The City of Great Explorers

Come and discover one of the world’s oldest cities, a city known for its great explorers! Recent discoveries have revealed that there was a Jewish presence in the Iberian Peninsula as early as 390 C.E., long before Portugal itself became a country. Biblical archaeologists attest to a Jewish presence dating even as far back as the time of King Solomon.

We will explore the major Jewish interest sites, including the Jewish Quarters, as well as the Estaus Palace, the site of the Inquisition Tribunals and the memorial to the massacres of 1506. Continuing through the downtown streets of Lisbon, Baixa, Rossio, Chiado and Bairro Alto, we will discover the amazing story of the Cristão-Novos, a distinctive Sephardic sub-group in Portugal who survived over 400 years of persecution in secret. Your guide will illuminate the stories detailing the contribution of Portuguese Jews to the arts, philosophy and commerce. In Praça do Comérciowe, you will learn about Portugal’s own Oskar Schindler, who defied state orders and saved thousands of Jews during the Second World War. In the Chiado neighborhood, we will find important Jewish artifacts hidden in the most unexpected places. Old trolley cars and local music can be heard on the Alfama – a labyrinth of narrow streets rich with stories of disasters, invaders, explorers, poets, musicians and artists.