THE JEWS OF PORTUGAL JEWISH CULTURE, HERITAGE, & TRADITION
Portugal Jewish Heritage

🇵🇹 Discover Portugal's Hidden Jewish Legacy

An Epic Journey Through Sephardic History

The Adventure Awaits

For centuries, Sephardic Jews shaped the soul of the Iberian Peninsula—from the glittering Golden Age through devastating tragedy. Portuguese Jewry flourished in medieval times, creating art, scholarship, and culture that influenced the entire Western world, until everything changed in 1497 with forced conversions and exile.

Get ready to walk in their footsteps. This immersive Portuguese odyssey awakens the vibrant spirit of Sephardic heritage through breathtaking landscapes, ancient synagogues, and communities that refused to fade into history. Every cobblestone tells a story of resilience, creativity, and unbreakable faith.

Your journey kicks off in electric Lisbon, where a revitalized Jewish community is writing new chapters. Then we venture to Belmonte—the incredible crypto-Jewish village that secretly preserved traditions for 500 years before the world rediscovered them in the 20th century. From the historic streets of Coimbra and Porto to hidden gems in charming villages, every stop reveals another layer of this remarkable story.

Experience world-class luxury accommodations perfectly positioned to maximize your exploration. Throughout this unforgettable adventure, renowned scholar Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller brings history to life through captivating presentations and thought-provoking conversations that'll keep you engaged from dawn to dusk.

Portugal Jewish Heritage

Highlights

  • ✨ 11 nights of deluxe accommodations in Lisbon, Belmonte, Coimbra, and Porto
  • 🌊 Day trip to the coast, including lunch by the beach in Guincho and a stop at the Chabad Portugal community center in Cascais
  • 🏰 Visit to the charming and picturesque town of Obidos, with its whitewashed houses, cobblestoned streets, and little-known Jewish history
  • 🕍 Tour the Portuguese-Hebrew Museum, housed in a synagogue originally built in 1430, and former Jewish quarter of Tomar
  • 🎨 Private guided museum tours and synagogue visits
  • 🔯 Visit Belmonte where Jews survived in secrecy for hundreds of years
  • 🍷 A 2-night stay in Porto, Portugal's second city, located on the River Douro, and home to the famous port wine industry
Portugal Jewish Heritage

🗺️ A Journey Through Portugal: Itinerary Highlights

This itinerary provides a concise, undated overview of your cultural and historical exploration through Portugal. Please note that all daily meals are included.

🇵🇹 Part I: Lisbon & Day Trips

Day 1
📍 Lisbon
Arrive in Lisbon and check into the 5-star Portobay Liberdade Hotel. The day includes time to rest, an opening scholarly presentation, orientation, and a Welcome Dinner at the hotel restaurant.
🏨 Portobay Liberdade Hotel
Day 2
📍 Lisbon
Introductory panoramic tour, including a stop at the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower (UNESCO sites). The afternoon features a guided visit to the National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo). Scholarly presentation in the early evening.
🏨 Portobay Liberdade Hotel
Day 3
📍 Lisbon
Explore Lisbon's hidden Jewish history with visits to the discreet Shaaré Tikvah Synagogue and the National Archive to view original Inquisition documents. The afternoon includes a guided tour of the diverse Gulbenkian Museum collection.
🏨 Portobay Liberdade Hotel
Day 4
📍 Lisbon – Sintra – Cascais – Lisbon
Excursion to the magnificent village of Sintra to visit the Town Palace and historic center. Drive to the coast for lunch at a famous fish restaurant in Guincho. Visit the Chabad Portugal community center in Cascais. Optional evening Fado show with dinner (must sign up in advance).
🏨 Portobay Liberdade Hotel
Day 5
📍 Lisbon – Obidos – Lisbon
Morning drive to the picturesque, walled town of Obidos for a walking tour focusing on its little-known Jewish history. Early evening scholarly presentation, followed by Friday night services and Shabbat dinner with the local Jewish community at the Shaaré Tikvah Synagogue.
🏨 Portobay Liberdade Hotel
Day 6
📍 Lisbon
Free morning for personal exploration or enjoying hotel amenities. Optional afternoon tour of the Medeiros e Almeida Museum (decorative arts). Early evening scholarly presentation.
🏨 Portobay Liberdade Hotel

🏰 Part II: Moving North - Tomar, Belmonte & Coimbra

Day 7
📍 Lisbon – Tomar – Belmonte
Depart for Tomar to visit the Portuguese-Hebrew Museum (housed in the 1430 synagogue) and the former Jewish quarter. Continue to Belmonte to visit the Belmonte Synagogue and Jewish Museum (focusing on the Marrano community). Dinner and overnight stay at the historic Pousada Convento Belmonte.
🏨 Pousada Convento Belmonte
Day 8
📍 Belmonte – Vilar Formoso – Trancoso – Belmonte
Visit Vilar Formoso and its museum commemorating refugees who fled Nazism. After lunch, tour the medieval town of Trancoso and visit the Isaac Cardoso Jewish Interpretation Center. Dinner at the hotel.
🏨 Pousada Convento Belmonte
Day 9
📍 Belmonte – Coimbra
Depart for Coimbra. Upon arrival, enjoy a short walking tour. Visit the city's small Jewish heritage museum on Inquisition Square and the world-renowned Coimbra University. Dinner at the Quinta das Lágrimas hotel.
🏨 Quinta das Lágrimas

🍷 Part III: Porto & Departure

Day 10
📍 Coimbra – Porto
Morning scholarly presentation before heading north to Porto. Check into the centrally located 5-star Maison Albar Le Monumental. Afternoon visit to the elaborately decorated Palacio da Bolsa.
🏨 Maison Albar Le Monumental
Day 11
📍 Porto
Half-day tour of Porto, including the old Jewish quarter, the original 12th-century city, the Kadoorie Synagogue, and its small adjacent Jewish museum. Afternoon free for leisure. Farewell Dinner in the evening.
🏨 Maison Albar Le Monumental
Day 12
📍 Porto
Individual departures to the airport for flights home.
🛫 N/A
🍽️ Kosher Meals: All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as required by the schedule) are Glat Kosher and are provided under the supervision of a Mashgiach.

🏨 Accommodations

Lisbon: Portobay Liberdade Hotel

This boutique hotel has all the features of an urban resort: an indoor swimming pool and gymnasium with natural lighting, spa with treatment rooms for two, sauna, Turkish steam bath, esplanade, patio, and terrace balconies in most rooms. All rooms feature thoughtful touches like espresso makers, free Wi-Fi, and LCD TVs with cable channels, 24-hour room service, and minibars.

Belmonte: Belmonte Sinai Hotel

With a stay at Belmonte Sinai Hotel in Belmonte, you'll be within a 5-minute walk of Museum of Discovery and Belmonte Jewish Museum. This upscale hotel has amenities such as bicycles to rent or take in the view from a terrace. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access, an arcade/game room, and ski storage.

Coimbra: Quinta das Lágrimas


Quinta das Lágrimas is a member of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” and a retreat of peace and tranquillity set within an 18th-century palace surrounded by 10 acres of lush gardens in Coimbra. Located a short walk from Coimbra’s medieval center. The hotel offers two restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, a heated indoor swimming pool, and a spa with a fitness center, Turkish bath, and steam room.

Porto: Maison Albar Le Monumental

Maison Albar – Le Monumental Palace is one of the most extravagant boutique hotels in Porto, Portugal. The luxury 5-star hotel is housed inside a striking architectural masterpiece from 1923. Designed by Italian architect Michelangelo Soa, the Gothic facade is nothing but magnificent. As for the interior, you will discover an Art Deco design with rich and glamorous furnishings.

Program Details

📋 Details

Program Cost: $14,995* includes:

What's Included

  • 🏨11 nights' accommodations at deluxe hotels
  • 🍽️All-inclusive Glatt Kosher meals provided, with supervision by a Mashgiach and prepared by a dedicated chef.
  • 🚌All group transportation via deluxe air-conditioned coach
  • 🎭All lectures, guided tours, museums and site entrance fees
  • 🎯Professional tour director throughout your journey

Disclaimer of Responsibility

By registering for this program, participant specifically waives any and all claims of action against OU Nomads and our museum partners listed below and their respective staffs for damages, loss, injury, accident, or death incurred by any person in connection with this tour. OU Nomads and our museum partners listed below and their respective staffs assume no responsibility or liability in connection with the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft, or other conveyance that may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the passengers. Neither will the OU Nomads and our museum partners listed below or their staffs be responsible for any injury, death, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity through neglect or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purposes for which tickets, vouchers, or coupons are issued. Any personal activities arranged outside the OU Nomads published tour itinerary are solely and wholly the responsibility of the individual traveller whether or not a representative of OU Nomads has provided any guidance. No responsibility is accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, viruses, weather, strikes, wars, and other causes. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, including hotels or scholars, such alterations may be made without penalty. All rights reserved to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at his/her own expense when such an action is determined by the tour staff to be in the best interest of the participant's health and safety and that of the group in general. Prices subject to change. Cost in effect at time of registration will be honored.

Changes

All rights are reserved by OU Nomads to make scholar substitutions and/or to modify the itinerary (including hotels) as needed. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate the program as planned; however, should unforeseen world events and conditions require the itinerary to be altered, OU Nomads reserves the right to do so for the safety and best interest of the group. Any extra expenses incurred in this situation are the responsibility of the participant.

Optional Extras

Enhance your experience with our premium services. Hover over each item for details.

📸

Private Photographer

$500 / day

🎩

Private Concierge

$350 / day

🚗

Private Car Service

$400 / day

⭐

Suite Upgrade

Pricing on request

We Feel and Know.
We Are Eternal. Baruch Spinoza