JEWISH HERITAGE TOUR OF PORTUGAL & SPAIN
16 Days / 14 Nights
LISBON - TOMAR - PORTO - TRANCOSO - BELMONTE - CASTELO BRANCO - MADRID - TOLEDO - CORDOBA - SEVILLE-BAENA - LUCENA - GRANADA - BARCELONA - GIRONA - BESALU
The history of the Jews in Portugal reaches back over two thousand years and is directly related to Sephardi history, a Jewish ethnic division that represents communities that originated in the Iberian Peninsula.
The history of the Jews in Spain stretches back to Biblical times according to Jewish history. Spanish Jews once constituted one of the largest and most prosperous Jewish communities in the world. Spain was the unquestioned leader of world Jewry: scientific and philological study of the Hebrew Bible began, secular poetry was written in Hebrew for the first time, and for the only time between Biblical times and the origins of the modern state of Israel, a Jew (Samuel ha-Nagid) commanded a Jewish army. Let Perillo's Jewish Heritage Tours to Portugal and Spain be your guide as you retrace the history of Jewish life in the Iberian Peninsula.

Inclusions
- Round-trip air USA - LISBON / BARCELONA - USA
- Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Perillo Tours representative
- Private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach with an English speaking guide (s)
- Choice of 4 or 5 star hotels
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- 2-Night accommodations in Lisbon, Portugal
- 2-Night accommodations in Porto, Portugal
- 1-Night accommodation in Castelo Branco, Portugal
- 3-Night accommodations in Madrid, Spain
- 3-Night accommodations in Cordoba, Spain
- 3-Night accommodations in Barcelona, Spain
- Hotel taxes and service charges
- All entrance fees
- Porterage of 1 suitcase per person at hotels
- All group transfers
- Hotel taxes and service charges
- USTOA 1 Million Dollar Travelers Assisatnce Program
This itinerary may be modified to the requirements of your group
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.

Inclusions
- Round-trip air USA - LISBON / BARCELONA - USA
- Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Perillo Tours representative
- Private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach with an English speaking guide (s)
- Choice of 4 or 5 star hotels
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- 2-Night accommodations in Lisbon, Portugal
- 2-Night accommodations in Porto, Portugal
- 1-Night accommodation in Castelo Branco, Portugal
- 3-Night accommodations in Madrid, Spain
- 3-Night accommodations in Cordoba, Spain
- 3-Night accommodations in Barcelona, Spain
- Hotel taxes and service charges
- All entrance fees
- Porterage of 1 suitcase per person at hotels
- All group transfers
- Hotel taxes and service charges
- USTOA 1 Million Dollar Travelers Assisatnce Program
This itinerary may be modified to the requirements of your group
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.

Dates & Rates
Select a Departure Date

At a Glance
- DAY 1: USA
- DAY 2: LISBON
- DAY 3: LISBON
- DAY 4: LISBON - TOMAR - PORTO
- DAY 5: PORTO
- DAY 6: PORTO - TRANCOSO - BELMONTE - CASTELO BRANCO
- DAY 7: CASTELO BRANCO - MADRID
- DAY 8: MADRID - TOLEDO - MADRID
- DAY 9: MADRID - AVILA - SEGOVIA - MADRID
- DAY 10: MADRID - CORDOBA
- DAY 11: CORDOBA - SEVILLE - CORDOBA
- DAY 12: CORDOBA - BAENA - LUCENA - CORDOBA
- DAY 13: CORDOBA - GRANADA - BARCELONA
- DAY 14: BARCELONA
- DAY 15: BARCELONA - GIRONA - BESALU - BARCELONA
- DAY 16: USA

PRINT THE FULL ITINERARY

Itinerary
Click on the plus sign for full day description.
DAY 1: USA
Today depart with your overnight flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Meals will be served on board.
DAY 2: LISBON
Upon arrival into Lisbon and after collecting your luggage and clearing custom formalities you will be greeted by your Perillo Tours representative along with your private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach and transfer to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure to help you adjust to your new time zone. Dinner and overnight accommodations at your hotel. (D.)
DAY 3: LISBON
After our daily breakfast at our hotel we departure for a full day tour of Lisbon, learning about the Jewish legacy in the Portuguese capital. It is known that until 1496 there were three Jewish Quarters in Lisbon. Besides strolling through Alfama, we will visit the church of São Domingos, in Rossio, where the Jewish Massacre of Lisbon took place in 1506. In the afternoon, we leave towards the district of Belém, where monuments were built alluding to the time of the Maritime Discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries. Free time to lunch. We will stop at the Belém Tower (classified as World Heritage by UNESCO), the 15th century fortress and departure point of caravels, and at the Discoveries Monument to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator. We will then visit the Monastery of Jeronimos (classified as World Heritage by UNESCO), a masterpiece of Manuelino architecture. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B.D.)
DAY 4: LISBON - TOMAR - PORTO
After breakfast we check-out of our hotel and depart to Tomar and visit the Synagogue and Luso-Hebrew Museum of Abraham Zacuto. A very rare example of a medieval Jewish temple and of pre-Renaissance Portuguese art, the Tomar Synagogue is the only one of its kind from this period to have been fully preserved in Portugal. Before leaving, it is mandatory to visit the Templar Castel and the Convent of Christ in Tomar, a unique monument in the history of the westerna world, awarded the classification of world heritage by UNESCO. Built on a site that was originally used for Roman worship, this vast monumental complex illustrates seven centuries of Portugal’s history and contains several important moments of decisive monuments in the history of the western world. Free time to lunch. After we departure for Porto. Dinner and overnight accommodations at our hotel in Porto. (B.D.)
DAY 5: PORTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Discover the Jewish Porto and walk along the streets where a community was born and developed, a community that appeared before the foundation of Portugal. The Jewish quarter of the city was situated deep in the heart of the village which, in the 12th century, was located near the Cathedral, in the area that is today defined by the ruins of the Convent of Monchique, by the Torre dos Clérigos, Sé, Alfândega do Porto and the square and tunnel of Ribeira – and where some Jewish altars still survive in private estates. Walk towards the area of Palacio da Bolsa and the old Mercado Ferreira Borges. This is where another Jewish quarter once stood, with a synagogue in its center, in what is today known as Rua do Comércio do Porto. In the Boavista area, the hub of Jewish life in the 17th and 18th centuries, visitors can see the Kadoorie synagogue, the largest in the Iberian Peninsula Jewish temple built between 1929 and 1937. In the afternoon, you take a 50-minutes cruise through the Douro before heading back the hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Porto. (B.D.)
DAY 6: PORTO - TRANCOSO - BELMONTE - CASTELO BRANCO
After breakfast at our hotel we check-out and depart from Porto towards the medieval town of Trancoso, strongly marked by an ancestral Jewish presence. The town’s historic centre, surrounded by walls, allows us to discover the facades of old houses, where regular granite stones follow the sinuous outline of the streets, kept since the middle ages. We visit the Isaac Cardoso Jewish Culture Interpretation Centre. Founded in 2012, the goal of this space, where the modern Beit Mayim (the Well of Living Water) synagogue stands, a place for culture and debate by teaching the ancient legacy that Beira Jewish communities have left behind. We leave to Belmonte which is, perhaps the Portuguese town with the strongest Jewish presence and it stands out because it was a unique case, within the Iberian Peninsula, where Hebrew culture and tradition have lasted since the early 16th century until today. We will visit the Jewish Museum, the first museum that portrays the History of Jewish people in Portugal, as well as its integration in the society and the decisive role it played in Portuguese culture, art, literature and trade. We will end the day in Castelo Branco, city that became a refuge to a large community of New Christians when the Jews were expelled or forced to convert by the Inquisition. Check-in at our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations in Castelo Branco. (B.D.)
DAY 7: CASTELO BRANCO - MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Departure to Madrid. Sightseeing tour of Madrid. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight accommodations in Madrid. (B.D.)
DAY 8: MADRID - TOLEDO - MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. This day is devoted to Toledo, perched high on a hill by Tagus River. With its naturally fortified location, Toledo was once the true center of Spain, and is widely considered a “pearl” in terms of its subtle beauty. This city was also the center of Jewish Spain, with a rich creative heritage. You will feel this atmosphere as you stroll the narrow alleys in its historic section. Your tour will include El Greco’s house formerly the palace of the prominent Samuel Halevy (treasurer of King Pedro I, and architect of the El Transito Synagogue). Continue to Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca, later converted to a church, and to the Sinagoga del Transito, which today houses the Sephardic Museum. Return to Madrid in the afternoon and enjoy time at leisure. Dinner and overnight accommodations in Madrid. (B.D.)
DAY 9: MADRID - AVILA - SEGOVIA - MADRID
After breakfast, take a full day excursion to Avila and Segovia. Tour of Avila to include the imposing city walls and the former Jewish areas (Juderias). In Segovia, you will sense history with a tour through the historic part of the town including the Aqueduct, and the Jewish Quarter. Though only few traces tells the story of a glorious past, Segovia stills stands as a remarkable monument to its past. Return to Madrid in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Madrid. (B.D.)
DAY 10: MADRID - CORDOBA
After breakfast, check-out from our hotel and transfer by coach to Cordoba, the former home of many Jewish scholars and poets. Once the biggest city in all of Europe, Cordoba thrived and expanded with its unique blend of cultures. These are beautifully expressed with a visit to Mezquita, the most significant Muslim architectural achievement in the Western world. Walk the streets leading up to the Juderia, with its whitewashed houses and colorful courtyards and shops. Though not Jewish in its current expression, a few signs hint of the Golden Age. Note, for example, the tiny, gem-like Synagogue, as well as the statue of the great court doctor and Torah sage, Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon). Dinner and overnight in Cordoba. (B.D.)
DAY 11: CORDOBA - SEVILLE - CORDOBA
After breakfast, a short drive will take you to Seville. Upon arrival begin a tour of this classic city. The tour will include the imposing Cathedral, said to be one of the largest in the world. Here, find the resting place of Spanish Kings and Queens, as well as the impressive sepulchre of Christopher Columbus. Continue past the Alcazar Palace, still used as a residence for the Spanish Royal Family, to the grand Plaza España, site of the pavilion of the great 1992 exhibition. Finally, visit the Barrio de Santa Cruz – the former Jewish Quarter. Today, it is one of Seville’s most charming areas. Return to Cordoba in the afternoon. Overnight in Cordoba. (B.D.)
DAY 12: CORDOBA - BAENA - LUCENA - CORDOBA
After breakfast, enjoy a day of rest and explore Cordoba on your own or join an optional tour into the Andalusian countryside. In Baena, visit the Olive Oil museum and pay respect to Jose Luis Santaelle, recognized as Righteous among the Nations for helping the Jewish people in Berlin. Later visit Lucena, formerly known as the Pearl of Sefarad. Enjoy a walking tour of a picturesque town. Later return to Cordoba in the late afternoon for dinner and overnight accommodations in Cordoba. (B.D.)
DAY 13: CORDOBA - GRANADA - BARCELONA
Breakfast. This morning, we leave for Granada. Upon arrival, visit one of the Wonders of the World, the Moorish Palace of Allambra and Generalife. Located on a hilltop with the Sierra Nevada as background. Allambra’s exquisite design and layout have few rivals. Be filled with a sense of mystique as you are guided past graceful courtyards, splashing fountains and lavish rooms. In the afternoon, we check-in for our flight to Barcelona. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations in Barcelona. (B.D.)
DAY 14: BARCELONA
After breakfast sightseeing in the most exciting city Spain can offer – Barcelona, capital of the Catalonian province. Begin with a visit to one of Spain’s landmarks: the incomplete architectural masterpiece of Antonio Gaudi, known as the Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family). Next, continue to a walking tour through the centuries-old streets and alleys of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Your tour will include an introduction to this former Jewish area in Barcelona. Visit the oldest Synagogue in Barcelona, which has recently been restored. Remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona. (B.D.)
DAY 15: BARCELONA - GIRONA - BESALU - BARCELONA
Breakfast. Today, drive northward to visit Girona, which stands totay not only as a charming example of Spain’s quaint early-Medieval ambience, but also as a reminder of the days when Jewish traditions bloomed. Girona was once a link between the first Kabbalists of Provence and the poets and writers of Cordoba and Toledo – also major Kabbalah Centers. Jewish settlers came to Giron at the end of the 9th century, growing and prospering until the Spanish Inquisition forced them into exile in 1492 – a span of 600 years| Walking through the “Call” (Jewish Quarter) still evokes this precious Jewish culture, an important part of the Golden Age of Spain. The spirit of our ancestors, you will sense, has never vanished. Visit the Archeological and Jewish Museums during your tour. Free time to lunch. Later, continue to Besalu, to see the remains of the pre-Inquisition Mekveh. Return to Barcelona in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona. (B.D.)
DAY 16: USA
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Private transfer to Barcelona airport. (B.)
DAY 1: USA
Today depart with your overnight flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Meals will be served on board.
DAY 2: LISBON
Upon arrival into Lisbon and after collecting your luggage and clearing custom formalities you will be greeted by your Perillo Tours representative along with your private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach and transfer to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure to help you adjust to your new time zone. Dinner and overnight accommodations at your hotel. (D.)
DAY 3: LISBON
After our daily breakfast at our hotel we departure for a full day tour of Lisbon, learning about the Jewish legacy in the Portuguese capital. It is known that until 1496 there were three Jewish Quarters in Lisbon. Besides strolling through Alfama, we will visit the church of São Domingos, in Rossio, where the Jewish Massacre of Lisbon took place in 1506. In the afternoon, we leave towards the district of Belém, where monuments were built alluding to the time of the Maritime Discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries. Free time to lunch. We will stop at the Belém Tower (classified as World Heritage by UNESCO), the 15th century fortress and departure point of caravels, and at the Discoveries Monument to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator. We will then visit the Monastery of Jeronimos (classified as World Heritage by UNESCO), a masterpiece of Manuelino architecture. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B.D.)
DAY 4: LISBON - TOMAR - PORTO
After breakfast we check-out of our hotel and depart to Tomar and visit the Synagogue and Luso-Hebrew Museum of Abraham Zacuto. A very rare example of a medieval Jewish temple and of pre-Renaissance Portuguese art, the Tomar Synagogue is the only one of its kind from this period to have been fully preserved in Portugal. Before leaving, it is mandatory to visit the Templar Castel and the Convent of Christ in Tomar, a unique monument in the history of the westerna world, awarded the classification of world heritage by UNESCO. Built on a site that was originally used for Roman worship, this vast monumental complex illustrates seven centuries of Portugal’s history and contains several important moments of decisive monuments in the history of the western world. Free time to lunch. After we departure for Porto. Dinner and overnight accommodations at our hotel in Porto. (B.D.)
DAY 5: PORTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Discover the Jewish Porto and walk along the streets where a community was born and developed, a community that appeared before the foundation of Portugal. The Jewish quarter of the city was situated deep in the heart of the village which, in the 12th century, was located near the Cathedral, in the area that is today defined by the ruins of the Convent of Monchique, by the Torre dos Clérigos, Sé, Alfândega do Porto and the square and tunnel of Ribeira – and where some Jewish altars still survive in private estates. Walk towards the area of Palacio da Bolsa and the old Mercado Ferreira Borges. This is where another Jewish quarter once stood, with a synagogue in its center, in what is today known as Rua do Comércio do Porto. In the Boavista area, the hub of Jewish life in the 17th and 18th centuries, visitors can see the Kadoorie synagogue, the largest in the Iberian Peninsula Jewish temple built between 1929 and 1937. In the afternoon, you take a 50-minutes cruise through the Douro before heading back the hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Porto. (B.D.)
DAY 6: PORTO - TRANCOSO - BELMONTE - CASTELO BRANCO
After breakfast at our hotel we check-out and depart from Porto towards the medieval town of Trancoso, strongly marked by an ancestral Jewish presence. The town’s historic centre, surrounded by walls, allows us to discover the facades of old houses, where regular granite stones follow the sinuous outline of the streets, kept since the middle ages. We visit the Isaac Cardoso Jewish Culture Interpretation Centre. Founded in 2012, the goal of this space, where the modern Beit Mayim (the Well of Living Water) synagogue stands, a place for culture and debate by teaching the ancient legacy that Beira Jewish communities have left behind. We leave to Belmonte which is, perhaps the Portuguese town with the strongest Jewish presence and it stands out because it was a unique case, within the Iberian Peninsula, where Hebrew culture and tradition have lasted since the early 16th century until today. We will visit the Jewish Museum, the first museum that portrays the History of Jewish people in Portugal, as well as its integration in the society and the decisive role it played in Portuguese culture, art, literature and trade. We will end the day in Castelo Branco, city that became a refuge to a large community of New Christians when the Jews were expelled or forced to convert by the Inquisition. Check-in at our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations in Castelo Branco. (B.D.)
DAY 7: CASTELO BRANCO - MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Departure to Madrid. Sightseeing tour of Madrid. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight accommodations in Madrid. (B.D.)
DAY 8: MADRID - TOLEDO - MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. This day is devoted to Toledo, perched high on a hill by Tagus River. With its naturally fortified location, Toledo was once the true center of Spain, and is widely considered a “pearl” in terms of its subtle beauty. This city was also the center of Jewish Spain, with a rich creative heritage. You will feel this atmosphere as you stroll the narrow alleys in its historic section. Your tour will include El Greco’s house formerly the palace of the prominent Samuel Halevy (treasurer of King Pedro I, and architect of the El Transito Synagogue). Continue to Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca, later converted to a church, and to the Sinagoga del Transito, which today houses the Sephardic Museum. Return to Madrid in the afternoon and enjoy time at leisure. Dinner and overnight accommodations in Madrid. (B.D.)
DAY 9: MADRID - AVILA - SEGOVIA - MADRID
After breakfast, take a full day excursion to Avila and Segovia. Tour of Avila to include the imposing city walls and the former Jewish areas (Juderias). In Segovia, you will sense history with a tour through the historic part of the town including the Aqueduct, and the Jewish Quarter. Though only few traces tells the story of a glorious past, Segovia stills stands as a remarkable monument to its past. Return to Madrid in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Madrid. (B.D.)
DAY 10: MADRID - CORDOBA
After breakfast, check-out from our hotel and transfer by coach to Cordoba, the former home of many Jewish scholars and poets. Once the biggest city in all of Europe, Cordoba thrived and expanded with its unique blend of cultures. These are beautifully expressed with a visit to Mezquita, the most significant Muslim architectural achievement in the Western world. Walk the streets leading up to the Juderia, with its whitewashed houses and colorful courtyards and shops. Though not Jewish in its current expression, a few signs hint of the Golden Age. Note, for example, the tiny, gem-like Synagogue, as well as the statue of the great court doctor and Torah sage, Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon). Dinner and overnight in Cordoba. (B.D.)
DAY 11: CORDOBA - SEVILLE - CORDOBA
After breakfast, a short drive will take you to Seville. Upon arrival begin a tour of this classic city. The tour will include the imposing Cathedral, said to be one of the largest in the world. Here, find the resting place of Spanish Kings and Queens, as well as the impressive sepulchre of Christopher Columbus. Continue past the Alcazar Palace, still used as a residence for the Spanish Royal Family, to the grand Plaza España, site of the pavilion of the great 1992 exhibition. Finally, visit the Barrio de Santa Cruz – the former Jewish Quarter. Today, it is one of Seville’s most charming areas. Return to Cordoba in the afternoon. Overnight in Cordoba. (B.D.)
DAY 12: CORDOBA - BAENA - LUCENA - CORDOBA
After breakfast, enjoy a day of rest and explore Cordoba on your own or join an optional tour into the Andalusian countryside. In Baena, visit the Olive Oil museum and pay respect to Jose Luis Santaelle, recognized as Righteous among the Nations for helping the Jewish people in Berlin. Later visit Lucena, formerly known as the Pearl of Sefarad. Enjoy a walking tour of a picturesque town. Later return to Cordoba in the late afternoon for dinner and overnight accommodations in Cordoba. (B.D.)
DAY 13: CORDOBA - GRANADA - BARCELONA
Breakfast. This morning, we leave for Granada. Upon arrival, visit one of the Wonders of the World, the Moorish Palace of Allambra and Generalife. Located on a hilltop with the Sierra Nevada as background. Allambra’s exquisite design and layout have few rivals. Be filled with a sense of mystique as you are guided past graceful courtyards, splashing fountains and lavish rooms. In the afternoon, we check-in for our flight to Barcelona. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations in Barcelona. (B.D.)
DAY 14: BARCELONA
After breakfast sightseeing in the most exciting city Spain can offer – Barcelona, capital of the Catalonian province. Begin with a visit to one of Spain’s landmarks: the incomplete architectural masterpiece of Antonio Gaudi, known as the Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family). Next, continue to a walking tour through the centuries-old streets and alleys of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Your tour will include an introduction to this former Jewish area in Barcelona. Visit the oldest Synagogue in Barcelona, which has recently been restored. Remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona. (B.D.)
DAY 15: BARCELONA - GIRONA - BESALU - BARCELONA
Breakfast. Today, drive northward to visit Girona, which stands totay not only as a charming example of Spain’s quaint early-Medieval ambience, but also as a reminder of the days when Jewish traditions bloomed. Girona was once a link between the first Kabbalists of Provence and the poets and writers of Cordoba and Toledo – also major Kabbalah Centers. Jewish settlers came to Giron at the end of the 9th century, growing and prospering until the Spanish Inquisition forced them into exile in 1492 – a span of 600 years| Walking through the “Call” (Jewish Quarter) still evokes this precious Jewish culture, an important part of the Golden Age of Spain. The spirit of our ancestors, you will sense, has never vanished. Visit the Archeological and Jewish Museums during your tour. Free time to lunch. Later, continue to Besalu, to see the remains of the pre-Inquisition Mekveh. Return to Barcelona in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona. (B.D.)
DAY 16: USA
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Private transfer to Barcelona airport. (B.)

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