Jewish Lisbon

The traces of a culture that helped shape Portuguese identity can still be found throughout everyday life: in recipes, family names, expressions, traditions, and stories that have survived for centuries. This walk explores the Jewish experience in Lisbon, from the flourishing Sephardic communities of the Middle Ages to the forced conversions, the Inquisition, and the remarkable survival of Jewish traditions across generations. More than a historical tour, this experience invites reflection on memory, identity, belonging, tolerance, and resilience. Together, we will discover how the history of Portuguese Jews became intertwined with the history of Portugal itself, and how that legacy continues to influence the country today. For guests interested in contemporary Jewish life, it may also be possible to arrange a visit to Lisbon's synagogue, subject to opening hours and availability. Along the way, we will visit sites linked to medieval Jewish life, the events of 1506, and the revival of Jewish life today...!

• Lisbon's contemporary Jewish community • Rossio Square and the 1506 Massacre Memorial • São Domingos Church and the story of religious intolerance • Traces of medieval Jewish Lisbon • The Portuguese Inquisition and the New Christians • Sephardic culture and heritage • The survival of Crypto-Jewish traditions • The revival of Jewish life in contemporary Portugal + the prince