Marlet Street

Marlet Street is one of the many narrow streets and the mysterious magical aspect of the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. There is a presumption that the Old Synagogue of Barcelona was located there, in the building with the inclined façade, which remains that way without completely surrendering.

Marlet Street is one of the most popular streets because of the tombstone on the facade at the front of the house at number 1. The Hebrew inscription is in memory of Samuel ben Itshaq ha-Sardi, one of the most important rabbis of Barcelona (12th and 13th century). He is remembered for his charity work for the Pia Almoina Jewish Foundation. The Hebrew text on the tombstone reads as follows: 1. Pia Alms 2. Rabbi Xemuel 3. Ha-Sardi 4. "Generous people prosper" Among experts in history there are doubts about whether the Main Synagogue was located there or not , but Without a doubt, in the area there was a place of worship for the Jewish people. Proof of this are the foundations of the Roman-era synagogue that date back to Emperor Caracalla, who ruled from 188 to 217 and granted full Roman citizenship to all free men of the empire, including its Jews, in 212. .

The Jewish quarter was very prosperous in the thirteenth century, up to five temples of worship were built, of which only this one remains standing. This building belongs to the "Associació del Call de Barcelona", has a synagogue for special celebrations and is an important information point about Judaism in Barcelona. The interior part of the building is open to the public to visit the archaeological remains discovered during an excavation in 2002. The Jews were expelled from Spain and this street, previously called Call, passed into the hands of the Crown.