Tour of the Iberian Peninsula
July 9 - 19, 2012
Monday July 9
arrive Porto, Portugal 11.45am
Hotel
Quinta das Lagrimas
http://www.quintadaslagrimas.pt/
This
Relais & Chateaux
4 star DLX hotel is one
of Portugal’s finest and a wonderful base for our sightseeing tours. The hotel
has a huge outdoor pool and a spa with indoor pool. As always we try to stay as
long as possible in one hotel (4 nights here) so that we minimize the checking
in, checking out and the packing. Also, if you wish to take a day “off” from
touring to enjoy the hotel, we’ll “see you later for dinner!!”
Coimbra is one of the most
ancient university cities in Europe with a richly decorated baroque library that
people travel from far and wide to see.
The walls are covered by two storied shelves, in gilded or painted exotic woods;
the painted ceilings blend harmoniously with the rest of the decoration. The
library contains about 250,000 volumes: works of medicine, geography, history,
humanistic studies, science, civil and canonical law, philosophy and theology.
Visit to the
Judiaria,
the ancient Jewish quarter
Wednesday
July 11
Climbing
up from Coimbra we reach the
Serra da Estrela Natural Park, in many of whose villages Jews were settled.
After visiting Portugal’s highest town,
Guarda,
we will reach the centre
of the “lost tribe” of Belmonte.
The history of this community
which survived the inquisition and remained in hiding until discovered in the
1920’s is incredible. For only the past 20 years or so, the Jews of Belmonte
have been exposed to Judaism as we live it throughout the world and the
community in Belmonte, under Rabbinic guidance through Shavei Yisrael, has
become the most active community in Portugal.
We will visit the town and have an extended lunch with
members of the community, followed by Mincha in their shul, built in 1996. Later
in the afternoon we will return to our hotel and have time to enjoy its
facilities.
Following a sumptuous dinner, we will take in an evening of “fado”,
a traditional musical genre of voice accompanied by guitar. Coimbra has its own
version and we will be introduced to it this evening.
It’s time to say goodbye to Coimbra and travel towards Lisbon.
Unusual though this is for our tours, we’ll visit Fatima, site of Catholic pilgrimage after a vision by three young girls in 1917 – it attracts 4 million visitors per year. Quite a story and quite a place!! Iteresting to hear what the locals think of it.
Then, back on course, Tomar-
is home to Portugal’s oldest synagogues and the
Abraham Zacuto Portuguese Jewish Museum, a national
monument The Sinagoga de Tomar was built in the mid-15th century. Its short
history as a Jewish place of worship came to an end in 1496, when the community
was expelled by the Catholic authorities in 1496. The synagogue was subsequently
put to such uses as a Christian church, a prison, the city hall, a warehouse,
and a hayloft.
Samuel Schwartz, a Jewish mining engineer from Poland, bought the building in
1923. After lovingly restoring it, he donated it to the Portuguese state in
1939. In return, Schwartz and his wife received Portuguese citizenship and
protection during World War II.
Carrying on southwards, we'll stop at Obidos,
a medieval walled and
beautiful village, before continuing to our hotel in Central Lisbon for dinner.
Sintra,
a
UNESCO
World Heritage Site on account of its 19th century
Romantic architecture and magnificent palaces
After Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat in the city’s beautiful synagogue we will welcome Rabbi di Martino and his family as our guests for dinner in the hotel, who will tell us about the life and history of the community in fluent English!! And perhaps a Dvar Torah too!
Shabbat July 14
– Lisbon, with shul,
meals and expertly guided walking tours. There is a lot to see in Lisbon and we
will see as much as can be organized without any infringement of Shabbat; some
institutions will let us pre- or post-pay, so that we can visit inside many of
the city’s most fascinating sights.
End of
Shabbat: 21.48 – then evening out in Lisbon town.
Granada
- Alhambra Palace – guided tour
We’ll have a quick lunch before entering the most impressive
Moorish structure in the world, and the room where the final expulsion order was
signed by Ferdinand and Isabella. We’ll then take a short walk through Granada
before setting off to our hotel some 3 hours drive, arriving for a well-deserved
welcome dinner!!
Monday July 16
Gibraltar
- we will be met by a community elder who will introduce the town, the synagogue
and the community; we'll climb the rock (by bus), meet the apes, pass the Oldest
Jewish cemetery in the Iberian Peninsula with Tombs of 4 Tzadikim; and we'll eat
(of course)….. the most typical English Friday lunch in one of the kosher
restaurants on Main (almost “only”) Street, delicious “fish’n’chips”.
There’ll be a little free time for “duty free” shopping
before heading up to the mountain white village of Vejer where our unique
guide will fill us in on some history – from the inquisition to the Spanish
civil war of the 1930’s.
Tuesday July 17
Ronda
– our guide is Pepe, a proud Spaniard if ever there was one. He will walk us
through this most “gorge-ous” city, visiting the historic bullring, crossing the
gorge and explain life in the city for the Jews as they transformed into “New
Christians”.
Marbella –
tour the lovely old town
of this jet-set resort and enjoy a little free time to meander through its
narrow streets, or take a nap on the beach.
Wednesday
July 18
A VERY early start – leaving with luggage
Seville
– tour of the
beautiful city and some free time before lunch
Cordoba
–
Rambam Synagogue and Beit S’farad
Dinner (and overnight) in
4* Cordoba hotel
Night
Walking Tour – “In the
steps of the Inquisition”; guided by our friend Haime
Thursday July 19
Before leaving town you’ll want to see the magnificent
Mesquita.
Portugal and Spain: for 11 days and 10 nights
from $6600 USD per person sharing
Portugal only: for 7 days and 6 nights
from $3600 USD pp sharing
(optional extras - DLX rooms, single
occupancy)
Kashrut:
a mashgiach tmidi will represent our Rav Machshir, Rav Hassid, the Chief Rabbi
of Gibraltar; glatt meat; regular milk, but chalav
yisrael observers can be accommodated, if notified in advance
Every day: 3
minyanim, full buffet breakfast, light lunch on the move (except Shabbat),
elegant served dinner
not included in the price of your trip
·
International flights:
the transfer from Portugal to Spain is included
·
spending money for shopping:
plenty to choose from, although we limit the time allocated. However you can
always go off on your own and meet us later!!
·
upgrades: deluxe rooms
(DLX) and single occupancy are available at an additional price (see booking
form).
·
insurance: all clients
should be aware that while all efforts are made to avoid any problems before
during or after your trip, Naomi carries no insurance for your health or
luggage. While using the services only of registered suppliers, we highly
recommend that you purchase fully comprehensive travel insurance as we
cannot be held liable for any mishaps during your stay.
·
tips: we recommend
$225 per guest for drivers, chefs, waiters and chambermaids: we will
collect and distribute for you.
In addition to these dates, we will be pleased to tailor a week for
your group according to your needs and preferences.
so if you are planning a family gathering, a club or synagogue trip, a business
promotion, a charity fundraiser, a bar/bat-mitzvah, a wedding or any other
specific group activity, contact us.
Inquire for more info or to book
Toll-free
877-466-2934. Phone 727-254-4373
email:
info@JewishTravelAgency.com
www.JewishTravelAgency.com
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Agency is registered with State of Florida as Seller of Travel Registration No.
ST36902
California Travel Seller # 2079011-40
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