Lisbon Jewish Historical Tour: Explore Sephardic Influence and Ancient Neighborhoods
5.0
164 Ratings
Lisbon
Discover the rich history of Lisbon's Jewish community on a historical tour. Explore ancient neighborhoods, learn about Sephardic influence, and visit the Lisbon Museum.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Miradouro da Senhora do Monte - With three thousand years of history, Lisbon overflows with influences of Sephardic presence.

Lisbon’s Jewish community came to develop a unique culture that was the reflection of their total social integration, which was only broken after the Renaissance.

  • Alfama - Get into the sounds, smells and beauty of Lisbon’s ancient alleyways, full of Sephardic memories.

We will take you to the neighbourhoods where the biggest Jewish community in Europe inhabited for centuries: Chiado, Baixa and Alfama.

  • Largo de Sao Domingos - Visit the Monument in Lisbon in honor of the Jews killed in the 1506 massacre.

  • Praca do Comercio (Terreiro do Paco) - Discover why, even today, you can feel Sephardic influences, all over the town.

  • Chiado - Discover the stories of the most influent Jewish families of Portuguese Kingdom.

  • Largo do Carmo - We will tell you why Jewish community was important for Portuguese Golden Age of Discoveries and we will tell about the intellectuals, the mathematicians, the cabalists,

Visit Chiado and Largo do Carmo.

  • Museu De Lisboa - Visit to Palácio Pimenta (where we invite you to see the spectacular scale model of Lisbon before the earthquake of 1755).

Discover Lisbon!

What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off included for central Lisbon hotels and cruise terminal.
  • Personalized experience with a full-time driver/guide.
  • Travel in comfort with a private, air-conditioned mini van.
  • Comfort pack provided, including fresh waters and cleaning wipes.
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities are not included.
  • Palácio Pimenta / Lisbon Museum ticket – 3€ per person
Additional Information

Jewish Quarters: A Trip Back in Time!

Lisbon, with its 3000-year-old history, is awash with traces of Sephardic influences.

The Jewish population in Lisbon fostered a unique culture, thriving on their successful social integration, tragically disrupted post-Renaissance.

Immerse yourself in the auditory, olfactory and visual wonders of Lisbon’s time-worn lanes, rich with Sephardic heritage.

Join us as we traverse the areas that were inhabited by the largest Jewish community in Europe for centuries: Chiado, Baixa and Alfama.

We’ll explain why the Jewish community was critical to the Portuguese Age of Golden Discoveries and delve into the stories of the scholars, the mathematicians, the Kabbalists, and more…

The tour offers two choices:
You can either visit the Lisbon Museum (the Palácio Pimenta, where a marvelous scale model depiction of Lisbon before the catastrophic earthquake of 1755 is on exhibit) or the Synagogue Ohel Jacob.

  • Adult pricing applies to all travellers.
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking. Portuguese law stipulates that children under 12 years of age and 135 cm in height, when transported in a car with safety belts, must travel in an approved restraint system adapted to their size and weight. Please let us know if you have children and their ages.
  • Dress code is smart casual, recommended comfortable clothing and shoes.
  • No smoking or eating inside the vehicle.
  • The baggage is limited to one standard suitcase per person.
  • Not recommended for travellers with mobility issues. The tour is done by car but it involves walking around Alfama. The floor is uneven.
Location
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
Largo do Monte,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(164 Ratings)
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Wendi_s
Apr 6, 2024
A great guided tour - Daniel provided us with a lovely and informative afternoon. He is very knowledgeable and friendly; his english is impeccable.
Review provided by Viator
Joyweisberger
Mar 30, 2024
Jewish History Tour - Daniel was a very knowledgeable person. He knows the history and knew how important it was to us to see what the jewish sites and community was all about. we were lucky enough to celebrate Shabbat with a synagogue within the city.
Review provided by Viator
Extraordinary271553
Mar 28, 2024
Wonderful Jewish tour of Lisbon! - This was a very comprehensive and informative tour. Daniel was extremely helpful and accommodating to our needs as well. I very highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sheila_j
Mar 27, 2024
Outstanding and informative - Our guide Diogo was very personable and extremely knowledgeable. Although not Jewish he had a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of the Jews of Portugal. He was open to all questions and was willing to share resources to further our understanding of Jewish Portuguese history. Diogo also included general Portuguese history along the way.I would highly recommend him as your guide to Portugal.
Review provided by Viator
Abby_h
Mar 25, 2024
Jewish and Portuguese history over centuries presented in a fascinating interactive tour. - Daniel did an amazing job of bringing the Alfama neighborhood of the 16th century to life, showing how the Jewish community survived there in harmony with other groups. We also were able to see the main areas of the city and to understand the history of government from monarch to autocracy to the current democracy. Very enjoyable and enlightening.
Review provided by Viator
Abbyh959
Mar 25, 2024
Wonderful presentation of the Jewish community of Lisbon from centuries ago to current timeago - Our guide Daniel brought the historical neighborhood of Alfama to life as he explained the Jewish cultural experience there of many centuries ago. We got a great encapsulation of Jewish and Portuguese history in a fun and interactive tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roving14823378864
Mar 9, 2024
Wonderful tour of Jewish Lisbon that was - Daniel was a fantastic tour guide. He had a font of interesting tidbits about jewish life in Lisbon. Although the weather was rainy, he eagerly took us through the Jewish areas of the Alfalma district, sharing his knowledge about what it was like to be a Jew or later a marino in the 1500s. This was a highlight of our trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Barbara_b
Mar 1, 2024
Very knowledgeable - Daniel was excellent and very knowledgeable! He was so kind and patient. The van was comfortable. We learned so much history. Worth it.
Review provided by Viator
Samuel_f
Feb 8, 2024
Excellent Tour - Our guide Daniel was informative and enthusiastic. We learned a great deal about the Jewish history of Portugal and the remaining remnants of Jewish life in Lisbon. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Leonard_g
Dec 31, 2023
100% recommend to learn about Portugal’s rich Jewish history - Diogo is an expert on Jewish historical life in Portugal. My partner and I had tons of questions which Diogo was able to field flawlessly. We are NY Jews and very passionate about connecting to diaspora and Jewish history. Would 100% do this again. Felt like I made a friend after.
Review provided by Viator
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