The main characters at that time were the men and women who lived in thefortified city bordering on the Castile and Granada Kingdoms . The towers of the castle (the Alfonsina and El Espolón), the walls and the bell towers of the churches constitute the skyline of this city, situated in a geographically strategic location.

Current archaeological excavations undertaken in the city and in the castle precincts have outcome in a better knowledge of the fortified area. As an example, the Rambla, Pozos and Cava streets and the gates (San Ginés, Fuente del Oro, Gil de Ricla). There were also some Christian religious buildings such as Santa Olalla church, the hermitages Virgen de las Huertas, San Roque and San Sebastián . The Jewish remains located in the Alcalá quarter, in the castle precincts, constitute the major archaeological finds in the area, being the synagogue the most important construction. This building,the centre of religious life more than 500 years ago, has been exceptionally well conserved until present day.

These archaeological excavations held in Lorca were to become a milestone in the knowledge of Jewish culture in Late Middle Ages, a significant period in our cultural heritage. The exhibition “Lights of Sepharad” is a way to promote thesearchaeological finds as well as to enhance this part of our cultural heritage. It also enables us to improve our knowledge about the past, to understand the present, the future and to explain our identity based on diversity.

All the artefacts on display in this exhibition are the original ones, many of them considered as unique pieces, since no similar ones have been found in any other archaeological site. The most outstanding items are the glass lamps used to illuminate the synagogue and some fragments from the plasterworks decorating the Aron ha-Kodesh in this building. The tiles, coins and ceramics found represent daily life in Late Middle Ages. Some fragments of Hanukiahs, the oil lamps used in the Jewish festival known as Hanukkah , have also been uncovered, together with some interesting manuscripts giving an account of the activities carried out by Jewish people in this society in the 15 th century.