About Us
Awakening Jewish Heritage in Barcelona
Toldot Barcelona was born as a platform to promote the richness of present culture, and at the same time forgotten, Catalan Jewish heritage. Toldot desires to share research and history through unique and honest experiences, with an aim to give birth to stories never before told. Our vision is much more than just tour guiding, but to be a conductor to educate people, connect communities over shared histories, over food, and to be a place of continuous discovery.
Casa Adret
Located in the heart of the old call (Jewish quarter) of Barcelona, this 12th century palace-house stands as a tribute to its last Jewish owner, the Jewish-Catalan merchant Astruc Adret, who was forced to convert to Christianity after the pogrom of 1391. An architectural gem, refurbished by award-winning architects Elías Torres and José Antonio Martínez Lapeña, this unique space boasts ancient murals, Romanesque columns, and traces of mezuzot - a rare find in Barcelona. Entering its walls is a shortcut to the Middle Ages.
Casa Adret was founded in 2017 and serves as a melting pot of history, community, research and hub for several organizations including the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ). Casa Adret is used to host cultural events, conferences, gastronomic experiences, educational programs, and much more. The space is now accessible to both to Jews and non-Jews living in and visiting Barcelona, and aims to promote and explore the richness and diversity of Jewish culture, thought, and tradition, bringing Jewish life back to the call.
Research
At Toldot, we are not just a tourism company; we are passionate advocates for the exploration and preservation of Jewish heritage in Barcelona. Our mission goes beyond showcasing the beauty of the city – we actively contribute to the research and promotion of the rich Jewish legacy embedded in the heart of Barcelona and Catalonia.
Dedicated to unraveling the threads of history, Toldot collaborates with various public and private institutions in multiple projects aimed at highlighting and preserving the Jewish heritage that Barcelona and Catalonia proudly possess. Our initiatives encompass a diverse range of activities, from archival research to guided tours, all designed to foster a deeper understanding of the significant role played by the Jewish community in shaping the cultural tapestry of this region.
Mozaika
Mozaika is a non-profit organisation founded in 2009 by a group of young, passionate individuals who had a vision to create a platform to share a greater knowledge and understanding of Jewish culture. From art, philosophy, music and literature, this seed has grown into a frame of cultural events, publications, education, annual magazines and SEFER, Barcelona’s first (and only) Jewish literature festival. In 2017, Mozaika founded the Casa Adret project, with the aim to bring back Jewish culture and life to the old neighbourhood.
Toldot was developed as a branch of Mozaika as a way to build on this platform. A creative way to further investigate Mozaika's research with an added ability to expose and educate the wider community in a new way: through experiences.
