Day 1 (Tu):  Arrive Porto, Portugal 

 

Arrive at Porto International Airport, airport meet-and-greet, then transfer to hotel.  Afternoon activity (options depend on flight arrival times). 

 

Day 2 (We): Porto 

 

Discovering the magical city of Porto.  Its historical center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and preserves many beautiful monuments.  We walk through the narrow streets and UNESCO center from the Sé Cathedral, where the first synagogue was built, to Montes dos Olivais where the Jewish Quarter was situated, witnessing the beauty of one of the world’s most romantic cities.   

 

Jewish Porto: Once, a major community of Jewish merchants thrived in this great city of the north. The city’s first Jewish area was along the Rua de Santa Ana. In 1386 King D. John I gave the community land near church of Nossa Senhora da Vitûria. The main synagogue stood on the Escadas da Vitûria; a place still locally called “Escadas da Esnoga.” A plaque marks the site. Nearby, there is an ancient Jewish cemetery at Passeio das Virtudes. Many Jewish merchants had their offices along the famed Porto riverfront in the Ribeira area along the Rua da Alfandega. Another Jewish community once flourished at the Rua Monte dos Jude’s, where in 1826 an important ancient Hebrew plaque was unearthed. Recently, the main synagogue for the Jewish quarter was discovered during the renovation of an ancient building. Behind a false wall, workers stumbled upon an ark thought to be from the 15th century. This important discovery is being carefully preserved and researched to learn more about the once sizable Jewish population of Porto. 

 

Our morning excursion explores the secular history and heritage of Porto with a walking and bus tour.  In the afternoon we continue our Jewish exploration of Porto with a visit to its synagogue; the largest synagogue on the Iberian Peninsula, “Kandoorie Mekor Haim,” founded by Captain Arthur Barros Bastos in 1938. 

 

Day 3 (Th): Trancoso & Belmonte 

 

Today we set off on a KX specially designed tour program to experience sights of one of the most unique Jewish regions and communities in the world in Belmonte and Trancoso (two of the “12 Historical Villages of Portugal” – a program created by the Portuguese government in 1991 to restore and enhance a series of villages in the Beira Interior region, older than the country itself) – as we explore the hidden Jews of Portugal.  

 

Belmonte: We explore and hike the hilltop village of Belmonte; this small community, population under 7,000, is home to hundreds of Jews who survived the Inquisition by practicing their Judaism secretly. These brave souls are the only “hidden Jews” (formerly known by the pejorative name, “Marranos,”) known to live in the Iberian Peninsula. Until 1990, they continued to maintain their privacy and secret faith. Now, they openly proclaim their Jewishness and have been received warmly by the Portuguese. (Spain, taking notice, is currently welcoming all hidden Jews of its past to return – and gain full citizenship!). The Jews of Belmonte live in carefully preserved stone houses, as we will see on a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter. Our tour includes a visit to the Synagogue and the Museum of Portuguese Jewish History, located in a re-purposed 18th century Catholic schoolhouse; here we will also be meeting with members of the existing Jewish community. 

 

Trancoso: We explore and hike the hilltop village of Trancoso:  This medieval hilltop town of Trancoso is very strongly marked by its Jewish past. Indeed, throughout the Middle Ages, the community of this city in northern Portugal had experienced an economic and social expansion almost unique in Europe thanks to its importance as a city of passage and exchange.  In the fifteenth century, the Jewish population rose to more than 500 people, which forced the community to settle outside the boundaries of the Judaria. Even today, there are many traces of this past, and as we walk through the town, we will find an abundance of Hebrew inscriptions, stars of David, sign of Mezuzot and many other symbols of this once thriving Jewish community.    

 

We complete our tour of Trancoso at the Isaac Cardoso Interpretation Centre for Jewish Culture, situated in the former Jewish quarter. It pays tribute to the Jewish doctor born in Trancoso in the early 17th century, who became Chief Physician of the Court of Madrid and sought refuge in Verona, Italy due to religious persecution.  This center’s mission is to preserve the Jewish legacy in the region and is a place of study, reflection and evidence of the area’s Jewish presence.  The center has temporary exhibition rooms, a memorial to the victims of the Inquisition with 515 names of the prisoners of Trancoso, and a Synagogue.  In 2013, the Isaac Cardoso Interpretation Centre for Jewish Culture received a Sefer Torah, which was returned to Trancoso 500 years after the expulsion of the Jews that was ordered by King D. Manuel I in 1496 and the forced conversion by the Inquisition, a tragic era which decimated the Jewish community of Trancoso. 

 

Day 4 (Fr): Choice Day 

 

Choice of Adventure 

 

Option 1: Paiva Walkways & Suspension Bridge and Kayaking the Douro River 

 

Paiva Walkways are located on the left bank of the Paiva River, in Arouca. On this 8 km nature hike we explore this authentic beautiful natural sanctuary complete with waterfalls, quartz crystals and endangered wildlife species. Our hike of the Arouca Geopark (recognized by UNESCO as a Geological Heritage of Humanity) ends with a crossing over the Bridge 516, one of the longest suspended bridges in Europe, built on top of the most fascinating waterfall and natural Gorge of the River Paiva. 

 

Douro River Valley by Kayak: Explore the stunning World UNESCO Douro River Valley by kayak:  This half-day adventure you get to experience the wonders, sights and sounds of one of the world's most beautiful waterways dotted with small villages, rolling vineyards and sandy riverside beaches to frolic on. 

 

Option 2: Aveiro: The capital of the Ria, Aveiro is a vast lagoon where the freshwater of the River Vouga joins with the sea.  Known as the Venice of Portugal, Aveiro is intersected by canals, genuine streets of water, along which can be seen gliding the brightly coloured boats known as barcos moliceiros. Originally founded in the time of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Aveiro is now one of the most interesting cities on the Portuguese coast.  Enjoy the day exploring this fascination town, complete with a cruise along Aveiros dazzling canals on a classic Moliceiro (traditional boat). Relax and enjoy the landscape on this traditional boat, that once was used to collect seagrass in the lagoon. 

 

Option 3: Day Cruise on the Douro River:  Experience a day on the majestic Douro River as we travel by riverboat from Regua to Porto.  Experience the stunning beauty of the World UNESCO Heritage Douro River Valley where you will enjoy sleepy villages combined with one of the world most prestigious wine growing regions with steep, twisting valleys and tidy terraces as far as the eye can see.   

 

Shabbat with the Jewish community of Porto:  Includes optional Maariv services at the local Synagogue followed by dinner. 

 

Day 5: Shabbat Porto 

 

Morning: Optional Shacharit services the local Synagogue followed by Kiddush lunch  

  

Afternoon guided walking tour in Porto 

  

Evening: Traditional Fado Show 

 

Day 6: Coimbra 

 

Today we visit the UNESCO town of Coimbra as we explore both its secular and Jewish history and heritage. 

 

Coimbra is the Oxford or Cambridge of Portugal — the home of its most venerable university. It's also the country's easiest-to-enjoy city — a mini-Lisbon, with everything good about urban Portugal without the intensity of a big metropolis.  One of the best activities in Coimbra is wandering the inviting, Arab-flavored old town with its maze of narrow streets and timeworn shops and markets. 

 

The oldest Portuguese University and a World Heritage site, Coimbra is the city where all the Portuguese history has been written throughout centuries. The Jewish Sephardic Heritage existing in Coimbra has left deep and decisive marks in the development of the country for centuries. The Jewish community was protected by kings and enjoyed liberty of worship and access to education. Although it is the city with one of largest Inquisition Courts from the 16th Century onwards, we can still find the traces of the Jewish presence and of the thriving Economical and Academic community. With the end of the name New Christians for conversos, the Coimbra University was reformed and welcomed the “Foreigners”, which were professors, many of Jewish origin, that helped Portugal into the Age of Enlightenment.   

 

Day 7: Braga and Guimarães 

 

Today we explore the UNESCO medieval cities of Braga and Guimarães.  Walking tours, castles and great shopping makes for a perfect last day to your tour of Portugal. 

 

Braga: Braga is known as the Rome of Portugal, for being the old capital of a Roman Province. Today it is the most important city of the Minho region, with its green-colored landscape of mountains, valleys and rivers. The Baroque style is predominant, with the rich decorated buildings and stunning ornamented gardens, shows how powerful this city has been for centuries. The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte is famous for its endless stairs and Baroque details. Not only a religious monument but also a truly romantic and relaxing place, with stunning views of the city. We will walk through the historic center of Braga and discover some of the most important streets and gardens of the city, such as the Santa Barbára Garden, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in Portugal. 

 

Guimarães: Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal and a World Heritage Site, since 2001. It is the first capital city of Portugal and where the first King of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, was born. The history of Guimarães is related to the foundation of the national identity. The buildings of the town and its medieval structure look impressive; Santiago and Oliveira squares are the center of the town, and it is impressive of how well they have been preserved throughout centuries. Guimarães is an authentic example of the evolution of a medieval city throughout History.