Jewish Heritage in Portugal – Douro and Beira

The Jewish people were one of the most important communities in the Iberic Peninsula during the Medieval and Modern Age, with a huge contribution in what concerns to astronomy, which allowed us to start our maritime expansion, as well as their knowledge of medicine and mathematics.
The Portuguese Judaism is unique, surviving in the period of Inquisition with new-Christians practicing the Crypto-Judaism.
This journey will take you to the most remarkable sites of Jewish heritage such as Porto, Lamego, Tarouca, Vila Cova a Coelheira, Leomil and Régua in a unique opportunity to discover its heritage closely linked to its culture, customs and traditions.

Circuit with the author through all the tour – Ricardo Presumido

(Click in the Tab below to read his biography)

PROGRAM

1st Day • Porto – Lamego

Visit to the Kadoorie Synagogue – Mekor Haim (“Source of Life”), synagogue and head office of the Jewish community of Porto, one of the largest synagogues in the Iberian Peninsula. Its history is intrinsically linked to the history of its founder, Captain Artur Barros Basto, an officer of the Portuguese army converted to Judaism and who has become an important leader of the community. Departure to Lamego, an ancient city with a strong cultural heritage, full of churches, chapels and medieval bridges, as well as several traces of primitive occupation of these lands. Walking tour to the historical city centre, where once existed the Holy Office Court and old Jewry. Accommodation at Hotel Lamego 4 * or similar.

2nd Day • Lamego – Tarouca – Ucanha – Salzedas – Vila Cova à Coelheira – Quintela – Leomil – Lamego

Departure towards Salzedas passing by Tarouca, to visit the old Jewry, and Ucanha, where we can observe the magnificent Bridge and Tower of Ucanha, the best-preserved example of a fortified bridge in our country, of Gothic military architecture from the 12th century. Continue to Vila Cova à Coelheira, and visit the Centre of Jewish Memory, which reveals one side of this region of Vila Nova de Paiva and, in particular, the Jewish Community. Continuation to Quintela and visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lapa. The big granite stones are marks of the roughness and aridity of the place, and the Lapa is a granite stone, forming a grotto that, being protected, has served as refuge to Our Lady that gives the name to the sanctuary. We will continue to Leomil where every year at this time the “Market of the Jews” is realized, doing justice to the memory of the presence of the Jews in the town and region. The event with Jewish characteristics emphasizes the memory and traditions and dynamizes a return to the past with crafts, gastronomy, entertainment and regional products. Return to Lamego. Accommodation.

3rd Day • Lamego – Régua – Porto

Departure towards Peso da Régua and visit the Douro Museum which preserves, studies, exhibits and interprets material and immaterial objects that represents the identity, culture, history and development of the Douro, regardless of the historical period, various types and factories, with special emphasis on the elements associated with winemaking, a central activity in Douro. Continue to the Pier of Régua to board on a mini-cruise, where clients can admire the terraces desined by Man that cross the waters of the Douro river and portray a picture of sublime beauty. Return to Porto. End of our services.

Tour designed by Pinto Lopes Viagens RNAVT no. 2070

 

PRICE, PER PERSON, IN DOUBLE ROOM: 395€

• Supplements: Individual room – 70€
• Deposit: 120€

THE PRICE INCLUDES
– Circuit in touristic bus as described in the program;
– Bed and breakfast in the mentioned hotels;
– Full board, from lunch from the 1st day to the lunch of the last day (3 lunches and 2 dinners);
– Drinks at meals;
– Circuit with the Author through the whole the circuit – Ricardo Presumido;
– Local Guide in Régua;
– Entrances mentioned in the program;
– Boat tour on the Douro river;
– Hotel fees, services and VAT.

THE PRICE EXCLUDES
– Optional, personal extras and everything that is not mentioned as included.

  • This tour is, in general, suitable for people with reduced mobility and/or pregnant. In case of special needs, please contact us;
  • In case of cancellation by client’s decision, he shall be responsible by the costs and charges incurring from the cancelation that are assigned to the agency and result from the non-reassignment of said trip;
  • This trip is only confirmed with a minimum of 25 participants, should it be the case that this number is not reached, the client will be informed within the deadline foreseen in our general conditions.

Historian, postgraduate in Contemporary History by the Faculty of Letters of the University of Lisbon, Ricardo Presumido has been dedicated to holocaust Memory and Teaching, being the founder and Vice-President since 2009 of Memoshoá – Memory and Teaching Holocaust Association.

Ricardo Presumido has participated in several national and international congresses on this topic, highlight for its participation in the 8th International Conference: Telling the Story, Teaching the Core that took place in Yad Vashem in Israel, from 18 to 21 June 2012 and also the Conference Portugal and the Holocaust: Learn with the Past, Teach for the Future held on 29 and 30 October 2012 in Calouste Gulbenkian’s Foundation. Throughout its career as a teacher he actively participated in several conferences, and projects on this subject in primary, secondary and university level courses, he was also a guest professor at the Advanced Course in Cultural Memory: The Holocaust Memory in the European Culture from 8 February until 31 march 2012 in the Portuguese Catholic University.

He as also dynamized the Ciclo de Cinema: Image and Memory about the World War Two and the Holocaust that already has 4 editions, a partnership between Memoshoá, the Cascais City Hall and the D. Luís I Foundation.

In the last years, he also organised “seminars on wheels” – historical journeys about the Memory of the Holocaust in Europe, namely in Poland, Germany, Central Europe (Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary), Belgium, Baltic Countries and Italy.