Jewish Rural Portugal Heritage

This multi-day tour explores Jewish Rural Portugal Heritage and its vibrant Jewish history. It looks at how Jewish communities flourished there for centuries. And how the cultural heritage of these communities has been preserved today.

Price

From €4678

Duration

11 days

Min People

2

Max People

8

Jewish Rural Portugal Heritage Tour

Jewish Rural Portugal Heritage is home to a unique Jewish heritage tour of Portugal and culture, from ancient synagogues to traditional food and customs. Therefore, this off-the-beaten-path destination offers visitors a unique glimpse into the history and culture of Portuguese Jews.

Our tour is about the history of the Jewish presence in rural Portugal and highlights these communities’ unique cultural, religious, and economic contributions. Additionally, it examines the current state of Jewish life in Portugal, including the challenges and opportunities the community faces.

Jewish communities in rural Portugal

These Jewish mountain village communities are a unique case for ethnographic inquiry. They are the only Jewish rural communities in Portugal. Its inhabitants are descendants of the exiles from the Spanish expulsion in 1492. Be ready to explore the history of the Portuguese Jewish people and their relationship to their rural environment. It also examines how these Jewish communities have adapted and adjusted to changing social and economic conditions.

This is one of the few places in Europe with a long and ongoing Jewish heritage. Jews have been living in the rural areas of Portugal since the 13th century and have contributed significantly to the area’s economy and culture. In addition, this area is home to a unique and secret Hebrew culture that has survived five centuries of persecution and harassment.

It is an example of a minor, isolated minority group that has maintained its distinctive cultural identity despite centuries of persecution and discrimination. By exploring the rich history of Jews in Portugal, you can gain insight into the unique history of these mountain villages in Portugal.

Tour Plan

Day 1 – Overnight in Sabugueiro, Coimbra, Sabugueiro

Schedule: 9:00h

Welcome talk. We will start our tour from Lisbon to Sabugueiro with a stop in Coimbra, which will include a city tour and the University.

Day 2 – Overnight in Sabugueiro Loriga, Alvoco da Serra

Schedule: 9:00 AM

A city tour in Loriga includes the beautiful natural glacial valley and its natural swimming pool. The city tour in Alvoco da Serra consists of walking through the historical center and its Jewish quarter.

Day 3 – Overnight in Sabugueiro Vale do Rossim, Manteigas, Torre

Schedule: 9:00 AM

Visit Vale do Rossim, one of the oldest glaciers in Europe, to include some walking around the lake.
A city tour of Manteigas will include the Burel Factory, the village’s history record, and the Portuguese wool industry.
Visit Torre, the highest point of Serra da Estrela.

Day 4 – Overnight in Sabugueiro Piodão

Schedule: 9:00 AM

Visit Piodão, houses with walls made of schist, windows painted in a blue color used in the Maghreb, and roofs in black slate turn the village of Piodão into a true treasure.

Day 5 – Overnight in Belmonte Linhares da Beira, Gouveia, Belmonte

Schedule: 9:00 AM

We depart from the Sabugueiro towards Linhares, on the edge of the historic village. Here, we will visit this community’s Jewish quarter and synagogue. We will then depart for Gouveia to see the House of Jewish Experience and the Jewish Quarter. Here, we will have lunch. After lunch, we will depart for Belmonte.

Day 6 – Overnight in Belmonte Belmonte, Sortelha

Schedule: 9:00 AM

On this day, we visit the magnificent historic village of Sortelha, where we can see several Jewish dwellings and their respective cruciform marks. Then, we return to Belmonte to visit the Jewish museum, synagogue, and Jewish quarter.

Day 7 – Overnight Monfortinho Caria, Castelo Novo, Monfortinho

Schedule: 9:00 AM

Visit the village of Caria and its Jewish quarter. We also visited the museum area of ​​the tower house. We will now leave towards the new castle, a historic village on the slope of the Gardunha mountain range, which was once Templar. Now it’s time to go to Monfortinho.

Day 8 – Overnight Monfortinho Monsanto, Penha Garcia

Schedule: 9:00 AM

Today, we visited the most Portuguese village in Portugal, Monsanto. Here, we will see the typical granite houses with huge boulders serving as facades. Still, it is time to visit the area where the Jewry was located. Please return to our hotel in Monfortinho.

Day 9 – Overnight in Monfortinho Idanha-a-Velha

Schedule: 9:00 AM

Idanha-a-velha, a historic village, and an important Roman center, offers a unique monumental complex in this region. Templar defense points and the Arab occupation have many stories to tell. Return to the hotel in Monfortinho.

Day 10 – Overnight in Lisbon Portas de Rodão, Lisbon

Schedule: 9:00 AM

Visit Portas de Rodão, a scenic area with breathtaking views. Enjoy a boat ride on the River Tejo and lunch.
Arrival in Lisbon. End of our tour.

Day 11 – Lisbon

Transfer Lisbon Airport

More than 8?

No problem! Fill out our Inquiry Form to ask for our large group rates.

Included

  • We will pick you up at a mutually agreed upon location, your hotel or cruise ship port, for example.
  • We will drop you off at a mutually agreed upon location, your hotel or cruise ship port, for example
  • Comfortable minivan or car with AC and WiFi, up to 8. people
  • Guided tour in English ,driver, minivan with WiFi, parking, gas, tolls, insurance, taxes, and water.
  • Boat trip in Aveiro Canals
  • Entrance and guided tour of 4 synagogues
  • Guided visit in the Jewish Museum of Belmonte
  • Guided visit in Quinta do Bonfim with wine tasting
  • Guided visit Coimbra University
  • Guided Visit Burel Factory in Manteigas

Excluded

  • Hotels
  • Food and drinks, unless specified on Tour Includes
  • Entrance fees, unless specified on Tour Includes

Additional Information

Operational info

Private: Our tours are always private (just you and guide/driver);

Custom-made: The tour highlights are just suggestions of places to visit. The tour itinerary will be designed according to your preferences;

Tour Length: Each day tour is designed to last approximately 8 hours (hotel-tour-hotel);

Schedule: flexible according to customers’ needs;

Minimum group of 2 people and maximum 8 people;

The values indicated are per person and vary depending on the number of people.

Please contact us for advice about our accommodation options. We have a list of hotels based in local 3*, 4* and 5* Bed & Breakfasts and Boutique hotels throughout Portugal. We will provide you with suggestions so you can choose what best suits your budget;

Transfers

Lisbon airport, hotel and cruise transfers to and from all destinations in Portugal

Transport up to 8 adult passengers

Free Wi-Fi in all vehicles

Special rates for airport and cruise transfers

We will meet you inside the airport terminal arrivals and holding a sign with your name written on it

High quality service

Changes made by clients

Any changes made after booking confirmation along the tour will not be refundable, and the resulting costs will be considered extras and paid by the customer.

Spoken languages

Our tours are spoken in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.

Cancellation Policy

If you must cancel your trip, penalties may apply based on the total trip price.

  • Suppose you cancel up to 30 days before your scheduled arrival. In that case, no penalties will be applied except for certain items such as entrance tickets, third-party activities, hotel bookings, and transaction fees. Each provider’s policy will be evaluated individually in these cases.
  • If you cancel between 30 and 15 days before your arrival, a penalty of 20% will be applied.
  • If you cancel less than 15 days before your scheduled arrival, a penalty of 100% will be applied. However, Real Embrace Portugal sometimes reserves the right to consider a partial refund.

 

Cancellation requests must be made by email.

Changes and Cancellations by Real Embrace Portugal

Before you enter into a contract with us, we reserve the right to change any of the facilities or services described in our brochure or website. We also reserve the right to cancel the booking do to weather and/or other conditions. Any changes are usually very minor and we will advise you at the earliest possible date. If a major change, such as change in departure time, becomes necessary, we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible your tours begins. When a major change or cancellation occurs you will have the choice of accepting the change of arrangements, purchasing another available tour from us, or cancelling your tour. If booking is cancelled we will refund all payments made directly to us in respect of the tour price. We will not refund any personal expenses you may have incurred as a result of your booking such as flight payments for land-only tours, travel insurance, equipment purchases, visas, vaccinations etc.

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