The Synagogue at Fort Kochi, constructed in 1568, is the oldest in the Commonwealth. Destroyed in a shelling during the Portuguese raid in 1662, it was rebuilt two years later by the Dutch. Mid-18th century hand painted, Chinese tiles, Hebrew inscriptions on stone slabs, Old Testament scrolls, ancient scripts on copper plates in which the grants of privilege made by the erstwhile Kochi rulers were recorded and so on are articles of interest here. The area around - Jew Street - is a centre for spice trade and curio shops.