Lisbon Jewish Heritage Tour

There is a story we want to tell you. A story revealed by the great masters forever preserved in endless secrets. It could be the Jewish presence in a piece of architecture or gastronomy or in that heritage of memories that bounces from generation to generation.

The City of Thousand Stories

Can you imagine all the stories that Lisbon has to tell you? What you have to do is sharpen your eyes. Come with us and discover legends and secrets lost in the cobblestones, kept in the magical stone vaults of the houses, in the bubbling of forgotten recipes, and, always, in the traditions. Be enchanted by the Jewish itinerary that remains steadfast around every corner, in the treading of every step. It is preserved in the city’s memory that shines in the sun and welcomes everyone in its unforgettable light.

And let’s start. Its name is Alfama, and you will never forget it. It keeps a secular history of narrow and labyrinthine streets where the old Jewish quarters are the hosts on duty. We only help you to unveil its paths. And we go with the Tagus waving, always close and clear. All you have to do is follow the route of Bairro da Pedreira, the oldest; that of Alfama, the Old Judiaria, and the New or Taracenas Judiaria. And there is an instant that will be engraved forever in the memory of your trip: the beautiful Manueline portal of the Church of Conceição Velha. But there is more, much more. The Tagus goes arm in arm with you to the Praça do Comércio, formerly the Terreiro do Paço. It is the site of so many events that marked the history of the Jews in the capital. Take a deep breath, and there is much to behold. It is a rigorous layout of the Pombaline downtown, where the majestic Portuguese cobblestones come on stage, unique, rare, and precious.

The Lisbon Memorial

It is called Augusta Street (Rua Augusta, Portuguese name). It tells centuries of history, but in the 21st century, you will keep it as your own. Today it is an amalgam of colors, artists, stores, and cafes. It is elected as one of the most beautiful in the capital. Look up, place yourself in a strategic point to admire it: it is the “Arco da Rua Augusta.” Hold your breath and head towards D. Pedro IV Square; it’s Rossio. Here you will have to hold your breath again. The D. Maria II Theater is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Today, it is located where the Estaus Palace (Inquisition Headquarters) used to be.

The Jewish route follows the beating of your heart and asks you to stop at this Largo de São Domingos, where a memorial stands in honor of the thousands of Jewish victims of the 1506 massacre.

The Jewish route follows the beating of your heart and asks you to stop at this Largo de São Domingos, where a memorial stands in honor of the thousands of Jewish victims of the 1506 massacre.

Body and soul are already asking for rest. After all, there is already so much to keep. We taste a typical dish and leave a hint for those who have not yet tasted this delicacy. It arrived in Lisbon in the 15th century, from Asia, and you can choose “with them or without them”… guess what?

Pulled together, let yourself go, sharpen your eyes, remember?

There are more stories to unveil, honor, and share in the eternal pacts between beauty and art, where Lisbon’s Jewish history lies. Now it is time to present it: Lisbon’s Synagogue, Shaaré Tikvá, built from scratch since the official destruction of Portuguese Judaism in 1497. And we are already close to Largo do Carmo. You will feel the mysticism of this cosmopolitan corner that harbors a medieval era, where the oldest Jewish quarter in Lisbon, the one in Bairro da Pedreira, may have existed. Can you board this time machine?

Save the wisdom of essential elements of the Jewish community in the great epic of the Portuguese Discoveries. Their scientific and navigational studies helped trace the routes of the great seas and the designs of the new lands. And that is why they are already in Belém, with the Tagus in their arms. The Jerónimos Monastery, the Belem Tower, and the Monument to the Discoveries are also heirs to the Jewish presence in Lisbon. Can you still imagine all the stories that this city has to tell you?

PRICE PER GROUP

1-2 people: 345€
3-6 people: 395€
7-8 people: 425€