El Call, the Jewish Quarter.
Plaça Sant Jaume con carrer Sant Honorat
The word Call is the name for Judería, Jewish quarter, in Catalan. Perhaps coming from Callum, ‘small street’, or Kahal, meaning community. The Jewish Quarter took up this corner of the walled city of medieval Barcelona. There were only two entrances, each gate with a gatekeeper who was paid by the Jewish community. One gate was located right here, the other just down the road to the left.
In the Middle Ages, this street (Carrer Sant Honorat) was called ‘the street of the fountain’, as Jews who didn’t have a well in their home, a luxury at the time, would have to leave the Call and collect water from the wells located in Placa Sant Jaume, a dangerous activity, especially at times such as Easter, when fears of blood libels and other rumors spread among the Christian communities. Because of this, in the 14th century a fountain was built inside the Jewish quarter, in this street.
At the entrance, there was a synagogue ‘poca’ or ‘xica’ , the ‘small’ synagogue.
As seen on
The Hidden gems of Jewish Barcelona