. A public well that supplied the Jewish quarter residents. It was later moved to Pozo Amargo street, where you can still see it today.
The Jewish well remains. Toledo City Council
A well with legend: Fernando and Raquel were two young lovers, each a Christian and one a Jew. They had a forbidden love. The young man was killed by her father. Raquel went to the well each night, where she used to go to their meetings, and there she wept bitterly. She continued to do this day after day, until she finally saw Fernando’s face in the water. Then she jumped to her death. Tradition says that her water turned bitter due to the cries from the young woman. The truth is that the water from the majority of the wells located in the historic center Toledo has a bitter taste, as it is brackish.
