I've been accused more than once of being a RS groupie. By far my biggest resource for my travels is RS guides. So it is with respect and caution that I point out what I think is a fairly significant error in the Segovia chapter of the Spain guide. Where does one suggest corrections that might be needed to the guides? I spent a day in Segovia and used Rick's walking guide. He suggests that the Corpus Christi Convent was once a synagogue and before that a mosque. While the interior has a lot of Moorish influence, neither the church history detailed in the exhibits nor any cursory search for information provides any information that this church was once a mosque. If it is actually the case that it once was a mosque, I would love to get greater details. I did find the idea of a mosque/synagogue/catholic church in that location compelling.
Posted by
Washington DC
27104 posts
Here you go: https://www.ricksteves.com/forms/guidebook-feedback-form . I haven't found a quick way to get there. I just pretend I'm getting ready to buy one of the books, and at the bottom of the product page there's a link for "Updates and Feedback".
Posted by
la rioja
531 posts
Jules, it seems that the convent was a synagogue.
The Visit Segovia web page states:
"This is the best preserved of the five synagogues which existed in the Jewish Quarter of Segovia. This is due to its conversion into a Catholic church in 1410, following the events of Corpus Christi, to whom the new faith of the temple was dedicated."
The page Rutas con Historia says that Convent was the "antigua Sinagoga Mayor de Segovia, es citada por primera vez como sinagoga en 1373 y funcionó como tal hasta 1410." (The old Grand Synagogue of Segovia, is first cited as a synagogue in 1373 and was active as such until 1410)
It also seems that in 1419 it start to function as a church, but was not a mosque. It was not secularized in the 19th century.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
"Here you go: https://www.ricksteves.com/forms/guidebook-feedback-form . I haven't found a quick way to get there. I just pretend I'm getting ready to buy one of the books, and at the bottom of the product page there's a link for "Updates and Feedback"."
I used to do that too. But, if you go to the bottom of any page on Rick's website, look at the Travel Help column; "Submit Guidebook
Feedback" is at the bottom, under "Guidebook Updates."
Posted by
OP
Twin Cities of MN
5581 posts
Thanks dlindstrom for the additional info. I wonder where RS came up Corpus Christi originating as a mosque.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
8942 posts
I found dozens of errors in the Germany book. If you go to Fodors forum or the Trip Adivisor forums, Rick has a bad reputation because of all the errors in all of his books. He doesn't seem to check things out very well. I was appalled the first time I read his section about Frankfurt as well as Rothenburg. So much was incorrect. Over the years, have gotten the editors to change quite a bit, but it shouldn't be that difficult to write correct copy.
Posted by
OP
Twin Cities of MN
5581 posts
I haven't actually done anything regarding this, hence the topic title, "possible error". I'm curious where Rick got his information. I feel like I read at the church "when the Jews built the synagogue in the 1300s. . ." I think I saved the brochure and when I get to it, I'll reread it. Spain was great. The history is quite intriguing and thought provoking.