Sephardic Sevilla

It is quite possible that Seville’s Jewish community is, if not the oldest, certainly one of the oldest in Spain. Híspalis (Seville) was, in fact, a place of unrivalled importance on the Iberian Peninsula, with the Roman general Escipión later making it his capital. The Jews must have been attracted by the great city which gave its name to all Hispania.

Seville was Spain’s most populous city, the intellectual capital of the kingdom.
Seville’s Jewish community was one of the largest and without doubt the most industrious of all. At that time, Seville not only stood out as a result of its trade links, which flourished due to the importance of its river, but also thanks to its medical schools, where Spain’s most eminent doctors came to study, including those from Córdoba, such as the great Averroes.