The Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue is the oldest continuously functioning synagogue in the Americas, built in 1732 by Sephardic Jewish merchants who had fled the Iberian Inquisition and settled in Curaçao. The building is an imposing neoclassical structure with yellow-trimmed white walls and a sand-covered floor — the sand is the most striking feature, immediately visible as you enter.
A small museum next to the sanctuary tells the history of the Curaçao Jewish community, which at its peak in the 18th century was one of the wealthiest and most influential in the New World. The synagogue is still an active place of worship. Visitors are welcome outside of services; dress modestly and cover your head (head coverings are provided).