Lucena, located in the south of the province of Córdoba, was such an important Sephardic city between the 9th and 12th centuries that it was considered the ‘Pearl of Sefarad’ (Eliossana). In fact, its population was almost exclusively Jewish, which reflects the prestige and respect this community enjoyed during a period when Andalusia was under Muslim rule. Although very few vestiges of that splendid past remain, the Jewish necropolis of Lucena is considered the most significant site to visit for those interested in this subject. Therefore, in the following lines, we tell you everything you should know before discovering it, something you can do with the help of Andalucía Exclusiva.
The cemetery, a very special place for Judaism
To understand the interest in visiting the Jewish necropolis of Lucena, it is worth remembering the paramount importance these sacred sites hold in Judaism. They host the burial of the deceased, who must remain so in perpetuity on previously blessed land. Precisely for this reason, the Jewish community issued a complaint to the Spanish authorities regarding the exhumation of bodies for study.
Years later, the bodies were reinterred following Jewish rites. Among them, the remains of an individual measuring approximately 2.20 meters stood out—an extraordinarily large stature for the time. Even today, this site continues to be considered a sacred place for the Jewish community and was one of the primary reasons why the city of Lucena was included in the Network of Jewish Quarters of Spain.
Highlights of the Jewish necropolis of Lucena
The area covered by the Jewish necropolis of Lucena is approximately 3,700 m2, where nearly 350 tombs from the 10th and 11th centuries were found—a period of true peak for the ‘Pearl of Sefarad’. To explore this sacred space, walkways have been installed to allow views of the niches from above, which have been enclosed and marked for proper identification.
Other tasks were carried out to prepare this cemetery as a visitable space. For example, the recreation of the four types of tombs used here, such as the simple pit or the small cave (covacha), which were covered with Roman tegulae and stone flakes. There is also a water fountain, essential for purification, and explanatory panels for those visiting the site individually.
A visit to the Jewish necropolis of Lucena can be complemented by a visit to the Lucena Interpretation Center, which serves as a museum for the town’s history. One of the most valuable finds is on display there: a fragment of a tombstone with Hebrew alphabet characters, something of enormous singularity in the entire Iberian Peninsula.
Practical information
If you plan to visit the Jewish necropolis of Lucena and learn about its history, please take note of the following information:
- Jewish Necropolis of Lucena:
- Address: Calle la Parra, 64
- Price: €3.50. For private guided tour options, please check availability
- Lucena Interpretation Center:
- Address: Calle San Pedro 42
- Price: Free