Jewish Heritage September 2027 Portugal Tour – Itinerary

Travel dates: Depart USA Sep 5, 2027 / Return to the USA Sep 16, 2027

DAY 1, Sunday Sep 05: USA / Porto
Depart your home city for the overnight flight to Porto, Portugal.

DAY 2, Monday Sep 06: Arrive Porto (Old City Tour)
Welcome to Porto, a coastal city in northwest Portugal known for its stately bridges and Port wine production. In the medieval Ribeira (riverside) district, narrow cobbled streets wind past merchants' houses and cafés. Porto is also Portugal's second city and home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the country.

Porto's historic Jewish heritage remains visible throughout the old city. Unlike Lisbon, which suffered extensive destruction in the earthquake of 1755, much of Porto's historic center survived, including streets associated with its former Jewish quarters, such as Rua Monte dos Judeus, Escadinhas do Monte dos Judeus, and Pátio das Escadinhas do Monte dos Judeus. The main synagogue once stood on Escadas da Vitória, a place still locally known as "Escadas da Esnoga," or "stairway to the synagogue," where a plaque marks the historic site.

Porto had a vibrant Jewish community long before the establishment of the Portuguese kingdom in 1143. Jewish merchants conducted business along the Porto riverfront, while one of the city's three Jewish neighborhoods was known as Monte dos Judeus, or Jews' Hill. A synagogue once stood on Rua da Sinagoga, now Rua de Sant'Ana. For many years, Porto tolerated and at times protected its Jewish population, but the forced conversion and expulsion of Portugal's Jews in the late 15th century brought an end to organized Jewish life and profoundly disrupted the Jewish heritage of the city.

The contribution of Portuguese Jews to world history is enormous, and their story is inseparable from the Jewish presence in Portugal between the early medieval period and the 15th century. Throughout northern Portugal, villages, cities, and small towns still bear witness to communities that once flourished here.

Upon arrival this morning at Porto Airport, you will be met by our local guide. We begin our tour in the city center with a visit to the Estação de São Bento (São Bento Railway Station), one of Porto's most important landmarks, renowned for its magnificent Azulejo tilework depicting scenes from Portuguese history.

We then walk along the narrow, historic Rua das Flores (Flowers Street), continuing toward the Douro River and the Ribeira district, one of the most beautiful and lively areas of Porto's historic center and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. Its riverside promenade is lined with restaurants and outdoor cafés, while narrow cobbled lanes behind the waterfront are filled with colorful historic houses. This is a wonderful place for a leisurely stroll and an introduction to the atmosphere of Porto.

Overnight at the Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa. (D)

DAY 3, Tuesday Sep 07: Porto Jewish Interests – Amarante – Douro Valley
This morning we visit the Kadoorie-Mekor Haim (Source of Life) Synagogue, the largest synagogue on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the largest in Europe. Built with donations from Jews from around the world, the synagogue was officially inaugurated in 1938, at a time when synagogues were being destroyed in Nazi Germany and the Estado Novo regime was being established in Portugal.

This extraordinary architectural monument is the headquarters of the Comunidade Israelita do Porto (Jewish Community of Porto), founded in 1923 by Captain Artur Barros Basto (1887–1961). Barros Basto devoted his life to reconnecting the descendants of Jews who had been forcibly converted to Christianity in the 15th century and who, in many cases, continued to preserve elements of Jewish practice in secret.

We continue our visit to the Holocaust Museum of Oporto, created in 2021 by the Jewish Community of Porto in partnership with B'nai B'rith International and Holocaust museums and institutions in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, and elsewhere.

We then drive to the historic town of Amarante, birthplace of Captain Barros Basto. Here we will explore the story of this remarkable man, sometimes referred to as the "Portuguese Dreyfus," whose work played a major role in the revival of organized Jewish life in modern Portugal. We will take a short walking tour of Amarante's historic center.

His story provides an important bridge between Portugal's medieval Jewish past and the remarkable revival of Jewish life in Portugal in the 20th century.

We continue to the Douro Valley, a region of extraordinary landscapes and terraced vineyards and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight at the Douro Royal Valley Hotel & Spa. (B,D)

DAY 4, Wednesday Sep 08: Douro Valley
After breakfast we depart for a full day exploring the magnificent Douro Valley, one of Portugal's most spectacular and historically important regions. The Douro River winds through steep hillsides covered with carefully cultivated vineyards, creating a landscape that has become one of the country's most recognizable images. The region was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

The Douro is also the birthplace of Port wine. For centuries, generations of winegrowers have cultivated grapes on the steep hillsides, creating the remarkable terraces that define the landscape. We will travel through the heart of the wine country, stopping at scenic viewpoints to appreciate the dramatic scenery and learn about the centuries-old traditions of wine production.

We will also visit a traditional Port wine estate, where we will learn about the cultivation of the vineyards, the production of Port, and the unique relationship between the Douro River and the wine trade. There will be an opportunity to sample some of the region's famous wines.

Overnight at the Douro Royal Valley Hotel & Spa. (B,D)

DAY 5, Thursday Sep 09: Douro Valley – Coimbra – Vilar Formoso – Belmonte
Today we head to Coimbra, known in Portugal as the "City of Students." The city has been an important center of Portuguese intellectual and cultural life for centuries. We will visit the historic University of Coimbra, founded in 1290 and one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world, including its magnificent 18th-century Joanina Library.

There will be free time for lunch (not included).

We continue toward Vilar Formoso, near the Spanish border. During the years preceding World War II, this railway station became an important point of entry for Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. Thousands of refugees passed through Portugal seeking safety and passage to other countries. We will visit the Vilar Formoso Fronteira da Paz (Frontier of Peace) Memorial Museum, which commemorates the refugees who passed through this gateway to freedom.

We then continue to Belmonte, one of the most fascinating Jewish communities in Portugal.

Overnight at the Pousada Convento de Belmonte. (B,D)

DAY 6, Friday Sep 10: Belmonte Jewish Heritage – Trancoso
This morning we explore Belmonte, a town whose Jewish story is unlike almost anywhere else in Europe. Following the forced conversion of Portugal's Jews in 1497, a group of families in Belmonte continued to preserve Jewish customs and traditions in secret for centuries, passing them from generation to generation despite the constant danger posed by the Inquisition.

We will visit the Belmonte Jewish Museum, which tells the extraordinary story of this community and its survival, as well as the modern synagogue. Subject to availability, we will meet with a member of the local Jewish community and learn firsthand about the remarkable history of Belmonte's hidden Jews and their eventual reconnection with the wider Jewish world.

The story of Belmonte is therefore not only one of survival, but also of rediscovery, identity, and reconnection with the Jewish people.

We then travel to the historic town of Trancoso, an important medieval center that was also home to a significant Jewish community. We will walk through the old Jewish quarter and visit the Isaac Cardoso Jewish Culture Interpretation Center, dedicated to the history and legacy of the Jewish community of Trancoso and to the memory of Isaac Cardoso, a prominent Jewish physician and philosopher born in Trancoso who later lived in Amsterdam.

Return to Belmonte.

Friday evening: Shabbat services at the local synagogue for those who wish to participate, subject to local arrangements.

Overnight at the Pousada Convento de Belmonte. (B,D)

DAY 7, Saturday Sep 11: Shabbat in Belmonte
Today is dedicated to Shabbat and relaxation in Belmonte.

Guests may enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the town, spend time together, or participate in an optional walking tour through Belmonte's historic center. This is an opportunity to appreciate the unique atmosphere of this remarkable town and reflect on the extraordinary story of the Jewish community that survived here for centuries.

Overnight at the Pousada Convento de Belmonte. (B,D)

DAY 8, Sunday Sep 12: Belmonte – Castelo de Vide – Tomar
After breakfast we depart for Castelo de Vide, one of the most beautiful historic towns in the Alentejo region and home to one of Portugal's best-preserved former Jewish quarters. We will take a walking tour through the narrow streets of the old Jewish neighborhood, including the area surrounding the former synagogue and the historic Judiaria.

We continue to Tomar, a city whose history is closely associated with the Knights Templar and which also preserves one of the most important surviving remnants of medieval Jewish Portugal.

We will visit the 15th-century synagogue, considered one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues on the Iberian Peninsula. Today the building houses the Abraham Zacuto Portuguese-Jewish Museum, named for the famous Jewish astronomer and mathematician whose astronomical tables were used by Portuguese navigators during the Age of Discovery.

Together, Castelo de Vide and Tomar provide a remarkable glimpse into the diversity of Jewish life in medieval Portugal—from a historic residential Jewish quarter to one of the country's most important surviving medieval synagogues.

After our visit, we proceed to Tomar.

Overnight at the Vila Galé Collection Tomar. (B,D)

DAY 9, Monday Sep 13: Tomar – Évora – Lisbon
After breakfast we depart for Évora, one of Portugal's most beautiful historic cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Évora has more than two thousand years of history, having served as an important Roman settlement and later as a favored residence of Portuguese kings.

During the Middle Ages, Évora was also home to a significant Jewish community that played an important role in the city's commercial and intellectual life. We will take a walking tour through the historic center and the area of the former Jewish quarter, learning about the community that lived here until the forced conversion and expulsion of Portugal's Jews at the end of the 15th century.

We continue to Lisbon, Portugal's capital and one of the great historic cities of Europe.

Check in at the hotel and evening at leisure.

Overnight at the Dom Pedro Lisboa. (B,D)

DAY 10, Tuesday Sep 14: Lisbon Jewish Heritage – Belém
Today we begin our exploration of Lisbon, including its rich Jewish history. We will visit the Shaaré Tikva Synagogue, the principal synagogue of Lisbon and an important center of Jewish life in Portugal since the beginning of the 20th century.

We continue to the historic Alfama district, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon. Here we will explore the area of the former Jewish quarter, including Rua da Judiaria, or "Jews' Street," recalling the Jewish community that lived in this part of the city before the expulsion and forced conversions of 1497.

We will visit Rossio Square, one of the central gathering places of Lisbon, and the nearby memorial commemorating the victims of the horrific 1506 Lisbon massacre, when hundreds of New Christians and suspected Jews were murdered. The massacre remains one of the darkest episodes in the history of Portugal's New Christians and serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of intolerance and forced conversion.

We then travel to Belém, the historic district associated with Portugal's Age of Discoveries. Here we will see some of Lisbon's most important monuments, including the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower, reflecting the maritime expansion that transformed Portugal into a global power.

Overnight at the Dom Pedro Lisboa. (B,D)

DAY 11, Wednesday Sep 15: Sintra – Cascais – Cabo da Roca
After breakfast we depart Lisbon for the beautiful town of Sintra, one of Portugal's most romantic destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by lush hills and forests, Sintra became a favorite summer retreat of the Portuguese royal family and is famous for its magnificent palaces and gardens.

We will stroll through the historic center and have an opportunity to appreciate the unique atmosphere of this picturesque town.

We continue to Cascais, a charming former fishing village on the Atlantic coast that developed into a fashionable seaside resort. There will be free time to explore the town and have lunch (lunch not included).

After lunch we continue along the spectacular Atlantic coastline to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. From the dramatic cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, we will take in the sweeping views and reflect on the geographical setting from which Portuguese explorers embarked upon their voyages of discovery.

We return to Lisbon in the late afternoon, with free time to enjoy the city at leisure.

Overnight at the Dom Pedro Lisboa. (B,D)

DAY 12, Thursday Sep 16: Lisbon / USA
After breakfast, transfer to Lisbon Airport for our return flight to the USA. (B)