Jewish Presence in Lisbon
A walk through Lisbon’s Jewish quarters, recalling this community’s legacy in the history of the city and the country.
WhenAny day, on request
Duration3 hours
LevelModerate · all ages
PricePrice on request
The Jewish presence in Portugal goes back a long way, but unfortunately it is little known to the general public.
Starting from the myths about the founding of the Sephardic communities in the Iberian Peninsula and the first traces of Jewish settlement in Portugal, this walking tour presents the most remarkable moments in Lisbon’s history from the point of view of this community, now reduced to a small number of people.
The tour spans two millennia and ends in the 20th century, with the passage through Lisbon of some 200,000 refugees on their way to America, many with visas issued by Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who helped them escape Nazi persecution.
What you’ll see
- The Jewish quarters of the city
- The community’s role in maritime trade
- Forced conversion to Christianity
- The Passover massacre of 1506
- The establishment of the Inquisition
- The “black lists”
- The secret treaty to rehabilitate the New Christians
- Refugees’ daily life in Lisbon during the Second World War
Book this private tour
We run this tour privately, for your group only, on the day that suits you.
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Open in Google Maps →Where we meet
Private tours: we meet at Praça do Comércio, under the Rua Augusta Arch, unless stated otherwise. We can also meet you at your hotel on foot if it is in the city centre (up to Marquês de Pombal).
Questions? Email us at info@lisbonwalker.com.