Guided Walk of Lisbon's Jewish History, Lisbon

Discover Lisbon's Jewish history on this guided walk that will take you across the centuries as you learn about the significant presence and contributions of this community. You'll learn about the thousands-year-old history of Jews in Portugal and be taken through the centuries, as you find out about their expulsion and conversion to Christianity in 1492, and hear about the refugees who came during World War II, many of whom went to America. Your expert guide will take you to different areas, such as Alfama, the city's oldest neighborhood that had a Jewish quarter, and other locations that are tied to this lesser-known history of Lisbon.

Discover Portugal's long Jewish history with this three-hour guided walk that will take you through different areas tied to the city's Jewish population. Your knowledgeable guide will meet you at your accommodation and then take you to Lisbon's different Jewish districts, including in Alfama, the city's oldest neighborhood that still has a Jewish quarter. As you walk and see these sights, you'll learn about how Jews first arrived to the Iberian Peninsula, settling in Portugal and Spain, and discover their contributions to Lisbon in maritime trade and other industries.

History will come alive, as you discover what happened during the fateful year of 1492, when the Spanish monarchy expelled any Jew who refused to convert to Christianity, leading to an influx in Portugal, where they were turned into slaves and later forced to convert or expelled. Your guide will reveal other significant moments of Jewish history in Portugal, like the 16th-century brutal Pessah massacre during which 2,000 Jews were murdered, the effects of the Inquisition on this population, and the secret treaty to rehabilitate those who converted to Christianity.

Your walk will end with a look back at the 20th century when around 200,000 refugees came to Lisbon during World War II, many of whom were Jewish. You'll learn about life for these Jewish refugees and how many were saved by the diplomat Aristedes de Sousa Mendes, who defied the Portuguese dictatorship to issue them visas to go to America. After learning about this long and storied history, you can continue exploring Lisbon with this new perspective or return to your accommodation.