Portuguese Israelite Synagogue. With Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon as inspiration, Elias Bouwman and Danield Stalpaert designed this noted synagogue between 1671 and 1675. Its square brick building within a courtyard formed by brick houses was commissioned by the Sephardic Jewish community that had emigrated via Portugal during the preceding two centuries. On its completion it was the largest synagogue in the world, and its spare, elegantly proportioned wood interior has remained virtually unchanged through the centuries. It is still magically illuminated by candles in two immense candelabra during services. The surrounding buildings that form a square around the synagogue house the world-famous Ets Haim ("Tree of Life") library, one of the oldest in the world, and the winter synagogue for use on those draftier days. COST: EUR5.