Jewish Presence in Lisbon

A history walk through the neighbourhoods where Lisbon’s Jewish community lived, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

WhenAny day, on request

Duration3 hours

LevelModerate · all ages

PricePrice on request

Request price & availability

This is a history-focused walk, led by a guide who specialises in the Jewish presence in Portugal. Most of Lisbon’s Jewish heritage was lost after the forced conversions of 1497, the Inquisition and the 1755 earthquake, so very few physical traces remain. The story is told through the streets and places where it happened, with maps, historical context and the stories of the people involved.

We follow the community’s path through Castle Hill, Alfama, Mouraria and Baixa. The route goes from Praça do Comércio and Casa dos Bicos to Ribeira, Mouraria, Praça da Figueira and Rossio, passing near the Resistance Museum. It can be adapted to different durations and starting points.

Please note: the walk focuses on historic Jewish Lisbon; today’s Jewish community is not part of the visit. It does not include visits to synagogues or museums.

What you’ll see

  • The medieval Jewish quarters
  • The Jewish and New Christian communities of Lisbon
  • The community’s role in maritime trade
  • The forced conversions of 1497 and the Passover massacre of 1506
  • The Inquisition and the “black lists”
  • The secret treaty to rehabilitate the New Christians
  • The diaspora that left Lisbon for the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and northern Europe
  • The refugees who passed through Lisbon during WWII, some with visas issued by Aristides de Sousa Mendes
  • The legacy of Portuguese Jews in science, culture and food (when time allows)
Jewish Presence in Lisbon
Largo S.Domingos – Jewish Presence in Lisbon
Rua da Judiaria – Jewish Presence in Lisbon
Cruz de David Sé de Lisboa – Jewish Presence in Lisbon
Memorial Praça S.Domingos – Jewish Presence in Lisbon
Auto de Fé – Jewish Presence in Lisbon
Sinagoga de Lisboa – Jewish Presence in Lisbon
Jewish Presence in Lisbon

Book this private tour

We run this tour privately, for your group only, on the day that suits you.

Request price & availability
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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.