Stories and legends of the Jews of Castelo Rodrigo

0€ per person

The presence of Jews in Portuguese territory over the centuries gave origin to a cultural heritage, both material and immaterial, which still today arouses the curiosity of visitors.

When the edict expelling the Jews from Spain was posted (1492), most of them (estimated to be over 100,000) moved to Portugal. About 35,000 of these crossed the border of Vilar Formoso, many of them reinforcing the pre-existing communities at Trancoso, Belmonte, Castelo Rodrigo, and Bragança, among others. Despite the great weight of the clerical power, it was in small villages, such as those of Beira Interior, that the Portuguese Jews managed to live a life with less upheaval, at least until the date of King Manuel I’s edict of expulsion, in 1496.

HIGHLIGHTS

Theatrical visit to the village of Castelo Rodrigo
Kosher wine tasting with its unique characteristics
Moment of sharing and reflection

1 Day

Program

Destination

Center of Portugal
Included

Stories and legends of the Jews of Castelo Rodrigo

Insurance

Visit to the Cellar with wine tasting

Visits Indicated in the Program

Visits to museums

Meals included in the program
Not Included

Trout fishing

Horse ride with training

Wine tasting (3 different wines)

Transfer to the archaeological site

Boat trips

Jewish Guide

Guided visit by a local storyteller

Tourism Fees (if applicable)

Accommodation

Transport in Tourism Bus

Anything that is not specified within our program

Monuments personal expenses

Hotel Extras

Tourism Taxes

3 Star Accommodation

4 Star Accommodation

5 Star Accommodation

Tourist Guide

Breakfast

FROM OUR GALLERY

1

Visit with a character of that period to the Historical Village of Castelo Rodrigo

A theatrical model of "encounters with history" already known in Castelo Rodrigo, in which an actor plays and dresses as a person of that period of history and guides the visit from that character's point of view, telling the history and stories of the village. We will listen carefully to the legend of Marofa, a Jewish legend. The stories will be told by Zacuto, Luis or even Ephraïm Bueno, a doctor of Castelo Rodrigo who lived in the court of Flanders.

2

Visit and Kosher wine tasting

The Castelo Rodrigo Cooperative Winery together with the Rabbi of Belmonte, has created a kosher wine, following all the rules in its production. At the winery, we will learn about the production process of the wines and how the team and the process itself was adapted to comply with kashrut, a set of Jewish laws regarding food.

3

Lunch

A lunch that, although not kosher, fulfilling the kashrut, may be orientated towards a type of Jewish food.

4

Visit to the Ephraïm Bueno Interpretation Centre (1599-1665)

The history of the Jewish presence in the municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo is now inventoried and documented at the Ephraïm Bueno Interpretive Centre (1599 - 1665), a Jew born in Castelo Rodrigo who was a doctor, physicist and writer, who had a very notable professional and social career in the Dutch court. The municipality has records and traces of the Jewish presence, which are intended to bear witness to that presence based on royal documents, such as chancelleries, but also through Inquisition proceedings against people of these regions.