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Jewish Heritage Tour of Portugal

September 9th, 2016 to September 23th, 2016

$3,499 USD Per Person includes approximately taxes of 192 USD

13 Nights, 24 Meals, 5 Star Hotel Accommodations in Lisbon, Porto and Pousada de Belmonte, Royal Garden Hotel- Ponta Delgada, Private Tours and Transfer and English Speaking Guide *Based on current TAP Portugal schedule and economy class. Add $2,500 USD for business Class Upgrade. Pricing is based on double occupancy, minimum of 6 passengers; Air schedule, itinerary and pricing based on

current published schedules. Prices, itinerary is subject to change until confirmed.

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September 9th, 2016- Embark for your 11 Day Tour of Portugal, Depart Boston Logan Airport to Lisbon,

Portugal.

September 10th, 2016- Welcome to Portugal, a Private Round-Trip Airport Transfer will escort your party in

comfort from Lisbon Airport to Altis Liberdade Hotel, a 5 star hotel in the center of Lisbon, with breakfast daily.

The Altis Liberdade hotel is located in an extraordinary location in the city centre on the Praça dos Restauradores.

The architecture and decoration is inspired by the portuguese '40s and revolves around the concept of retro urban

chic, where past and future meld in a unique atmosphere of charm and glamour. Check in for 5 nights, breakfast

daily.

September 11th, 2016- Private Tour-Lisbon City (Jewish Tour) Full Day with Lunch- The tour will start with a

general introduction to the Jewish presence of the city, followed by a nice walk in the city center passing by the site

of the 1506 Jewish Massacre near the Church of São Domingos. The tour will proceed to the Castle of Saint George

(with the best panoramic view of the city) and it will be from here that we will start to walk down one of the most

well preserved Jewish Quarters in Alfama, Portugal. After lunch we will continue our tour with a visit to the only

Synagogue of Lisbon (Shaare Tikvá), passing by the Commerce Square- the square where thousands of Jews were

forced to be baptized in the 15th century. Our last part of the day will be in Belém to visit the Jerónimos Monastery,

masterpiece of the Manueline style and a tribute to the king that welcomed and protected the Jews that fled from

Spain and then expelled them in 1496. There will be time for a last stop at the Monument to the Discoveries where

you will have the opportunity to see the faces of Jewish men that participated actively in the Portuguese Golden Age

of the Discoveries. (B) (L)

September 12th, 2016- Private Tour-Sintra, Roca Cape, Cascais Full Day Tour with Lunch. Visit Sintra, the

most “romantic” city in Portugal, Sintra is a magical place where man and nature exist in perfect harmony. Discover

secret caves and trails at Pena Park, admire the natural wonders of Sintra Natural Park and the cliffs of Roca Cape,

and visit Pena Palace, sitting high on Sintra Mountain overlooking the coast. Our lunch today is beach-side.

Afterwards we visit Cabo Da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe. Enjoy a scenic drive along the

Atlantic coast, and stop at Cascais Beach. Walk around Cascais town and bay. We return to Lisbon paralleling the

Atlantic Ocean until we reach city center.Includes Ticket to Pena Palace, Cabo Roca (westernmost point in

continental Europe)

In Sintra we will visit the historical center, with the Jewry Alley right next to the famous pastry shop “Piriqut. The

Jewish quarter is located in the present-day Rua das Padarias, (Rua Nova). Lunch is included. (B) (L)

September 13th, 2016- Private Tour- Arrabida Hill, Azeita Full Day with Lunch-The Serra da Arrábida

Natural Park, amidst the deep blue sea and the green of the hills, will take your breath away. Situated by the sea,

the park offers some of the most stunning coastal scenery in the Lisbon area. The highest point is in the Serra do

Risco, a magnificent cliff 380m high. A good way of getting to know this pristine place, featuring pure

Mediterranean vegetation, is this private tour. Like a wall of green sticking out over the Atlantic, the hills offer

shelter to small coves of white sand where, despite being on the edge of the ocean, the sea is almost free of waves.

Around this natural park you'll also have the opportunity to visit Sesimbra, Setúbal and Azeitão. Experience

stunning landscapes as you drive along the coast line and beach shore along Arrábida hills towards Setúbal. Enjoy

lunch in typical Portuguese Restaurant. In the afternoon, Departure towards Azeitão villages where you will have an

opportunity to visit a traditional tile factory. Your day will be complete with a tour of one of the region’s most

famous wineries, José Maria da Fonseca vineyards and cellars with wine tasting.(B) (L)

September 14th, 2016-Private Transfer from Lisbon to Belmonte (Casa Lagar da Alagoa) with stops in

Obidos, Tomar. Full Day with Lunch. Our private transfer will drive your party to Belmonte, the main center of

Jewish history and culture in Portugal. During your travels, you will have the opportunity to stop in Obidos, a

medieval town, Óbidos is one of the most picturesque and well preserved in Portugal. After lunch, we will stop in

Tomar,. It is a magical city bursting with handsome architecture and historical significance. We will have time to

visit the Synagogue of Tomar. According to early documentation, Tomar had a Jewish settlement as far back as the





beginning of the 14th Century. The synagogue was originally built in the 15th Century, sometime between 1430 and

1460 when the local Jewish community came to prominence. It was situated in the heart of what was then the

Judearia, or Jewish Quarter, in the area that is now located between the present day streets of Rua Direita dos

Açougues and Rua dos Moinhos. Later in the day we arrive in the beautiful village of Belmonte. Tonight you will

check into the Pousada de Belmonte for one night. The Pousada Convento de Belmonte originates from the

recovery of the old Convent of Nossa Senhora da Esperança (Our Lady of Hope).The importance of Belmonte in the

Portuguese history dates back to the middleages, having been granted the Provincial Letter in 1199 by D.Sancho I. A

region complete with countless monumental remains as well as the beauty and traditions of Serra da Estrela. (B) (L)

September 15th, 2016- Private Tour of Belmonte, Covilha and transfer to Porto, Full Day with Lunch.

Belmonte is, perhaps, the Portuguese town with the strongest Jewish presence and it stands out because it was a

unique case, within the Iberian Peninsula, where Hebrew culture and tradition have lasted since the early 16th

century until today.The Jewish community settled here during the Middle Ages and the Jewry was located between

the streets of Fonte da Rosa and Direita. It is possible that the town’s first synagogue might have been founded in

1297 and was then adapted to Christian cult. After King Manuel published the edict which expelled all Jews from

Portugal, a group of Crypto-Jews remained in Belmonte and it has survived until today. When you enter Belmonte,

go up to the castle and, starting from the lake, go down the Roman Sidewalk and enter the old Jewry. Stroll through

the houses at Direita and Fonte da Rosa streets where you will be able to see stone engravings in the threshold of the

small granite houses, an evidence of the history of these Jews who were forced to live in secret. Head to the Bet

Eliahu Synagogue, built upon a promontory at the far end of town, opening up to the valley. It was designed by

architect Neves Dias and consecrated in 1996. At Portela Street you can also visit the Belmonte Jewish Museum

which shows the History of the Portuguese Jews, their inclusion into Portuguese medieval society, their public and

private habits and the History of persecution and determination of the New Christians. After a traditional lunch, we

enjoy a short tour to the nearby city of Covilha, a city with an air of freshness and space whose original town walls

date back to the 12th century. However, much of the architecture hails back to Covilhã’s golden age when it was the

heart of a thriving woollen industry mainly operated by the town’s sizeable Jewish community. Indeed the town had

been the leader in manufacture of cloth from times of Moorish rule. This evening retire to your 5 star hotel, the

Intercontinental Hotel in the center of Porto, Portugal’s second largest city for the next 3 nights. (B) (L)

September 16th, 2016-Private Jewish Porto City Tour Full Day with Lunch- You will learn about the Jewish

community not only in Porto but as well about the Jewish heritage in Portugal from Sepharad, the Middle Age Jews

and the terrible times of the Inquisition, the Modern Age New Christians and the Jewish Renaissance 20th century.

Take part in a guided visit to the largest synagogue standing on the Iberian Peninsula "Mekor Haim"/The Fountain

of Life, founded by Captain Arthur Barros Bastos in 1938 where the "Work of Rescue" began. Then we will walk

through the narrow streets of Porto from the Sé Cathedral, where the first synagogue was built, to Montes dos

Olivais where the biggest Jewish Quarter was situated, finding vestiges from the Jewish community. In addition, you

will encounter the UNESCO city center as you explore this area. After lunch, cross the Douro River, witnessing the

breathtaking setting of the city itself, you will finish in a famous port wine cellar for a tour and tasting to appreciate

not only the port wine but its culture and influence on this region. Before retiring to your hotel you will experience a

short 6 bridge cruise on the stunning Douro River. (B) (L)

September 17th, 2016-Private Douro Valley Tour Full Day with Lunch- The Douro Valley is definitively one of

the most beautiful wine regions in the world and a sublime destination for a romantic short break. The region is

characterized by the steep terraced vineyards that line the wide and winding Douro River, and the white and yellow

hacienda style wineries (called “Quintas”) that punctuate the hillsides. Visit private winery estates on the banks of

the Douro River. Witness the Douro Museum in Regua, our Lady of Remedy Sanctuary in Lamego, and the

character village of Pinhão as well as visiting two award winning wineries for a tour, tasting and delicious traditional

Portuguese lunch before relaxing on a river cruise to admire this beautiful UNESCO valley. Your tour concludes

upon return to your hotel (B) (L).

September 18th, 2016- Private Aveiro & Vista Alegre Tour Full Day with Lunch- A special treat awaits you as

you depart to the city of Aveiro, known as the "Venice of Portugal. Aveiro is surrounded by salt-flats, beaches and

lagoons and dominated by the Central Canal running through town. Famous for its moliceiros - typical fishing boats





with gaily painted prows - Aveiro was once a busy and prosperous port town several centuries ago.You will visit the

Art Nouveau museum, housed in the former Jesus Monastery. Stop at a local restaurant where you will enjoy a lunch

of fresh fish and seafood. Following lunch, you will visit Oficina do Doce and taste Aveiro's "Ovos Moles" (typical

sweet specialty). Driving further south you will tour the famous Vista Alegre Museum, which traces the history of

the traditional and most popular Portuguese porcelain from the 1850s to present day. Tonight you will enjoy a

farewell dinner. (B) (L)

September 19th, 2016-Private Transfer for your short flight to Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel. Our private

transfer will transport your party to the Oporto airport for your flight to the Azores. Upon arrival in the “green isle”

of Sao Miguel, our private transfer will bring you to the Royal Garden Hotel located in the center of the city. This

evening enjoy a traditional dinner. (B) (D)

September 20th, 2016- Sete Cidades and Lagoa Tour with Lunch. Discover the best that the volcanic nature of

S.Miguel has to offer with a tour of Lagoa do Fogo and Sete Cidades, stopping at points of important points like the

Pico do Carvão and Caldeira Velha. Visit unique places which testify to the industrial and artistic heritage of the

Azores such as the Cerâmica Vieira Pottery and a factory of typically Azorean liqueurs. This tour takes you to

explore the Lagoa do Fogo and Sete Cidades, classified as natural wonders of Portugal. In Caldeira Velha, you will

have the opportunity to go for a swim in this natural formation of hot thermal water before making a break for lunch

in a local restaurant. On the second half of your visit, stop at Pico do Carvão, a geological formation of over 800

meters, then descend to the Sete Cidades Lagoon where you can enjoy all the beauty of this famous two-coloured

pond, one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal. (B) (L)

September 21st, 2016- Visit to the Sahar Hassamain Synagogue in Ponta Delgada The newly restored 19th

century Sahar Hassamain Synagogue eludes to the jewish ties of this beautiful island in the middle of the Atlantic.

A history that had been all but lost, recently a small museum has opened. The collection of priceless documents,

photos and religious artifacts, the evidence of Jewish-Azorean history dating back more than a century, had been

strewn about and abandoned in boxes. (B)

September 22nd, 2016- Leisure Day in Ponta Delgada, Explore the local traditions and customs in Ponta

Delgada, enjoy a leisure walk by the marina, visit one of several museums, or simply enjoy a traditional lunch at

many of the restaurants with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Discover the local marketplace for last minute

souvenirs before enjoying your farewell dinner in a local restaurant. (B) (D)

September 23rd, 2016- Transfer to Ponta Delgada Airport and return flight to Boston We bid “Adeus” to Sao

Miguel as your private transfer will transport you to the Airport for your home bound flight. (B)



jewish heritage tour of portugal - sagres vacations · jewish heritage tour of portugal ... your...

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