{"id":5656,"date":"2026-10-27T16:50:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T15:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/?p=5656"},"modified":"2026-10-29T10:40:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T09:40:40","slug":"the-latticework-of-santa-maria-la-blanca-when-architecture-transforms-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/en\/the-latticework-of-santa-maria-la-blanca-when-architecture-transforms-light\/","title":{"rendered":"The latticework of Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca: when architecture transforms light"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2>Light that never enters in quite the same way<\/h2>\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/en\/monument-santa-maria-la-blanca-synagogue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca<\/strong><\/a>, light does not merely illuminate the space: it is also part of its beauty. The white of its columns and arches changes depending on the light, whilst the wooden latticework at the back filters the sun\u2019s rays and casts abstract shadows onto the walls.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div class=\"video-container\"><iframe class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nBd7gUShpBQ?feature=oembed\" title=\"Sinagoga - Celosias\" width=\"540\" height=\"960\"  frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<h2>When light becomes geometry<\/h2>\n<p>Lattices are perforated <strong>structures that allow light and air to pass through without completely enclosing a space<\/strong>. They feature in various architectural traditions, particularly in Islamic architecture, and are linked to the ornamental style of Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca, a former synagogue in Toledo associated with the Mudejar tradition.<\/p>\n<p>As it passes through its openings, <strong>the light is fragmented and casts patterns onto the interior surfaces<\/strong>. The result varies depending on the position of the sun and the intensity of the light, causing the monument to be perceived differently throughout the day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5674\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5674\" style=\"width: 1913px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca.webp 1913w, https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca-300x148.webp 300w, https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca-1024x505.webp 1024w, https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca-768x379.webp 768w, https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca-1536x758.webp 1536w\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5674 size-full lazyload\" alt=\"\" width=\"1913\" height=\"944\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1913px) 100vw, 1913px\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5674 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1913\" height=\"944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca.webp 1913w, https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca-300x148.webp 300w, https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca-1024x505.webp 1024w, https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca-768x379.webp 768w, https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/celosias-santa-maria-la-blanca-1536x758.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1913px) 100vw, 1913px\"><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5674\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Detail of the latticework at Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Between the visible and the hidden<\/h2>\n<p>Lattices are not merely decorative elements. They filter light, partially restrict the view and create a <strong>transition between the exterior and the interior<\/strong>. This capacity has inspired symbolic interpretations relating to the boundary between the visible and the veiled, although not all of these can be attributed to a proven historical intention.<\/p>\n<p>At Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca, light and shadow help reveal the depth of the naves and the details of their architecture. The latticework transforms natural light into a shifting element that enhances the experience of contemplating the building.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When you visit Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca, look up at the latticework and observe how the light passes through its geometric shapes<\/strong>. You will discover that architecture is not only built with walls, columns and arches, but also with the light and shadows that transform the space.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca Synagogue is one of the seven monuments included in the Toledo Tourist Pass.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3369\" data-end=\"3607\">\t<div class=\"banner des-show tab-hide mob-hide\">\r\n<img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/pulsera-turistica-de-toledo-blog-h-e.webp\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1581 lazyload\" alt=\"Pulsera tur\u00edstica Toledo Monumental, Compra la entrada a 7 monumentos por 14\u20ac\" usemap=\"#Map\" width=\"928\" height=\"259\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1581\" src=\"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/pulsera-turistica-de-toledo-blog-h-e.webp\" alt=\"Pulsera tur\u00edstica Toledo Monumental, Compra la entrada a 7 monumentos por 14\u20ac\" usemap=\"#Map\" width=\"928\" height=\"259\"><\/noscript>\r\n<map name=\"Map\"> <area coords=\"37,182,324,228\" shape=\"rect\" href=\"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/en\/tourist-wristband\/\" \/> <area coords=\"336,183,631,228\" shape=\"rect\" href=\"https:\/\/tickets.toledomonumental.com\/en\/767-toledo-monumental\/4296-pulsera-turistica-de-toledo\" \/><\/map>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"bannerport des-hide tab-show mob-show\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/tickets.toledomonumental.com\/en\/767-toledo-monumental\/4296-pulsera-turistica-de-toledo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/pulsera-turistica-de-toledo-blog-h-m-e.webp\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1679 lazyload\" alt=\"Pulsera tur\u00edstica Toledo Monumental, Compra la entrada a 7 monumentos por 14\u20ac\" width=\"928\" height=\"259\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1679\" src=\"https:\/\/toledomonumental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/pulsera-turistica-de-toledo-blog-h-m-e.webp\" alt=\"Pulsera tur\u00edstica Toledo Monumental, Compra la entrada a 7 monumentos por 14\u20ac\" width=\"928\" height=\"259\"><\/noscript><\/a>\r\n<\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca, light and shadow transform the architecture into a play of geometric patterns that changes throughout the day. The wooden latticework filters the sunlight, creating a unique atmosphere that enhances the beauty of this Toledo monument, included in the Toledo Tourist Pass.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5711,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,24,54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jesuit-church-san-ildefonso","category-sinagoga-de-santa-maria-la-blanca-en","category-videos"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The latticework of Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca and the play of light<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The latticework at Santa Mar\u00eda la Blanca filters the light and creates geometric shadows that enhance the beauty of 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