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Sephardic Heritage Exploration: Embrace Jewish Culture with a Tour of Portuguese Border
5.0
4 Ratings
Valencia de Alcantara
Embark on a captivating ten-hour tour exploring the rich Sephardic heritage in Portugal. Visit medieval synagogues, old Jewish quarters, and uncover the enduring Sephardic legacy in local culture.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Valencia de Alcantara - The first stop will be in Spain.
cient village with a significant Jewish population. We will guide you through the Jewish quarter and the Sephardic Synagogue.
- Torre da Portagem - Moving on to Portugal, we’ll explore Portagem and tread the historical path once used by Spanish Jews fleeing Spain following the Alhambra Decree.
- Marvao - Next, we’ll escort you to Marvão, an enchanting medieval village of whitewashed buildings set against breathtaking scenery. We’ll introduce you to the Jewish dwellings and share tales of the Jewish community in Portugal.
- Sinagoga de Castelo de Vide - Discover the medieval Synagogue, explore the 15th-century Jewish neighborhood, and learn about the enduring significance of crypto-Judaism in Portugal from its historical roots to modern times.
- Castelo de Vide - Our final destination is Castelo de Vide. Within the walls of the ancient castle, the legacy of a substantial Jewish presence, coexisting peacefully with other Portuguese citizens, offers a captivating journey through an era of mutual respect and tolerance.
What's Included
- Convenient pickup and drop-off at central Lisbon hotels, cruise terminal, or airport
- Masks and alcohol-based hand gel provided for safety
- Knowledgeable driver/guide as a full-time trip leader
- Travel in comfort with a private air-conditioned mini-van
- Comfort pack includes fresh waters and cleaning wipes
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Entrance fees.
- The baggage is limited to one standard suitcase and a small carry-on bag per person.
- Gratuities are not included.
Additional Information
Embark on a ten-hour journey into the heart of Sephardic Jewish culture!
Explore ancient synagogues and historical Jewish neighbourhoods, unveil architectural remnants and the enduring Sephardic influences on local culture. Explore the remarkable villages housing the true narratives of Portuguese and Spanish Jews.
The Spanish and Portuguese Jews, with their distinctive culture, formed one of the most significant communities in both nations. Their Iberian essence significantly contributed to the establishment and expansion of two powerful empires.
We will guide you through charming villages where Sepharad’s promise of unity once prevailed.
Furthermore, we’ll guide you through history, retracing the steps of thousands of individuals who strived for survival amidst intolerance and violence.
Uncover the secrets of crypto-Judaism, a Portuguese secret preserved over five centuries.
- No smoking or eating inside the vehicle.
- Dress code is smart casual, recommended comfortable clothing and shoes.
- Infant seats are available on request, if advised at time of booking. Portuguese law stipulates that children under 12 years of age and 135 cm in height, when transported in a car with safety belts, must travel in an approved restraint system adapted to their size and weight. Please let us know if you have children and their ages. This service does not have any additional cost.
Location
Valencia de Alcantara
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(4 Ratings)
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1 star
William
Mar 9, 2024
Interesting and Beautiful - A terrific tour by a very knowledgable and friendly guide. You’ll learn a lot about Iberian Jewish history as well as seeing really beautiful towns and scenery.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shayna797
Mar 1, 2024
Wonderful way to explore Sephardic history in a long day from Lisbon - We had the most wonderful (long) day from Lisbon to Valencia Alicatara, Marvão and Castelo de Vide exploring Sephardic roots. People thought we were crazy because we really covered territory but we saw parts of Portugal tourists usually don’t see, we had it to ourselves, at times with no one else in sight and we got to explore the history of our people. It was awesome! Daniel was wonderful as a guide for the day. We felt like we stepped back in time. High recommend for anyone interested in the subject matter. Just do it. The Inquisition Museum in Castelo de Vide is phenomenal.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pioneer394270
Aug 23, 2022
Fabulous experience - What a fantastic tour! The guide was super nice and gave a lot of interesting information, it was really a great learning opportunity. Also the trip itself was very comfortable, the van is very clean. Overall, I couldn't advise this tour more.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ysbay
Feb 4, 2020
A Must See! - Exceptional! My husband I went on this tour on December 23rd.(I'm writing this late d/t family illness) It was a 10 hour tour that was the best that we have ever been on.
We were picked up on time by Daniel, our wonderfully knowledgeable tour guide at the airport, and transported comfortably throughout the day. We went 1st to Valencia, Spain where the exodus of the Jews from Spain started, and then into Portugal, where we visited the toll bridge that they passed through and then went to some of the towns where the Jews settled. Daniel gave us the history of the Jews and also information about Portugal in general. Questions were encouraged and answered. There were comfort stops as needed. The day passed quickly. Good walking shoes are recommended as we walked through the towns, up and down hill.
Definitely met and exceeded our expectations as a tour. The tour was reasonably priced for what was offered and what we accomplished. Daniel's English was good and he translated for us.
Review provided by Viator
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