Jewish Heritage Tour in Spain and Portugal
Our Jewish Tour in Spain and Portugal is an exquisite symphony of experiences, with a vital connection to world history and enduring Jewish heritage in Portugal as well as pre-Inquisition days of Spain. This timeless land of explorers vibrates with the colorful passions of swirling flamenco and guitars; you will find its deep beauty unforgettable. From this exotic land emerged great sages and the Kabbalists of the "Golden Age," as well as the traditions of Sephardic Judaism, with its fascinating Eastern flavor. Enjoy a blend of Moorish, European and Jewish influences as we travel through the land of Cortez and Ponce de Leon. Iberia is a delight for the senses and for the soul!

Day 1 Monday Arrival in Malaga
Arrival to Malaga Airport. Transfer to your hotel,convenient located downtown Malaga. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner. AC Palacio Hotel.

Day 2 Tuesday Malaga - Granada - Malaga
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for a scenic drive to the town of Granada for a visit to one of the "Wonders of the World," the Moorish Palace of Alhambra. The road to Alhambra is itself a wonder of Spanish beauty, and it leads you to a magical destination, built by Muslim royalty in the Middle Ages. “How many legends and traditions, true and fabulous, how many songs and ballads, Arabian and Spanish, of love and war and chivalry, are associated with this Oriental pile!” said Washington Irving over a century ago. The timeless charm of Alhambra has not faded. Both fortress and home of sultans, this sumptuous palace is one of the highlights of any trip to Iberia. Located high on a hilltop, with the Sierra Nevada mountains as background, Alhambra's exquisite design and layout have few rivals. Be filled with a sense of mystique as you are guided past graceful courtyards, splashing stone fountains, intoxicating gardens and lavishly decorated rooms. Return to Malaga in the afternoon and enjoy free time to rest at the hotel. AC Palacio Hotel.

Day 3 Wednesday Malaga - Cordoba - Seville
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, drive through the beautiful land of Andalusia to the former home of many Jewish scholars and poets: Cordoba. 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. This 8th century structure was first a church, then a mosque, and today has a cathedral oddly placed in its center. Walk the street 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 of Jewish life. 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). Later in the afternoon, continue by coach to Andalusia's legendary city: Seville, immortalized in opera classics such as "The Barber of Seville," "Carmen" and "Don Giovanni." Friday night Dinner. Melia Colon Hotel.

Day 4 Thursday Seville
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, explore the great mixture of past and present that is Seville. Your 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 sepulcher of Christopher Columbus -- but are his remains there? Continue past the Alcazar Palace, still used as a residence for the Spanish Royal Family, to the grand Plaza Espana, site of the pavillion of the great 1929 exhibition. Last but not least, a tour of Jewish Seville in Barrio de Santa Cruz -- the former Jewish Quarter. Today, it is one of Seville's most charming areas. Remainder of the day at leisure. Melia Colon Hotel.

Day 5 Friday Seville - Evora - Lisbon
Breakfast at the hotel. Time to leave Spain for a few days and head for Portugal. Drive to Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the main Inquisition Centers of Portugal. In the past, Évora had one of the largest Jewish communities in Portugal, and several houses still bear traces of the old mezuzot. See the Court of the Inquisition and the Inquisitor’s Palace, which displays the coat of arms of the "Holy" Office. Tour Evora and visit the Public Library, where many Hebrew manuscripts dealing with the Jewish communities of the 13th and 14th centuries are collected, as well as Abraham Zacuto’s “Almanaque Perpetuum,” a series of navigation charts useful during the Age of Discovery. The Museu de Evora features a well-preserved, Hebrew-inscribed tombstone, as well as the cornerstone of a 14th century synagogue. Later, continue to Lisbon. In the evening, enjoy Friday Night Dinner. Altis Avenida Hotel.

Day 6 Saturday Lisbon - Sintra - Estoril - Lisbon
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy your day at leisure or join us for a tour to Sintra and Estoril. First, visit Estoril, once a prosperous resort for exiled royalty, and today beloved for its beaches, golf courses and sophisticated casino. Here, visit the Library at Espaço do Exílio, whose collections include documents on the many Jewish families who passed through and settled in Portugal during and after World War II. Continue to Sintra, a World Heritage site also known as "Lord Byron's Glorious Eden.” Sintra was used as a retreat by the Romans, the Moors and the Portuguese kings, all of whom reveled in its location, beauty, wooded ravines and natural water springs. Its former Jewish Quarter, where Jews lived and mixed at Court before the forced conversions of 1497, is still visible today. In the afternoon, see the glorious National Royal Palace. En route back to Lisbon, enjoy a panoramic visit to Belém-Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which houses the tomb of the famous explorer, Vasco da Gama. View the Monument to the Discoveries, which owes much to the Portuguese Jews and "New-Christians,” as many forced converts were called. From Torre de Belém, guarding the mouth of the Tagus River, explorers once set out on voyages to discover trade routes to Africa, Asia and the New World. (Brazil, of course, is the most famous product of these journeys.) See the striking monument, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, which celebrates the Portuguese adventurers who took part in the Golden Age of Discovery. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Altis Avenida Hotel.

Day 7 Sunday Lisbon - Castilo de Vide - Covilha - Belmonte
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Lisbon and drive to Castelo de Vide, famed for its authentic medieval Juderia (Jewish Quarter). Along the maze of narrow cobbled alleys nestled beneath the Castle, we find a 15th Century Synagogue and adjacent religious school, recently restored by using the original architectural lines. See the original Rabbi's home, the village fountain, and even the oven used for baking. In the afternoon, visit the Archeological Museum, and learn how Jewish and Christian cultures coexisted even after the Edict of Expulsion. Next, depart for Covilhã and visit its excellent kosher winery. Later in the afternoon, depart for Belmonte, nestled in the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in Portugal. Belmonte is the birthplace of Pedro Alvares Cabral, discoverer of Brazil, jewel of the Portuguese Empire. Belmonte today is also an active and vibrant community with a unique Jewish history. Only a few years ago, almost all the Jews of Belmonte went to the Catholic church three times in their life: on the day of their baptism, to get married, and for their funeral. Before entering the church, however, they would recite this silent prayer: “I do not worship wood or stone, but the Lord who governs all.” Remainder of the day at leisure. Hotel Pousada Convento de Belmonte.

Day 8 Monday Belmonte - Douro Valley - Belmonte 
Breakfast at the hotel. This day is devoted to the Douro river, third longest river on the Iberian peninsula, and one of the most important and beautiful waterways in Europe. Here you will cruise some of the most scenic parts of the river, surrounded by steep green hills and thriving wineries. These lush and verdant vineyards have been praised for millennia. Greek and Roman writers have described the perfections of the local grapes, which grow in one of the most beautiful areas of Portugal. Enjoy Lunch as you cruise peacefully along the gorgeous ancient countryside. Return to Belmonte in the late afternoon, and visit the small but active Jewish community whose unique Marrano legacy makes for a fascinating glimpse into Jewish (and Christian) history. Hotel Pousada Convento de Belmonte.

Day 9 Tuesday Belmonte - Salamanca - Madrid
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, proceed back to Spain. Stop in the University town of Salamanca, named Helmantica by the Romans. The town grew around its impressive cathedral and major university, once rated on a par with the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe, such as Oxford and the Sorbonne. From here continue to Madrid, the great capital of Spain. Westin Palace Hotel.

Day 10 Wednesday Madrid
Breakfast at the hotel. During your tour this morning, visit the impressive Royal Palace and be introduced to two of Europe's grandest squares: Plaza Mayor, with arts, crafts and chic boutiques under its arcades, and the Spanish version of Times Square -- Puerta del Sol.  Later, continue on a Jewish tour of Madrid and visit the synagogue for an introduction to Madrid’s Jewish community. Enjoy lunch at the Jewish Community Center. In the afternoon, tour the impressive Prado Museum, with its priceless collections of Spanish art by Velazquez, Goya and El Greco. Remainder of the day at leisure to enjoy Madrid -- by simply stepping out of the lobby of your elegant hotel. Westin Palace hotel.

Day 11 Thursday Madrid - Toledo - Madrid
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning is devoted to a tour of Jewish Toledo, perched high on a hill by the 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 for 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 (and Jewish) 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 and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. In the evening, meet for a Farewell Dinner & Flamengo Show. Westin Palace Hotel.

Day 12 Friday Madrid - Flight
Breakfast at the hotel. Later, transfer to the airport for the flight back home or continue on a post tour to Barcelona or other places.