The Ministry of Culture cedes the Casa del Temple in Toledo to the Islamic Culture Foundation

Recently, the Spanish Ministry of Culture has completed the administrative transfer of the Andalusi palatial house located at Soledad Street, 2, in Toledo, popularly known as the ‘Casa del Temple’ (House of the Temple), to the Islamic Culture Foundation (FUNCI).

Given that one of FUNCI’s main objectives since its inception has been the conservation and recovery of the legacy of al-Andalus, in recent years the Foundation has been highlighting, due to its characteristics and the chronological classification made in previous archaeological studies, the importance of this Asset of Cultural Interest as testimony to the Andalusi past of the city of Toledo, as well as its interest in having the site dedicated to the dissemination of heritage of this period. Among its notable features are a richly decorated hall, which has been dated to the period between the Caliphate and the Taifa eras, as well as numerous plasterwork and decorated woodwork with Arabic calligraphic and vegetal motifs.

The agreement between the Ministry of Culture and FUNCI —which has been under the protectorate of said Ministry for several decades— entails opening the building for public enjoyment, its enhancement as an Andalusi monument within the historic ensemble of Toledo, and the installation of an exhibition space on this subject, along with corresponding guided tours.

Additionally, the building will be revitalized with the activities of the Center for Studies on Islamic Toledo (CETI), promoted by FUNCI for the recovery of the legacy of al-Andalus in Castilla-La Mancha, such as meetings, workshops, lecture series, and training courses on al-Andalus and Islamic Toledo. Likewise, it will become a consultation space for students and historians thanks to the installation of a reference bibliographic collection.

The transfer became official on October 16, 2025, through an Order issued by the Minister of Culture, granting an administrative concession for the property called Casa del Temple, located at Soledad Street, 2, in Toledo, to the Islamic Culture Foundation. Subsequently, the deed of transfer to FUNCI was signed on November 14 at the state-owned Sephardic Museum, with which FUNCI has been collaborating for several years.

Since then, the FUNCI team, in close coordination with the staff of the Ministry of Culture, has been working on adapting the property for its upcoming opening, which is scheduled for the first months of 2026. Likewise, it continues its work supporting research and dissemination of the Andalusi legacy of the city of Toledo and the region of Castilla-La Mancha.