The Jewish people have been through many phases of Portuguese history. From living under Moorish rule in a Golden Age to the reconquering of the area by the Christian kingdoms, the Jewish population has played an interesting role in all of these, often used as spies or diplomats during conflict due to language skills in Arabic and large mercantile networks.<\/p>\n
The most famous period for Jews in Portugal is also one of the most tragic. After years of establishing the Jewish Community, freedom of worship, and even positions in high-ranking positions, the Inquisition of Spain in 1478 changed the trajectory of the Jewish community in Portugal forever. Many Jews actually fled from Spain to Portugal after the first expulsion, until Portugal changed its policies and forced Jews to either convert or leave.<\/p>\n
After World War II, Jewish refugees came to Portugal and again the Jewish community grew. Today, while it remains a small community, there is a present Jewish community and plenty of Jewish history to explore.<\/p>\n
Portugal is an ideal location for a custom Jewish heritage family tour. If your own family is from Portugal, a custom route exploring the places they lived in is a great opportunity to get up close and personal with your own history. If you love history, a trip focused on museums and important locations could be the right kind of itinerary. But where could you go on a custom trip to Portugal? We\u2019ve compiled some of our favorite places that we love to send people<\/span> to during <\/span>Jewish family tours to Portugal<\/span><\/a> to on Jewish visit to Portugal.<\/span><\/p>\n There are so many amazing places to see in Portugal, but Saint George\u2019s Castle in the Alfama neighborhood of Lisbon is the number one attraction in Portugal. It receives over two million visitors every year. After that, the Algarve region is very popular, including beaches, beautiful hotels, and great food.<\/p>\n Portugal is full of beautiful places, but some of the most beautiful regions are Algarve, Lisbon, Alentejo, and Porto. They\u2019re all known for their charming villages and spectacular views.<\/p>\n Portugal is known to be one of the most family-friendly destinations in Europe! With 300 days of sunshine, incredible landscapes, including parks and pristine beaches, fairytale castles, and a multitude of interactive museums, families will have no problem planning a trip the entire family will enjoy! Here are some unique museums, workshops, and experiences that will help you and your kiddos create unforgettable memories:<\/span><\/p>\n An itinerary of seven to ten days is recommended to really get to know Portugal and immerse yourself in the culture.<\/span> This way, you can really immerse yourself in the country and get to know more about it.<\/span><\/p>\n Without further ado let\u2019s get into the most recommended places to see in Portugal if you are following the footsteps of Jewish history in this amazing country.<\/p>\n It is said that almost 20 percent of the Portuguese population has Jewish ancestry. Jews had a huge presence in Portugal, and Lisbon was one of the cities where most of the Jews lived and worked, with most of the community living in the Alfama quarter.<\/p>\n On a Jewish heritage tour, walk through the narrow streets and imagine what it would have been like to live there. In addition to the Alfama quarter, there\u2019s another quarter called central Praco do Comercio, near Rossio Square, where the court of the Inquisition was located.<\/p>\n You can find Jewish heritage and history in the most unlikely of places in this city, including the National Museum of Ancient Art, which includes paintings with Jewish themes and Portuguese masterpieces that include Jews wearing stars of David on their clothing.<\/p>\n Visit Shaare Tikva, the Gates of Hope, the main synagogue in Lisbon. It was built in 1904 and was the first synagogue built in Portugal since the late 15th century. It\u2019s home to a collection of documents from the 17th through the 20th centuries.<\/p>\n The Jewish Cemetery of Lisbon is from 1868 unfortunately only loved ones of the buried can visit, but the Cemetery of Estrela has Jews buried there since 1865 and is open to the public.<\/p>\n Alongside history in Lisbon, there are more things you might consider exploring. The Praca do Rossio is where the Jewish Lisbon Memorial is located, dedicated to the victims of a 1506 massacre called the \u201cLisbon Pogrom\u201d, but the location is also home to plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops.<\/p>\n If you have extra time, take a day trip to Sintra to seek out the Beco de Judiaria.<\/p>\n Explore more Jewish travel options here.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Evora is a stop for sore eyes. At one point it was one of the biggest, most important, and richest Jewish quarters in all of Portugal. It was the second-largest Portuguese city during the Middle Ages, and obviously, an important location that drew people toward it.<\/p>\n The Jewish Quarter in Evora is near Giraldo Square between Portas do Alconchel and Portas do Raimundo. Explore the gothic pointed arch portals of the houses that the Jewish residents used to live in and explore the white houses with yellow and blue decorations around the doors. Much of the community was dedicated to mercantilism, but some explored art, and others were intellectuals.<\/p>\n At one point in the 15th century, <\/span>Evora had two synagogues<\/span> there were two synagogues in Evora, as well as,<\/span> a hospital, a school, and a ritual bath. <\/span>The Biblioteca P\u00fablica de \u00c9vora, or the Evora Public Library,<\/span> is a great place to find books by Portuguese Jews that contributed to scientific progress as well as the age of exploration, <\/span>including a 15th-century work titled \u201cAlmanach Perpetumm\u201d by renowned Portuguese Jewish scholar Abraham Zacuto.<\/span><\/p>\n Not all Jewish history in Evora is happy. It was the headquarters of the Holy Inquisition court, <\/span>which housed a <\/span>prison and tribunal where those accused of practicing Judaism, witchcraft, heresy, and other crimes, were subjected to trial, persecution, torture, and execution.<\/span> Today, the building serves as the city museum, and it shares the plaza with the Public Library,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ll be hard-pressed to find remnants of Evora\u2019s once vibrant Jewish community after the Edict of Expulsion was decreed in 1496 by King Manuel I who expelled most of the Jews from Portugal, excluding those who agreed to convert to Christianity, who were called crypto-Jews or New Christians. These Jews numbered in the thousands and while on paper they were classified as converted Christians, many continued to practice the Jewish faith in secret.<\/span><\/p>\n In the former Jewish quarter (<\/span>judiaria<\/span><\/i>), one might stumble upon the plaque dedicated to the Jewish community and the 16th-century humanist, Diogo Pires, and markings of a mezuzah on an arch at the top of the quarter. Visiting these two small reminders of Evora\u2019s Jewish past is a must for anybody touring Evora, especially if you\u2019re on a <\/span>tour of Jewish heritage in Portugal.<\/span><\/p>\n Evora is also famous for a morbid Chapel of Bones which is highly recommended to visit, where the walls are covered in real human bones, a Roman temple, and a very intact aqueduct.<\/span><\/p>\n Two hours west of Lisbon, high above the plains of the Alentejo region, Marvao is famous for its 13th-century castle and breathtaking views. It\u2019s 2,900 feet high, and to get there, you have to drive up a pretty steep road.<\/p>\n The terracotta roofs, flower gardens, and whitewashed walls take you to a different time, but at a different time, this was a center for Jewish life.<\/p>\n In terms of Jewish life, the town museum speaks to the past of this special village. There are medieval tombstones, brightly-colored tiles, and an entire room dedicated to the Jewish history of the region.<\/p>\n Many Jews fled to Marvao during the inquisition, and the nearby village, Castelo de Video, is only four miles away and worth it for the Jewish history. There\u2019s a Medieval Synagogue there and a really well-preserved Jewish quarter. The village fountain has a huge tulip, which was the symbol Sephardic Portuguese Jews brought to Holland, where it became a national symbol.<\/p>\n The Jewish community of Belmonte goes all the way back to the 12th century. It was a hub for <\/span>Conversos, otherwise known as crypto-Jews or New Christians<\/span>, <\/span>those <\/span>who survived <\/span>by <\/span>practicing their Judaism in secret. The community was only discovered in 1917 by a Polish Jewish mining engineer named Samuel Schwartz. He even wrote a book about it, titled \u201cThe New Christians in Portugal in the 20th Century\u201d. In 1994, an Israeli Rabbi went to the town to convert the hidden Jews.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is the number one tourist attraction in Portugal?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Which part of Portugal is the most beautiful?<\/span><\/h2>\n
What are the best things to do in Portugal with kids?<\/b><\/h2>\n
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World of Discoveries<\/b> – Porto<\/span><\/h3>\n
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The Tramcar Museum – <\/b>Porto<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Peneda-Ger\u00eas National Park<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Museum of Ceramics<\/b> – Caldas da Rainha<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Traditional tile painting workshop<\/b>, <\/span>Museu Nacional do Azulejo<\/b> – Lisbon<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n
Tuk tuk tours<\/b> – Lisbon<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Quinta da Regaleira<\/b> – Sintra<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Portugal dos Pequenitos<\/b> – Coimbra<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Legends of Porto<\/b><\/h3>\n
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\n G<\/span>rutas de Mira de<\/b> Aire<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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How many days in Portugal is enough?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Lisbon<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Jewish](\"https:\/\/www.giltravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Explore-Jewish-Heritage-Portugal2-min.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nEvora<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Enjoy](\"https:\/\/www.giltravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Explore-Jewish-Heritage-Portugal5-min.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nMarvao<\/span><\/h2>\n
Belmonte<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Jewish](\"https:\/\/www.giltravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Explore-Jewish-Heritage-Portugal4-min.jpg\")
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![\"Porto](\"https:\/\/www.giltravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Explore-Jewish-Heritage-Portugal3-min.jpg\")
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