Jewish Barcelona Audio Guide

This self-guided audio tour explores the layered history of Barcelona’s medieval Jewish community through streets that still carry its imprint. Led by historian Dr. Cornel-Peter Rodenbusch, the tour follows the rise, daily life, and eventual destruction of a community that played a central role in the city for more than seven centuries.

Beginning near Portal de l’Àngel, the route moves through the former Jewish quarters of the city, where traces of synagogues, ritual spaces, and private homes remain embedded in the urban fabric. As you walk, you’ll hear how Jewish scholars, physicians, and merchants contributed to Barcelona’s intellectual and economic life, and how moments of coexistence gave way to persecution and expulsion. The narrative draws connections between architecture, inscriptions, and documented events, including interfaith debates and shifts in royal policy, to show how history unfolded block by block.

The tour concludes near Barcelona Cathedral, placing the Jewish quarter within the broader medieval city and reflecting on how memory, archaeology, and preservation shape what we see today. Throughout, Dr. Rodenbusch provides clear historical framing, helping listeners understand not only what happened, but why these sites still matter.

By the end of the tour, you’ll have a grounded understanding of Barcelona’s Jewish past—seen through the streets themselves and explained by a scholar dedicated to preserving this history.