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Main › Jewish Heritage Tours › Spain

Flamenco dancers, the Prado museum, Gaudi’s work in Barcelona, and the Alhambra Palace.

Spain is a feast for the eyes and the tastebuds, but Jewish heritage tours to Spain are also an opportunity to understand the complicated history of Jews in the land of Sepharad.

Visit Jewish heritage sites in Spain like the statue of Maimonides in Cordoba, or the Jewish Museum of Girona. Walk through Jewish quarters and visit the Sephardic Museum of Toledo, located in The Sinagoga del Transito, to get to know medieval Jewish life in the city,

Well known for its nature and for its delicious tapas and wine, Jewish travel in Spain is an excellent opportunity to explore Iberia.

Jewish history in Spain is marked by the Inquisition when the country expelled its Jews, but now there is a revival in the Sephardic heritage of the area.

The Spanish government has created a network linking 15 medieval Jewish cities across Spain in the initiative “Caminos de Sefarad,” making it easy to explore the former homes of famous Jewish figures like Moses ibn Ezra and Maimonides on a Jewish Spain tour.

The Jewish community of Spain today is around 20,000 people. On Jewish heritage trips to Spain, you can visit Barcelona to learn about the Jewish history there or walk around the ancient Call and the main synagogue of Barcelona, one of the oldest synagogues in Europe.

There’s so much to love about Jewish heritage tours of Spain. Tapas, great wine, beautiful places, and a fascinating Jewish history make this country worth the visit.

Suitable for: Family, Group, Senior

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Jewish Heritage in Spain 14 nights

This 14-night tour, with multiple expert guided tours, begins in Barcelona. In addition to seeing the Jewish sites in the Catalonian capital, you’ll take a day trip to see Girona’s perfectly preserved Jewish Quarter and on to Besalu to visit the mikvah. You’ll also have time to see Gaudi’s architecture before taking the high...

Prices from 5300 EUROS PER PERSON

MAP OF THIS ITINERARY

Trip Overview:

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Trip Summary:

On this private tour you’ll travel to places that celebrate the Golden Age in Medieval Spain when the Spanish Jewish community lived and prospered in all of Spain’s great cities. You’ll visit many major locations on what is called ‘The Sephardic Way’ which is a cultural network reviving Spanish Jewish heritage. At...

Daily departures.

Arrive into Barcelona International Airport. Depart from Madrid or vice versa.

Totally Spain does not arrange International Flights so you have the flexibility to book the flights you prefer. We can recommend a travel agent with whom you can book your international flights if required. Otherwise a website such as Skyscanner is very useful for checking up-to-date flight schedules and prices.

This 14-night tour , with multiple expert guided tours, begins in Barcelona. In addition to seeing the Jewish sites in the Catalonian capital , you’ll take a day trip to see Girona’s perfectly preserved Jewish Quarter and on to Besalu to visit the mikvah. You’ll also have time to see Gaudi’s architecture before taking the high-speed train to Cordoba in Southern Spain to see the Jewish Quarter, the synagogue and the Mezquita . Then to Granada where you will explore the Realejo area and the splendid Alhambra Palace . Travel on to Seville to enjoy the large Jewish neighbourhoods including Barrio Santa Cruz . You’ll also see the Alcazar .  From there a short road trip driving yourself through the land of the Conquistadors to the walled city of Caceres where Jewish families flourished in the Barrio San Antonio. Continue to Plasencia where a thriving Jewish community existed in the 13th century in the Jaraíz suburb and where two synagogues are known to have existed. Next drive to Toledo and see the Transito Synagogue , walk the Jewish Quarter and visit the Sephardic Museum . And finally take the high-speed train to Madrid. Visits include the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace .

Please note that there is a functioning synagogue in Barcelona, in Madrid and in Seville too but no where else on  this itinerary.  Certified kosher food can only be obtained in Barcelona and Madrid. Unfortunately it is not available in any of the other locations on this tour.

On this private tour you’ll travel to places that celebrate the Golden Age in Medieval Spain when the Spanish Jewish community lived and prospered in all of Spain’s great cities. You’ll visit many major locations on what is called ‘ The Sephardic Way’ which is a cultural network reviving Spanish Jewish heritage . At each site, you’ll visit the Jewish Quarters and synagogues, museums and other relevant sites that illustrate the proud past this community shared up until 1492 when it was expelled by order of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. You’ll be guided at each location by an expert local guide who can provide you with an insight into the communities and can highlight the work that is being done to preserve these important sites today.

• Barcelona 3 nights
• Cordoba 1 night
• Granada 2 nights
• Seville 2 nights
• Caceres 1 night
• Plasencia 2 nights
• Toledo 1 night
• Madrid 2 nights

Tour Itinerary

Barcelona, Spain

Arrive in Barcelona International Airport. You’ll be met at the airport by your private driver who will transfer you to your centrally located 4-star Barcelona hotel.

Barcelona is without doubt one of Europes most exciting cities.  It is a place of extraordinary architectural dazzle, achieved by what has been called both Catalán Art Nouveau and Modernisme, by architects Gaudi, Domenech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch.  Monumental sculptures by local masters like Joan Miró adorn public spaces, and museums house extraordinary treasures ranging from works of the ancient Romans to those of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí.  The city is further enhanced by brightly colored outdoor markets, a magnificent Mediterranean port , and a plentiful array of stylish restaurants.  Needless to say, the nightlife is splendid.

This afternoon is at leisure to get settled in and adjusted to Spanish time. Activities & Services Included today

• Private transfer from Barcelona airport to your Barcelona hotel
• 4 star hotel accommodation in a standard room. Upgrade available on request

This morning after breakfast you’ll be met at your hotel by your expert local guide, who will escort you on a tour of the former Jewish quarter in Barcelona known as El Call (from the Hebrew for ‘kahal’ meaning community). As you walk your guide will bring to life the history of these medieval streets. You’ll learn where the original synagogue and the kosher butcher were located. It is believed that up to four synagogues were located in this city. You’ll be shown Hebrew letters and inscriptions on other buildings around the city. You’ll track the history of the community from a position of great respect in the 11th century to segregation in the 14th century and forced conversion or expulsion in the 15th.

After lunch (not included)  you are joined again by your guide and a driver. Your tour this afternoon is of Antoni Gaudi’s architecture.  You'll visit inside sights including Parc Guell and the Sagrada Familia (construction started in 1882 and still continues to this day!) before going to the Paseo de Gracia to see the exterior of La Pedrera ( Casa Mila) with your guide.  Afterwards you'll visit the interior independently at your leisure.

Activities & Services Included today

• Private full day tour in Barcelona with expert, English speaking guide (with a short break for lunch)
• Private chauffeur and car for half-day.
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for Sagrada Familia
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for La Pedrera (Casa Mila)
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for Park Güell

Meals Included today

• Full Buffet Breakfast

Barcelona - Daytrip to Girona & Besalu, Spain

Daytrip to Girona & Besalu

Today you’ll visit the city of Girona and the town of Besalu. You’ll be collected by your private driver and guide at your hotel and continue to Girona.

The Jewish community in Girona dates back to 890 . It was a very important Jewish centre during the Middle Ages and it still has the best-preserved and most important Jewish quarter in Spain. The site was discovered accidently by a property developer. Some of the families expelled in 1492 had bricked off or closed off their properties believing they would return some time in the future. Catholic neighbours were reluctant to re-open these properties fearing they might be considered Jews themselves and so the area was entombed. In the late 1970s, when the old town was being re-gentrified, a land purchaser discovered the remains of Nahmanides’ yeshiva.

Your guide will take you from the main street (which was a Roman Road) to the archways and narrow paths between stone buildings. As you travel through the old walkways where the sunlight doesn’t reach – you will feel like you have walked back in time. In the heart of this quarter is a new educational and cultural complex called the Bonastruc Ca Porta Centre , which recreates Jewish life through art exhibits, musical events and food tastings. Surrounding a patio on the site of an ancient synagogue, the complex includes a Catalan Museum of Jewish Culture , the Institute for Sephardic and Kabbalistic Studies, and a library that houses important medieval Jewish manuscripts.

After lunch (not included) in Girona, you’ll travel to Besalu – a stunning town which first welcomed its Jewish community in the 9th century. In fact, Girona’s first Jewish community came from here.

Near the Mihah, where most Jews lived, you’ll see the site of the synagogue that was built in 1264. Although there are no remains of the synagogue, the place is still called ‘ Pla dels Jueus ’ or Place of the Jews.

You’ll visit the 12th century mikvah (ritual Jewish bath), one of the only three from the same period that have been kept in Europe – which was discovered in 1964. This mikvah is a stone room with 36 steps where strategically placed openings allow the rising river to flood it to the correct water level each spring and fall.

Return to Barcelona in the evening.

• Private chauffeur and car from your Barcelona hotel to Girona & Besalú
• Full day service of an expert, English speaking guide
• Pre-Booked entrance tickets for the Cathedral in Girona
• Pre-Booked entrance tickets for the Jewish Museum in Girona
• Pre-Booked entrance tickets for the Mikve in Besalú
• 4 star hotel accommodation in a standard room. Upgrade available on request.

Cordoba, Spain

Today following breakfast you'll be transferred from your hotel to Barcelona train station for your  high-speed train to Cordoba  famous for its well-preserved Jewish quarter and the mighty Mezquita (mosque-cathedral). A driver will meet you upon arrival and transfer you to your centrally located hotel.

Meet your expert local Cordoba guide  at your hotel and spend the late afternoon/ early evening exploring the city that was the great Moorish capital of Al Andalus. A walk around the old Jewish quarter gives the sensation that little has changed since the 10th century. Visit the Mosque-Cathedral or Mezquita which is without doubt one of the most famous constructions in all of Andalusia and is one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world. The original Mosque was built between 786 and 788 by Abd ar-Rahman, but over the centuries, many additions and extensions have been made. Following the Christian conquest it was consecrated as a Cathedral in 1236.

Visit the  Synagogue  built in 1314, a beautiful Mudejar building nearly perfectly preserved and the only synagogue in Spain from that time not to have been turned into a Christian building. See  Almodovar gate or ‘Gate of the Jews’  as it is known locally and the monument to the great Jewish doctor and philosopher,  Maimonides . You will also visit the  Casa Sefarad , a cultural project concerned with Judeo-Spanish culture, history and tradition that through it’s unique collection and cultural activities aims to make known the rich legacy of the Sephardic tradition. The exhibition on Sephardic food surprises most contemporary Spaniards who don’t know that staples such as ‘cocido’ stew is of Jewish origin.

Later at your leisure we recommend a walk to the  Roman bridge  across the  Guadalquivir river . You may wish to visit the  Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos  (Fortress of the Christian Monarchs) a Mudejar palace from 14th century with a beautiful Moorish garden complex, which served as the seat of the Inquisition´s Tribunal in the 15th century. Try to see a number of the beautiful courtyard patios also.

Note that the third week in June is when the annual  International Sephardi Music Festival  takes place in  Cordoba’s Botanic Gardens. 

• Private transfer from your Barcelona Hotel to Barcelona train station
• High speed train from Barcelona to Cordoba train station to your Cordoba hotel
• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Cordoba with expert, English speaking guide
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for the Mosque-Cathedral
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for the Synagogue
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for Casa Sefarad

Granada, Spain

This morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Cordoba Train station to take the high speed train across the Andalucian countryside to Granada, the last stronghold of the Moors in Andalusia. A private driver will meet you upon arrival and transfer you to your centrally located Granada hotel.

Granada is perhaps most famous for its exquisite Alhambra Place , a complex of palaces built around courtyards of flowering trees, pools and fountains.  It’s often hailed as the most exciting, sensual and romantic of all European monuments. Set on a wooded hill above Granada city, the Alhambra Palace was built in the 14th century by the sultans of Granada, rulers of the last Muslim kingdom in Al-Andalus. It reveals the brilliance and spirit of the Moorish culture in Andalusia at a time when the rest of Europe was only just beginning to emerge from the Dark Ages.

This afternoon you will be met by your expert local guide who will take you on a walking tour of the old quarter of Granada. You’ll learn that the Jewish community lived in Granada in perfect freedom until the first persecution in 1066 when the entire Jewish population fled or was killed. You’ll hear about the Treaty of Granada in 1491 ( signed by Queen Isabella and Emir Muhammas XII) that protected religious freedom and you’ll find out that it was revoked by the Alhambra Decree in 1492.  You'll also see the cathedral and Royal Tombs, burial place of the Spanish monarchs, Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand, the so-called Catholic Monarchs.

You’ll be taken to the Realejo also known as the Juderia or Jewish Quarter during the Muslim period of rule. The old gates and walls have not survived but the upper parts of the Quarter retain some if its original labyrinthine layout – a feature of Moorish urban design. Here you'll visit Sephardic House - a privately-run Sephardic museum that opened in 2014.

• Private transfer from your Cordoba hotel to Cordoba train station
• High speed train from Cordoba to Granada - Tourist class
• Transfer from Granada train station to your Granada hotel
• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Granada with expert, English speaking guide
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for the Cathedral
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for the Royal Tombs
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for Sephardic House

Today, following breakfast, you’ll be transferred privately from your hotel to the Alhambra Palace to meet your expert guide for a peaceful private guided visit of the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens .

This complex of palaces built around courtyards of flowering trees, pools and fountains is often hailed as the most exciting, sensual and romantic of all European monuments. It’s beauty shows the brilliance and spirit of the Moorish culture in Andalusia at a time when the rest of Europe was only just beginning to emerge from the Dark Ages. You will also tour the Generalife - the Summer palace and gardens of the Sultans. It is one of the oldest surviving Moorish gardens. Prepare to be wowed by the water features and courtyards.

This afternoon is at leisure to relax and enjoy Granada.  Perhaps go for lunch at a ‘ Carmen ’ (a traditional Granada house with a large garden of vines and fruit trees) with stunning views of the Alhambra in the Albaicin or maybe enjoy refreshments in the open air with some of Granada’s legendary tapas.

• Private transfer from your Granada hotel to Alhambra Palace
• Private Half-Day Walking tour of the Alhambra Palace & Gardens with expert, English speaking guide
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for the Alhambra Palace & Gardens

Seville, Spain

This morning, after breakfast and checking out, you’ll once again be met at your hotel by a private driver who will transfer you to Granada train station for your journey to Seville.  Upon arrival you'll be met by a private driver who will transfer you to your centrally located Seville hotel

This afternoon is at leisure. If you are interested in Mudejar buildings we recommend a visit to the Casa de Pilatos , completed in 1540 and situated in the Barrio Santa Cruz (the old Jewish quarter).

This evening you’ll attend a flamenco performance , the musical roots of which are many including Jewish, gypsy and moorish along with European and African influences.

• Private transfer from your Granada Hotel to Granada train station
• High speed train to Seville
• Private transfer from Sevilla train station to your hotel in Sevilla
• Pre-Booked Flamenco show in Sevilla (1 hour duration)

Your private guided visit today will focus on the history of the Jews not only in Seville but also in Spain.  Your guide will take you through the former Jewish Quarter that encompasses the neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz, Santa María la Blanca and San Bartolomé while providing you an insight into all aspects of Judaism in Seville - the first city in Spain to where the jews returned after 1860 and settled down again, creating the first jewish community of Spain following the expulsion in 1492.  Seville’s Jewish community, although very small today, was the second largest after Toledo.

Your tour of the key Jewish sites will include the Santa Cruz Square ; location of the old synagogue that became a Christian church after 1391 – it was sadly destroyed in 1811. You’ll visit the former synagogue-church of Santa Maria la Blanca – built in 1252.  You’ll also be shown the church of San Bartolome . It survived the fate of the previous two synagogues in the late 14th century but by 1490 was remodeled. You’ll also visit three gates – De la Carne, San Nicolas and Meson del Moro - which provided access to the Jewish Quarter. And you will be taken to the site of the Cano and Cueto cemetery also.

Following your tour enjoy lunch and afterwards enjoy an independent visit with pre-booked tickets to the stunning Alcazar, the site of the marriage between Carlos V and Isabel of Portugal in 1526. Every period from the Arabic to Mudejar, Renaissance, Baroque and more is on display in this UNESCO-listed site that is still used by the Spanish Royal Family when in Seville.

Later you may wish to learn a little about the city’s connection with the Discovery of the New World. We recommend a visit to the Indias Archive located in what used to be the Mercaderes Market built in 1572. Inside you’ll find many invaluable documents that give context to the first voyage of Christopher Columbus undertaken in 1492 (the same year of the expulsion) and the trade links that followed.

• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Sevilla with expert, English speaking guide (focused on the Jewish heritage)
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for the Alcazar

Caceres, Spain

Today, check out of your Seville hotel and you will be transferred to the rental car depot to collect your rental car.  Leaving Seville you head northwest into the region of Extremadura , land of the Spanish Conquistadors, to Caceres. Journey time is about 3 hours.  Native sons Pizarro, Cortes, De Soto and Balboa left this vast, beautiful and little-visited region that borders Portugal to conquer the New World.

This afternoon you will be met at your hotel by your expert local guide for a tour of Caceres.

Caceres, declared a World Heritage by UNESCO and surrounded by Moorish walls, is splendidly preserved. Its handsome ochre-coloured mansions – belonging to the noblemen of the 15th and 16th centuries who fought against the Moors and journeyed to the Americas as conquistadors – line the city streets and small squares. Plaza Santa Ana forms the heart of the old city. From the 13th to15th centuries, Jewish families lived and worked in the Barrio de San Antonio . Discover the narrow alleys of the old Jewish quarter and see the modest homes of the aljama (the Jewish district in medieval times) and the synagogue, now the Ermita de San Antonio. Tour Yusuf al-Burch’s House and Museum, where the private baths may be either Jewish ritual baths or Arabic. Stroll beneath the Roman Arco de Cristo and you’ll arrive at the Olivar de la Judería , or the Jewish Quarters olive grove. Outside the city walls, a new Jewish quarter was constructed in 1478, where nowadays the Palace of La Isla sits on the site of the former synagogue here.

• 6/7 days car rental. Standard size (Opel insignia or similar) Manual transmission
• Basic CDW/LDW unlimited mileage and theft waiver
• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Caceres with expert, English speaking guide
• Visit former synagogue, now the San Antonio hermitage. Tour Yusuf al-Burch’s House and Museum, where the magnificent private baths may be either traditional mikve (Jewish ritual baths) or Arabic.

Plasencia, Spain

After breakfast it is just a short drive of one hour to Plasencia, your next stop on this Jewish heritage tour.  However, we recommend that you take the longer route there going via Trujillo instead.  Trujillo is a charming town and birthplace of the conquistador, Francisco Pizarro , whose grand statue adorns the main plaza. It is known that in the second half of the 13th century Jews settled in Trujillo - 60 to 70 families - with names such as Bueno, Machorro, Cohen and Haluzo . The synagogue was located on Calle Tiendas number 8 now a shop called Maribel Calleja while the entrance to the synagogue is in the laboratory of the Pepe Solís pharmacy occupying number 10 and 12 of the same street.

After lunch continue to Plasencia and overnight.

• Car Rental as described previously.

This morning you are met by your local expert guide for a tour of Plasencia.

In Plasencia in the 13th century the Jewish community thrived.  The wealthy Jewish quarter of La Mota was situated in the northwest of the walled city. Its inhabitants came to own land or rent vineyards to work, according to the preserved documents of the 13th century. The houses of the Jewish quarter of La Mota were in the place that today occupy the stairs and the fountain of the Plaza de San Nicolás , approaching it from Santo Domingo el Viejo and Caldereros street. 

Numerous plaques can be seen in the city with the names of those Jewish families who once lived in Plasencia.

• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Plasencia with expert, English speaking guide

Toledo, Spain

This morning proceed by car to Toledo .  It's a two-hour journey roughly.  You'll drop off your rental car in Toledo.

This afternoon your local expert guide will take you on a tour of Toledo .

Toledo, the former capital of Spain and the stronghold of Castilian kings was, just before the expulsion, one of the leading centres of Jewry in Spain the `Jerusalem of the west ´. One of the most beautifully preserved medieval cities in all of Europe, it was the site of the famed ` school of translators ´ of King Alfonso `The Wise´ and here Muslims, Jews and Christians coexisted in harmony for centuries. In the 14th century, after the Jews had been expelled, eight of the citys ten synagogues and its five Talmudic schools were destroyed. The remaining synagogues were converted into churches.  One was the Samuel Halevi Abulafia Synagogue known nowadays as Nuestro Señora del Transito. Built in 1357 it is full of Moorish carvings, arcades and a beautiful panelled wooden ceiling. Two years after the expulsion it became a Catholic Church and, since 1972, a Sephardic Museum with historic Hebrew inscriptions. The other is Santa Maria La Blanca ( formerly the Grand Synagogue ) which is now empty. It was built by Arabs in the 12th century and appears more like a mosque than a synagogue.  The previously mentioned School of Translators, where Jews used their knowledge of Arabic and Hebrew to translate philosophical and scientific works into Latin and Spanish, can still be seen in the Plaza Santa Isabel.

• Car Rental as described previously. Car returned this afternoon in Toledo.
• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Toledo with expert, English speaking guide (focused on the Jewish heritage)
• Pre-Booked entrance tickets for the Synagogue Santa Maria la Blanca
• Pre-Booked entrance ticket for the Synagogue of El Transito
• Pre-Booked entrance ticket for the Cathedral

Madrid, Spain

Today after breakfast you will be transferred to Toledo train station to take the high speed train to Madrid. A driver will meet you on arrival and transfer you to your centrally located hotel.

Madrid stands at the very centre of Spain –geographically, culturally and politically. Madrid capital not only offers the culture and good times of a sophisticated, modern city but it also retains the charm and elegance of its early years. The power and glory of Madrid is reflected in its parks, plazas, boulevards and in the pride and panache of today’s Madrilenos. For all its international veneer, however, the city remains thoroughly Spanish, and Old Madrid has been designed on a human scale rather than a monumental scale.

Among the splendid attractions of Madrid are the Prado Museum; home to masterworks of Goya, Velazquez and El Greco: the 19th century Villahermosa Palace now the Thyssen-Bornemizsa Museum; the Reina Sofia Art Centre showcasing more than 300 modern works by Dali, Miro &  Picasso among others; the 18th century Royal Palace on the lovely Plaza de Oriente; the bustling Puerta del Sol with its many shops, restaurants and tapas bars; Rastro Market on Sundays one of the oldest outdoor markets in Europe; and Retiro Park for strolling while admiring local artists and buskers.

The remainder of the day is at leisure.  Your pre-booked entrance ticket to the Prado Museum could be used this afternoon if you wish or tomorrow.

JEWISH MADRID

There is a small but active Jewish community in Madrid . The main centre is the Beth Yaacov Synagogue on Calle Balmes where there is a small history museum inaugurated in 2007 by the Jewish Community of Madrid that can be visited though a pre-booked appointment is necessary.  Its opening coincided with the 90th anniversary of the opening of the first synagogue in Madrid since the days of the Inquisition.  With its collection of photographs, documents and published materials, it provides information about the recent history of the Jewish Community of Madrid.  Visitors are reminded of what it was like for Jews to return to Spain after an absence of some 400 years. 

The Old Jewish Quarter of Madrid began to emerge in 1085, near the present-day Teatro Real and Calle del Arenal. Next to the Jewish Quarter or `juderia´was the cemetery, located in what is now Plaza de Oriente.  Three centuries later the bubonic plague forced the Jews to relocate to the New Jewish Quarter beside the Campo del Rey - Plaza de la Armería - where the Almudena Cathedral now stands. 

The monument to the victims of the holocaust was inaugurated in 2007 by Madrid City Council and the Jewish Community of Madrid and it is located in the Garden of the Three Cultures in Juan Carlos I Park.  It was designed by artist Samuel Nahon and architect Alberto Stisin.

Since 2008 the streets of Madrid have played host to Hanukkah celebrations, the Festival of Lights. The mayor of Madrid and dignitaries from the Jewish Community and Sefarad-Israel take part in the lighting of the candles on a day full of festive atmosphere with music, traditional peonzas (spinning tops) and buñulos (fluffy profiterloes)

Note that kosher cuisine is readily available in Madrid from several establishments near the synagogue.

• Private transfer from your Toledo Hotel to Toledo train station
• High speed train from Toledo to Madrid - Tourist class
• Private transfer from Madrid train station to your Madrid hotel
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for the Prado Museum (open date & entry time plus skip-the-line)

This morning you will be met by your expert local guide for a walking tour of Madrid .

Tour the historic Hapsburg Quarter and see Madrid’s magnificent plazas such as the Plaza de Oriente where you visit inside the Royal Palace , the Plaza Mayor , Puerta del Sol, the San Miguel market , Cibeles Fountain and more.

• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Madrid with expert, English speaking guide
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for the Royal Palace

After breakfast you’ll be collected at your hotel by a private driver who will transfer you to Madrid International Airport for your departure.

• Private transfer from your Madrid hotel to Madrid Airport

Please remember that this tour can also be done in reverse starting in Madrid and finishing in Barcelona.  It can also be used as a template for a custom trip should you wish to modify, add or subtract days to suit your schedule.

Additional Information

ORIGINAL & RELATED POSTS FROM TOTALLY SPAIN'S BLOG

Jewish Heritage Sights in Spain

Totally Spain's Guide to Extremadura

Must Sees in Andalusia

What to do in Madrid. 10 Things we love in Spain's Capital City

Guide to Gaudi's Barcelona

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GALLERY OF THIS ITINERARY

What's included

This trip includes.

Accommodation ( based on 2 people sharing )

• 14 nights accommodation in quality 4-star hotels in a standard room.   Upgrade options available on request.
• Full Buffet breakfast daily
• All private transfers from airport / stations as indicated above
• Car hire as described in itinerary on Day 9
• Half-day private driver in Barcelona (Day 2)
• ​ Full-day private driver for the Girona & Besalu tour
• ​High Speed Trains  (tourist class – upgrades available on request)
• Barcelona to Cordoba Cordoba to Granada Granada to Seville Toledo to Madrid

Private Guided Tours (half-day tours unless otherwise stated)

• Private Walking tour in Barcelona (morning) plus private tour of Gaudi sights (afternoon) with expert English speaking guide (includes transport + private driver in the afternoon)
• Private Excursion from Barcelona to Girona & Besalu with expert English speaking guide  (includes transport + private driver)
• Private Walking tour of the Alhambra Palace & Gardens with expert English speaking guide
• Private Walking tour in Granada with expert English speaking guide
• Private Walking tour in Cordoba with expert English speaking guide
• Private Walking tour in Seville with expert English speaking guide
• Private Walking tour in Caceres with expert English speaking guide
• Private Walking tour in Plasencia with expert English speaking guide
• Private Walking tour in Toledo with expert English speaking guide
• Private Walking tour in Madrid with expert English speaking guide 

Pre-Booked Entrance Tickets

• Barcelona – Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera (Casa Mila) & Park Güell
• Girona - Cathedral and Jewish Museum
• Besalu - Mikve
• Cordoba – Mosque/Cathedral , Synagogue and Casa Sefarad
• Granada – Alhambra Palace, Cathedral & Royal Tombs, Sephardic House
• Seville – Alcazar
• Toledo –Synagogue Santa Maria la Blanca, Synagogue of El Transito & Cathedral
• Madrid – Royal Palace & Prado Museum

Special Highlights

• Flamenco show in Seville (1 hr duration)
• Comprehensive personalized trip documentation including local maps, guides and tourist information
• Totally Spain's specialist trip planning service and support
• Spanish Government tax

NOT INCLUDED Flights, Personal Travel Insurance, Porterage (not commonly available in Spain), Tips, Meals, drinks or hotel extras other than those described above. Anything else not specified above.

Trip Overview

Trip summary.

Prices from

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Hi Belen Our trip has been fabulous! We have really enjoyed it. Thank you for putting it together for us! After 16 days away and living out of suitcases, we are ready to fly home tomorrow but we are so happy with our trip and are taking home grea...

Cynthia Molloy, Ontario, Canada 2022-09-06

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We organise a variety of Jewish heritage tours to Spain, allowing you to experience the vibrant culture of this country, and to understand the fascinating history of Jews here. Our Spanish tours guarantee a truly memorable experience and include an exploration of delicious kosher Spanish cuisine.

Barcelona, known as the country’s “avant-garde capital” includes a beach-front, Gaudi’s architecture, Las Ramblas boulevard, the hilltop fortress of Montjuic, previously the Jewish quarter, and has a cosmopolitan feel. Close to Barcelona is Figueras, where Salvador Dali was born. Its Dali Museum hints at the craziness of his genius. Spain was finally conquered by Emperor Augustus in 19 BCE, 200 years after the Romans first arrived on the Iberian Peninsula. The rhythm of life, where meals are eaten at hours that reflect an ability to enjoy days and nights to the fullest, still includes the daily siesta as a necessity for many. Its people are welcoming and inclusive.

Madrid, the nation’s capital, is home to the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Von Thyssen museums. Bullfighting is still practised in Madrid and the South. Andalusia, in southern Spain, is renowned for its olive groves, laid-back style, and “white villages”. Visits to Granada, Seville and Cordoba are not complete without a flamenco experience, including dance, song and Spanish guitar.

The tiny city of Jerez produces marvellous sherry and houses the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Marbella is the capital of the Golden Mile, home to the rich and famous. Ronda is renowned for its dramatic views of the Serrania de Ronda mountains, and its Puente Nuevo bridge which overlooks the 100-metre chasm of El Tajo Gorge.

SPANISH CUISINE

On our kosher tours to Spain, you will experience a full variety of delicious Spanish cuisine. Andalusia is all about simple pleasures – a glass of wine from Jerez and homemade goat cheese with good pelayo bread and olive oil from the Cordoba region. It’s all about the freshness, quality and diversity of the produce. Many of the dishes go back to Moorish times or earlier as many cultures settled in Andalusia, including Jews, Romans, and Phoenicians, creating an incredibly rich gastronomic heritage.

Tapas originated from Andalusia and they remain one of the region’s most popular foods – you just can’t visit without experiencing these famous mini dishes. Another famous export of Spain is olive oil; in fact, it produces more than any other country and much of it is high quality. The Cantabrian sea, along with the mountains and valleys of the inland area, are the natural larder of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque country. These are the four regions that make up what is known as ‘Green Spain’. Its stoves produce delicious dishes based on traditional recipes but also produce novel, imaginative and avant-garde culinary creations.

When we speak about the cuisine of the north of Spain, we must talk about San Sebastian, which attracts travellers from far and wide. With 15 Michelin stars, San Sebastian’s gastronomy sparkles as brightly as the turquoise sea that lies beside it. Top-quality produce from land and sea are the common denominators in a cuisine whose characteristics vary from area to area, influenced by its history and culture. Come and savour it for yourself!

FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE

It is said that the first Jews arrived in Seville in the sixth century BC, and were from David’s family. They spoke Ladino, a Judeo form of Spanish. The Sephardic Jews suffered persecution from the Visigoths during the sixth century AD, followed by a period of harmony under Moorish rule. In the 13th century, they fled the fundamentalist Almohads to the Christian north of Spain, returning after the Reconquest. Sephardim prospered in banking, medicine, law and commerce, with a far higher literacy rate than other Spanish communities.

Valued for their commercial expertise, the Jews in Spain worked as tax collectors, which led to popular resentment and hatred. The Jewish quarter in Seville was burned, popular animosity whipped up by fierce anti-Jewish rhetoric from a Catholic cleric; its inhabitants sought shelter with Moors in Granada, or were baptised and forced to convert to Christianity.

In 1481, the Spanish Inquisition started, with its headquarters at the Castillo San Jorge in Seville, targeting Jews among other groups. In 1483, all Jews were expelled from the city and in 1492, all of Spain was to be free from those of the Jewish faith who had not converted. Half of the country’s 300,000 Jews left, many for Portugal, while some stayed in hiding. Those who stayed behind eventually became integrated into the Christian population; many Spanish surnames ending in -ez, adopted when they converted, indicate Jewish ancestry.

Most tours are bespoke, suiting your taste and budget. Browse example itineraries and our planned tours.

Check out our next tour to Spain in November 2024

Jewish Spain Tour

Welcome to jewish spain tour, why traveling with us:.

“Where you travel is important. But it is how you travel that makes all the difference.”

Jewish Spain Tour sets the standard in custom-designed private travel.

We choose to limit what we offer so that when we say: “we are one step ahead,” everyone knows we mean it. Clients come to us for our deep knowledge, our vast network of connections, our honest opinions, and our discerning judgments.

We truly think that it is not what we offer that makes us special. It is how we offer it: with passion, with heart and with real care and attention to each of our clients.

We listen to your needs because we understand your trip is different than anyone else’s. 

But for us, when a client calls to tell us they’ve had the trip of their lives, that’s as good as it gets.

Let us create the perfect life-changing journey for you!

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Who are we.

We are a fully licensed Tour Operator based in Sevilla with associates in the main cities of Spain. Our aim is to design a trip for you that fulfill your dream.

A Custom-made travel experience is a trip completely tailored to your needs. Whether traveling alone or with family/friends, in a low or even unlimited budget, we are able to plan unforgettable trips and experiences for you and your loved ones

We want your travel to be worry-free and fun, but most of all, to be inspirational.

On a personal note, I myself was born in Seville, of Moroccan and Algerian heritage.

Raised in a very traditional Sephardic family, I was an exchange student in California during my senior year in High School. After I graduated, I returned to Spain and attended University of Seville, obtaining a law degree in 1995, and later, a Master in European Union Law (known in Spanish as “ Derecho Comunitario y de las Instituciones Europeas ”). However, and after several years working in many different fields (Telecom industry, legal consultancy, scrap metal industry....) in 2010 I decided to make a completely career change and focus on Jewish studies and mainly in the history of the Jews in Spain and the Sephardic diaspora. I currently am a honorary lecturer on Holocaust-Shoa Studies and Antisemitism at the University "Pablo de Olavide" in Seville, Spain. 

In addition to this I am also involved in informal Jewish education and I lecture all over the globe about these topics. I have led several programs to Spain, Portugal & Morocco as Scholar in Residence.

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Spain, November 2024!

Home > Itineraries > 10 Days Jewish Heritage

10 Days Andalusí Jewish Heritage Tour

Expert guides, luxury vehicles, your 10 day jewish heritage tour in spain.

Welcome to our expertly curated 10-Day Andalusí Jewish Heritage: Sepharad Tour through Spain’s enchanting Andalusian region.

Uncover the compelling stories of Jewish communities who thrived in this land of diversity, contributing to its rich tapestry of culture and learning.

Experience a unique blend of heritage, tradition, and history as we guide you through the emblematic Jewish quarters, significant synagogues, and heritage sites spread across the picturesque landscapes of Andalusia.

Day 1: Unveiling Andalusian Jewish Heritage: Sepharad Sevilla

Your immersive journey into the profound Jewish heritage of Southern Spain commences today.

From your Madrid hotel, a courteous driver will transport you to Atocha station. There, you will board the swift AVE train heading south to Andalucía, the birthplace of vibrant flamenco. Your destination: the historic city of Sevilla, famed as the former royal port for all vessels bringing treasures from the Americas.

Upon arrival, check into your selected hotel and take a moment to settle in and refresh. Post lunch, you will be joined by your knowledgeable guide for an intriguing walking tour of Sepharad Sevilla, a testament to the rich Jewish legacy.

Your exploration commences at the impressive city walls, offering insights into Sevilla’s fortified past. Stroll past the lush Murillo gardens, a verdant oasis showcasing a variety of floral splendors. As you continue, you will find yourself drawn into the narrow, winding lanes of Barrio Santa Cruz, the former Jewish Quarter. This neighborhood is a tapestry of Sephardic history and Andalusian charm, and as you navigate its labyrinthine streets, you will gain a deeper understanding of the region’s Jewish roots and cultural nuances.

Day 2: Sevilla - The Heart of Andalusian Legacy

Immerse yourself deeper into Sevilla’s historic heart today as we visit three pivotal monuments reflecting the city’s complex cultural fabric.

Your day begins with a visit to the grandiose Sevilla Cathedral. As one of the largest cathedrals in the world, its towering structure and intricate design are a testament to the city’s rich history. Notice the foundations, remnants of the ancient mosque that once stood here, subtly hinting at the shared religious spaces that have marked Sevilla’s past.

Next, we move on to the magnificent Alcázar. This royal palace, a striking example of Mudéjar architecture, was originally a Moorish fort. Here, you will discover an impressive fusion of cultural influences that have shaped its design over centuries. Your guide will bring to life the tales of the Almoravids and Almohads, two distinct Arab sects, their interactions with the Christians and Jews, and the profound impact they had on Sevilla’s social and architectural landscape.

Our final stop is the Church of San Salvador, built upon the remnants of an ancient mosque. Its baroque façade and interiors blend harmoniously with Moorish elements, reminding us of the shared religious heritage of this region.

Throughout your exploration, your guide will highlight the signs and symbols of Jewish heritage subtly embedded within these sites, revealing the intricate tapestry of Sevilla’s past. These encounters will deepen your understanding of the coexistence and interactions between Jews, Christians, and Muslims in this historic city.

Day 3: Cordoba - Echoes of Sephardic Heritage

Today, your journey takes you to Cordoba, a city once the pinnacle of cultural advancement in Europe. Upon your arrival, check into your hotel before meeting your guide at the historic Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, a symbolic monument that narrates a tale of Cordoba’s layered history.

Our exploration begins with the magnificent Mosque-Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece that embodies centuries of religious transformations. Step into this breathtaking sanctuary and immerse yourself in its enchanting atmosphere as your guide narrates the stories of sultans and commoners who contributed to its construction. Feel the passage of time as you transition from the mosque, adorned with intricate Arabic inscriptions and horseshoe arches, to the later Christian addition, resplendent with its soaring nave and chapels.

Next, we delve into the heart of Cordoba’s Jewish Quarter. Meander through its narrow, winding streets, flanked by whitewashed houses adorned with vibrant red gardenias. As you explore this intimate neighborhood, your guide will provide insights into why the Jewish community lived in such closely-packed quarters and paint a vivid picture of their traditions and way of life.

Pay a visit to the Sephardic House, which serves as a living memory of the city’s Sephardic past. The journey continues with a visit to a medieval synagogue, a rare gem that once resonated with the prayers of Maimonides, the revered physician and philosopher.

In the evening, we offer you a unique opportunity to step back in time. Visit the local Hammam for a rejuvenating Arab bath experience, a tradition deeply rooted in Cordoba’s Moorish past. Remember to bring your swimsuit for this moment of relaxing respite that will leave you refreshed and ready for the adventures of the next day.

Day 4: Lucena - A Glimpse into Sephardic Splendor

Prepare to embark on a short journey to Lucena, a place fondly remembered as the “Pearl of Sepharad,” home to a thriving Jewish community during the Middle Ages. Your private driver will safely escort you to this quaint town, where remnants of its Jewish past remain prominent.

Your knowledgeable guide will lead you through Lucena’s charming streets, introducing you to its fascinating heritage. Observe the town’s deep-rooted Jewish symbols as you explore, reflecting a storied past that still resonates within the community. Immerse yourself in the local culture as you sample traditional pastries born out of authentic Sephardic recipes. Feel the connection to the town’s Jewish ancestry as you savor these sweet delights, a tangible link to their historical culinary legacy.

Take a visit to Lucena’s formidable castle, a bastion that silently testifies to the town’s turbulent history. Continue to the Jewish cemetery, a solemn site preserving the memory of Lucena’s Jewish inhabitants who once brought the town to the height of its glory.

As the day comes to a close, we return to Cordoba just in time for a delightful dinner. Dine at Casa Mazal, a unique restaurant that skillfully revives Sephardic and Arabic medieval recipes. Enjoy an exquisite culinary experience as you explore the flavors of the past, a fitting end to a day immersed in Sephardic heritage.

Day 5: Granada - A Legacy of Moorish Splendor and Jewish Heritage

Your day begins with a seamless transfer from your hotel to the captivating city of Granada, the final bastion of Moorish rule in Spain until 1492. As you check into your comfortable accommodations, the magic of Granada already starts to unfold.

Embark on an incredible journey back in time with your expert guide at the Alhambra. This exquisite 900-year-old palace complex is often referred to as the “Eleventh Wonder of the World.” Wander through the opulent Gardens of Paradise, marvel at the formidable Alcazar Fortress, and be captivated by the intricately detailed Nasrid Palaces. Each corner of the Alhambra narrates a rich history that’s set to captivate your imagination.

Upon reaching the Patio of the Lions, your guide will share an intriguing legend that these graceful marble statues are of Jewish origin. The legend invites you to reflect on the interconnected histories and cultural influences contributing to Andalusia’s mesmerizing charm.

Your exploration continues as you meander through the winding streets of the Realejo, Granada’s historic Jewish Quarter. Absorb the district’s timeless character, reflecting centuries of Jewish heritage. Conclude your enriching day at the Palace of the Forgotten Sephardic Museum. As you delve into the exhibits, you’ll gain insight into the significant contributions and enduring legacy of the Sephardic Jewish community in Granada and beyond.

Day 6: Exploring Alpujarra - Tracing Jewish Heritage amidst Majestic Mountains

Your journey today leads you to the captivating Alpujarra Mountains, a region deeply intertwined with the legacy of the Moors until their expulsion in the mid-16th century. Its rich Jewish heritage, although lesser known, is just as enthralling and significant.

Upon your arrival in Lanjarón, renowned for its therapeutic mountain springs and renowned spa, your knowledgeable guide awaits to lead you through this picturesque town. Indulge in a refreshing drink from the thermal waters at Lanjarón Spa, which is believed to have therapeutic properties.

As your journey through Alpujarra continues, stops at charming villages like Pampaneira, Bubion, and Portugos will enrich your understanding of the region’s layered history and cultural mosaic. Each village tells its unique story, with traces of its Jewish and Moorish past subtly woven into their character.

The climax of your exploration comes with the visit to Trevelez, the highest village in Spain. Here, savor a tasting of the region’s famed Iberian ham, complemented perfectly by locally-produced wine. This gastronomic delight serves as an ideal reflection of Alpujarra’s cultural influences and rich natural bounty.

Before the day ends, unwind with leisurely nature walks through the breathtaking mountain landscapes. Drink in the tranquility and the panoramic vistas these heights offer, providing a serene backdrop to your historical and cultural journey.

As evening falls, you’ll return to your hotel in Málaga, carrying with you the unforgettable impressions of Alpujarra’s Jewish heritage and the region’s stunning natural beauty.

Day 7: Malaga - A Culinary & Cultural Exploration

Today, immerse yourself in the vibrant pulse of Malaga, a city known for its rich cultural heritage, lively markets, and artistic treasures.

Your guide will greet you in the morning and lead you on an engaging tour of this bustling city. Begin your journey with a stroll along the renowned Larios Street, a lively shopping hub where locals often congregate. Experience the buzzing energy of an authentic Spanish open-air market, where an array of local cheeses, fresh produce, artisanal bread, and wines are proudly displayed.

Marvel at the unique way Spaniards present their fish and meats – a visual feast that’s as much a part of the culinary experience as the cooking itself. As you navigate the market, your guide will decode some Spanish culinary secrets, shedding light on the essential ingredients that give dishes like paella and migas their distinctive flavors.

The tour continues into the heart of Malaga’s Jewish Quarters, a symbol of the city’s rich Sephardic heritage. Here, you will visit the Ben Gabirol Interpretation Center. This intriguing venue offers deep insights into the city’s Jewish history and the legacy of medieval Jewish poet and philosopher Solomon ibn Gabirol.

Your cultural exploration culminates at the Picasso Museum, a celebration of the great artist’s profound impact on the art world. Explore a remarkable collection of Picasso’s early works, revealing the genesis of his creativity and artistic genius.

Day 8: Malaga - A Day at Leisure

Today is yours to explore and enjoy Malaga at your own pace. The day is free to indulge in whatever interests you. You might want to explore the city’s other museums, take a stroll on Malagueta Beach, or perhaps wander the historic Alcazaba fortress for panoramic views over the city.

Day 9: Journey to Gibraltar – A Unique Blend of Cultures and History

Begin your day with a journey to Gibraltar, a place that, while not conventionally associated with Jewish heritage, holds plenty of historical significance.

Depart from your hotel in Malaga and venture into this fascinating British territory steeped in an intriguing blend of cultures. Following the expulsion, a segment of the Sephardic community sought refuge here, establishing a significant Jewish presence that continues to this day. Signs of Jewish heritage are visible throughout the city, with several synagogues and a Jewish cemetery adding to its diverse cultural tapestry.

Upon crossing the border, meet your local guide and embark on an exciting trip up the steep lanes to the Nature Preserve. Engage with the playful Barbary Apes, wander through the intriguing War Tunnels, and soak in panoramic views of the Strait of Gibraltar.

After the guided tour, enjoy some free time to explore Main Street, a bustling avenue lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants. Afterward, return to Malaga with your driver.

In the evening, you’ll board the AVE high-speed train back to Madrid, where you’ll spend the final night of your memorable journey through Southern Spain’s Jewish heritage.

Day 10: Farewell to Spain

Today marks the end of your enriching journey through the vibrant Jewish history of Southern Spain. Meet your driver for a comfortable ride to Madrid Airport, where you’ll board your flight home. As you depart, reflect on the unforgettable experiences, knowledge, and memories you’ve gained from this incredible tour.

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Get A Bespoke Jewish Heritage in Spain Itinerary

This journey through Sepharad’s past has been not just a tour but an experience – an inviting reflection on the interconnectedness of cultures and the enduring spirit of humanity.

For any further explorations or bespoke tour requirements, please feel free to reach out to us. Our commitment is to create personalized experiences that cater to your unique interests and preferences.

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Welcome to Letango Tours

Your Spain and Portugal travel expert planners since 1999. Book your FREE consultation

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• Spain Jewish Tours

Sephardic Jews living in Spain once represented one of the most important Jewish populations in the world. It is not a wonder that Spain Jewish Tours have become very popular in the last few years as people recognize the importance of their contribution to this country.  Spain is prioritizing this legacy by trying to conserve all those elements displaying the Jewish heritage and culture dating from the early ages.  Many come from all over the world to discover their own heritage from ancestors who lived in Spain.  

Our Spain Jewish Tours will allow you to see how the Jews lived and flourished, their celebrations, the foods they ate and the clothes they wore as well as the music that was distinctly theirs.  From Barcelona to Girona and Toledo to Cordoba, the Jewish customs and history can be seen up close through the fascinating synagogues and the Jewish ¨Barrios¨ where communities lived, practiced their religion and did commerce. Some of the most prominent and important Jewish leaders were the right hand men of the Kings who ruled Spain all the way up until their expulsion in 1492.  Consider one of our Spain Jewish tours with  a knowledgeable licensed guide who will paint an interesting and realistic picture of the Jews as well as the important influence they played on the development of Spain over the centuries.

Spain Jewish Tour, 9 Day Sephardic Heritage tour

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Jewish Heritage

Jewish heritage has been an integral part of our trips since we first began arranging custom itineraries. We have built up a network of hand-picked local guides with a deep knowledge of the history of the Jewish communities in Spain and Portugal. With them, uncover the centuries-old and often complex Jewish history of the Peninsula.

Jewish architecture, former jewish calls, juderias and synagogues and newly opened sephardic museums all help piece together how the sephardi community lived, worked and worshipped before expulsion from spain and portugal in 1492 and 1496 respectively.  

Jewish heritage is present in villages and towns all over the Iberian Peninsula from the best known examples of Toledo, Córdoba, Girona, Belmonte, Tomar to other sites in Segovia, Lisbon and Porto. We work with a handful of Jewish guides who take you on a journey, from the role played by the Jews in establishing and maintaining Al Andaluz as the major economic and financial power of the age to the historic mistake of sending Jews into exile.

In Barcelona, we also work with a fascinating guide who offers a unique insight into the Jewish community of the past and present. She works to connect Jewish past with today’s Jewish life in Catalonia, is active in the local Jewish community, and is an advocate for Jewish heritage protection. She collaborates with the World Monument Fund Jewish Heritage Program and her work has earned her recognition as an activist in this field.  

Up to 3.5 million people around the world are thought to have Sephardic ancestry and in the last few years, both the Spanish and Portugese government now grants citizenship rights to descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from the country five centuries ago, without being required to move to Iberia and/or renounce any other citizenship they have elsewhere. Whether you’re looking to explore your ancestral history or simply seek to learn more about Jewish heritage in Spain and Portugal, we have the connections and guides to make it happen.  

F Food is a big part of the trips we arrange, as we encourage you to experience Spanish cuisine in all its guises. Eating is fun, an integral part of the culture and we urge you to get involved, participate and experience some great foodie experiences on your vacation. There’s something for everyone...

...Whether going local on an Insiders tapas tour or enjoying access to Michelin star chefs, we like to cater to all your tastes and preferences. We arrange cooking classes in almost every major city, working with wonderful characters, sometimes in their homes or in cooking schools or, as in the Basque Country, in an Invitation Only Gastronomic Society. You can visit traditional and contemporary olive mills, specialist goat’s cheese farms, delve deep inside Spain’s world famous ‘jamón ibérico’ and much more.

The world’s top food critics consistently cite Spanish restaurants in their top ten lists, and according to the Restaurant Magazine, El Celler de Can Roca is the World’s number 1 restaurant, joined by four other Spanish restaurants in the Top Twenty. That’s FIVE Spanish restaurants in the World’s Top Twenty List!

Join our fabulous hosts and indulge in epicurean tours stopping at specialist food stores, artisanal producers of cheese, chocolate makers, finishing at a local favorite away from the tourists. Our restaurant recommendations are regularly updated and we are happy to book tables on your behalf. Buen provecho!

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OUR HAPPY CLIENTS SAY

We took your recommendation to stop at Hervás on our way from Salamanca to Mérida, to visit the section of town that was formerly the Jewish community. There we found a small shop selling ´Pastas Judias.´ The owner is Abigail Cohen, who immigrated to Spain 12 years ago from Israel after falling in love with Hervás. We had a lengthy and interesting conversation…thank you for steering us there!

Michael Rosenthal

Each of our guides were warm and knowledgeable and flexible, and when they saw the depth of our interests, they humored us more by telling us more and spending more time with us.

Tamara Elias

Each and every one of the guides you provided was excellent. They were very knowledgeable and pleasant, and enriched our experience tremendously.

Special mention must be made of the guides we have had – Carlos, CC, JT, RD, RC and NB. They were great companions and we feel we have made some great friends in Spain. They were just so generous with their time and conversation. Their knowledge, but more than this their openness and honesty really gave us an insider’s view of how Spain thinks about the past, present and future, during difficult times. We were always sorry to see them go at the end of each tour. Just beautiful people and easy to forget they were doing a job. JT and RC in particular went out of their way to be there for us outside of their scheduled tours. They are all so passionate and patriotic for their cities and country. I loved the way they shared their stories.

Lisa and Greg Harris

Our guides were outstanding. We learned so much, had wonderful conversations with each and every guide, were able to ask all the questions we wanted and had thoughtful, in some cases, quite profound conversations. Each was so well informed, so knowledgeable and so anxious to teach us and show us as much as possible. We really fell in love with Spain!

Private Jewish Heritage of Spain custom VIP tour with UNESCO cultural sites + insider options.

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Founder, American Iberia resident, foodie, family guy & worst soccer player in Spain & Portugal.

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Itinerary highlights.

✔   Just imagine yourself touring Jewish Spain on a private custom luxury tour with top guides, drivers & 24-7 support from Dan & our team. ✔ Beguiling Barcelona with Gaudí’s creations, culture + Girona. ✔ Majestic Madrid, splendid Segovia and timeless Toledo await you. ✔ Amaxing Andalucía with ancient Seville, Córdoba or the Alhambra. ✔ Memorable insider access & skip the lines tours with licensed guides ✔ If desired meet local artists, chefs, artisans, wine or olive oil makers. ✔ Interactive Options: hike, bike, sail, cook, dance, tennis or music. ✔ Cultural options: Cordóba art, show cooking, wine, or Flamenco. ✔ Your private Jewish Spain luxury package is designed with UNESCO highlights.

A Very Personalized Itinerary, Just For You and Your Schedule

Hand-Picked Ultra-Luxury & Boutique Hotel Options

Insider Experiences + Inspiring Sightseeing + Magical Upgrades

Private Touring with Your Own Personal Expert Guide

Private Airport & Train Station Luxury Transfers

Full Breakfasts + Food & Wine Tasting Options

Your Choice of Activities on “Design Your Days”®

Expert Advice, Restaurant Ideas & Reservations

24/7 Support & Concierge Service from Spain, Portugal & Morocco

Use our itinerary to inspire your expert-tailored dream trip!

Secrets of Jewish Seville

Embark on a journey through the fascinating history of Jewish Sevilla and uncover its hidden secrets. Explore the narrow cobblestone streets and admire the beautiful mansions as you delve into the rich Jewish heritage of the city. Visit the ancient Jewish Quarter and marvel at the grandeur of Sevilla Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Explore the impressive Alcázar, a dreamlike palace with exquisite gardens and enchanting architecture. Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride to immerse yourself in the charming atmosphere of the city.

Secrets of Seville - 3 Insider Options

At the peak of Spain's world empire Sevilla was the financial capital with light and shadows... Three guided options 1) Explore the Triana river district including the former Inquisition castle remains, a historic food market, artisan ceramics craftsmen and options for private paella meal show cooking. 2) Alternatively a private guided e-bike tour on a safe , beautiful route with the Torre del Oro, our fav park and the most beautiful plaza of Andalucía, a magnificent masterpiece of architect Anibal Gonzalez. 3) Or for food & wine lovers discover the Seville tapas cuisine, a culinary and social tradition that may include a 17th-century tavern. You'll agree Seville is one-of-a-kind :-)

Captivating Córdoba

Immerse yourself in the heart of Córdoba, where history and art intertwine in an eternal embrace. Its narrow streets whisper ancient secrets as you wander through the Jewish Quarter. Discover a hidden treasure: the Patios of Córdoba, fragrant gardens that awaken your senses and transport you to an enchanted paradise. Behold the Mezquita-Cathedral, an architectural marvel that merges the past and the present. Delight in the Sephardic Jewish cuisine. Dive into the mystery of Córdoba, where the unexpected stirs your adventurous soul and unveils the magic of forgotten times.

Majestic Madrid - 3 Insider Options

Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Madrid, where history meets contemporary charm. Visit the impressive Royal Palace and be captivated by its royal splendor. Then, delve into the lively Plaza Mayor, surrounded by history and vibrant atmosphere. Alternatively, Art lovers might prefer the world class collection at the Prado museum. The Reina Sofia has outstanding works by Picasso and Salvador Dalí. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is known for lesser known works by famous artist. Your day is designed to fit your taste. Later another exclusive guided option for curious foodies... delight your palate with exquisite gourmet tapas and Spanish wines to connect with the essence of Spain.

Timeless Toledo: 2000 Years of Heritage

Discover Toledo, once known as the "Jerusalem of Europe" has justly been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the middle ages for a time, Jews, Christians, and Muslims coexisted here in a prosperous and highly cultured ambiance of learning, religion and commerce. In 2024, Toledo, beyond the tourist traps, offers a one-of-a-kind cultural fusion: Gothic cathedral, ancient mosque (Cristo de la Luz Mosque), and two synagogues (Santa María la Blanca and Sinagoga del Tránsito). El Greco's art and the grandeur of the Alcázar. Picturesque streets, sunset views from bridges. Unique gastronomy: migas, marzipans. Artisan workshops preserving ancestral crafts heritage.

Barcelona - Top Gaudí Sites

Experience the UNESCO creativity of architect Gaudí. His obsessive genius unfolds in all its splendor. From the awe-inspiring Sagrada Familia to the whimsical mosaics of Park Güell, his architectural masterpieces will leave you in awe. But what truly sets Barcelona apart is the vibrant energy that pulses through its streets, where art and creativity intertwine in an unparalleled dance. Immerse yourself in this enchanting world and let its unparalleled magic sweep you away.

Barcelona's Old Town + Surprises

Embark on a journey through the labyrinth of history and charm in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter (former Jewish quarter). Its narrow cobblestone streets transport you through centuries as you discover majestic churches and lively squares. But there's something more: indulge in the unique experience of savoring gourmet tapas, where traditional flavors blend with avant-garde culinary techniques. Pair your tapas with exquisite wines, carefully selected to enhance the flavors and elevate your gastronomic adventure. In the Gothic Quarter, each bite and sip intertwine to create an unforgettable fusion of taste and pleasure.

Jewish Heritage of Girona & Beyond

Discover Girona and a nearby town, both with a rich history and a fascinating Jewish legacy. Explore Girona's Call, one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe, with its impressive Major Synagogue. Nearby admire a long forgottem hamlett with the Romanesque bridge and historical remains of a medieval mikveh. An unforgettable experience that will transport you to the past and allow you to explore an important part of Jewish life in the medieval era.

Barcelona Market & Cooking

Back to Barcelona, after a good nights rest a feast for your tastebuds with a chance to learn food secrets of Spain. Explore an iconic Barcelona market where top chefs go to buy fresh ingredients. Then enjoy an exciting, private cooking experience with a chef. You can enjoy wine tasting with tapas while the cooking is underway. Finally sit down and enjoy a tasty traditional Catalan regional meal to remember with an amazing dessert to finish the experience. Let the flavors of the Mediterranean captivate you!

Departure Private Transfer

Experiences may have an ending, but the magical memories can last forever. Today we say farewell as our professional driver and luxury vehicle for your exclusive private transfer awaits to take you from your hotel to the Barcelona airport. Farewell & hope to see you again for a private guided, custom luxury trip.

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Where are Spain's Most Famous Jewish Quarters?

Spain was a land of promise for Jews in the Middle Ages, until the 1492 expulsion by the Catholic Kings (Reyes Catolicos). There is a number of towns and cities in Spain that are important to Jewish heritage in the country.

There are famous Jewish quarters throughout Spain: from those in Andalusia's Seville and Cordoba to the ones in Catalonia's Barcelona and Girona, as well as one in north-west Spain's Ribadavia, not to mention those close to Madrid in Segovia and Toledo, you can find a Jewish Quarter to explore no matter where you are staying in Spain.

What follows is a list of the cities that make up Jewish Spain, with details of what there is to see in each city.

Jewish Barcelona and Girona

El Call is Barcelona's Jewish Quarter. Located between the Cathedral of La Seu, Plaça Jaume, and Plaça del Pi, it's an atmospheric area which offers a fascinating insight both into Barcelona's history and the story of Jewish people in Catalonia.

El Call means "alleyway," and suitably, El Call itself is a small maze of narrow streets. The Jewish presence in Barcelona dates back to the 9th Century, although it was two centuries later when El Call was created.

Jews were hugely influential in the emergence of Barcelona as a trading port of international significance during the medieval period and enjoyed the King's protection. Until 1391 that was, when the Jewish Quarter was attacked and Jewish privileges rescinded. An interesting spot here is the Centre d'Interpretació del Call. This is a museum dedicated to the history of the Jewish Quarter. It's in a 14th Century house called the House of the Rabbi and conserves rare period details in its architecture.

Also of interest is an ancient synagogue, the Synagoga Mayor, believed to be one of the oldest in Europe, dating back as far as the third century AD. It has been restored by the  Associació Call de Barcelona  and is open to the public.

Girona's Jewish Quarter

The Jewish quarter in Girona is also called the 'Call' and is one of the best preserved in Europe. The streets of Carrer de Sant Llorenç and Carreró, Travessia del Dr Luis Batlle and Carrer del Dr Miquel Oliva make up the main part of the Jewish quarter here. Torre Gironella is the famous refuge of the Jews during troubled times.

Read more about  Girona .

What Else is There to See in Girona?

Girona is a classic medieval walled city that is great to aimlessly wander around in. It is close to the city of Figueres, home to the Salvador Dali museum .

How to Get to Girona

Girona is on the high-speed rail line from Barcelona to Paris (the train also serves Figueres). Barcelona also has a famous Jewish Quarter.

Jewish Toledo

Toledo had one of the largest Jewish populations in Spain. A good place to see the old Jewish quarter is from the Mirador de San Cristóbal. The quarter stretches from Calle Taller del Moro as far as the city walls at the Puerta del Cambrón. Two of the city's ten synagogues still survive as they had been converted into churches following the expulsion of the Jews - the Sinagoga del Tránsito (now a museum) and the Sinagoga Santa Maria la Blanca. Ask for more information on Jewish Toledo at the museum in the Tránsito synagogue.

Read more about  Toledo

What Else is There to See in Toledo

Toledo is one of the most popular day trips from Madrid, famous for its city walls and cathedral.

How to Get to Toledo

Take the high-speed train from Madrid to Toledo and you'll be there in 30 minutes!

Jewish Segovia

The old Sinagoga Mayor is now the Corpus Christi church and marks the start of the Jewish quarter, which stretches from there to the Canonjía. The tourist information center in Segovia has a lot of good information on the city's Jewish quarter, including recommended routes through the district.

Read more about  Segovia

What Else is There to See in Segovia

Segovia is a great day trip from Madrid. It has a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct and a fairytale castle (think Bavarian or Cinderella's).

How to Get to Segovia

Take the high-speed train from Madrid: it takes under an hour.

Read more about How to Get from Madrid to Segovia

However, it's worth popping in to Avila on the way to see the fabulous city walls. This detour can't be taken by train and to fit both in a single day, you'll probably want to take a guided tour.

Jewish Córdoba and Seville

Cordoba is almost seen as a little brother to nearby Seville, but in terms of its Jewish heritage, it's the main city in the area. But with the two cities just 40 minutes apart by train, it makes sense to visit the two on the same trip.

Córdoba's Jewish quarter is one of the most famous in Spain. The whitewashed walls of the district just north of the great Mezquita mosque is one of the most popular sights in the city. The streets of Tomas Conde, Judíos and Plaza Juda Leví make up the majority of the Jewish quarter (in Plaza Juda Leví you can find the municipal tourist office with lots of information on the Jewish community in Córdoba).

The 14th-century synagogue in Córdoba is the only one in Andalusia and the only synagogue in Spain that was never turned into a Christian building. Other important sights in the Jewish Quarter include a bull museum and a monument to Jewish philosopher and doctor Maimonides.

What Else is There to See in Córdoba

Cordoba's number one sight is its Mosque-Cathedral, which has served the city's other two faiths for centuries.

Read more about  Córdoba .

How to Get to Córdoba

Cordoba is on the high-speed train line from Madrid to Seville , particularly close to the latter city, which makes visiting from Seville a great idea. Plus, Seville has an important Jewish quarter of its own to visit.

Other Jewish Cities in Spain

Cáceres had two Jewish quarters, each with a synagogue. The Judería Vieja (Old Jewish Quarter) had its synagogue where the San Antonio hermitage stands today. The synagogue of the Judería Nueva (New Jewish Quarter) stood on c/Cruz, but no longer stands.

Tudela had two Jewish quarters, the Juderia Vetula (around c/San Julián) and the Juderia Nueva (along Paseo del Castillo) and once had three synagogues, though no one is entirely sure where they were.

The Jewish quarter begins around La Plaza and goes up to the river, where you will find a number of small winding streets. It consisted of the streets of Call del Vado, Calle Amistad Judeocristiana and Calleja de los Cofrades, but most of the original Jewish buildings have long been in the hands of other religions. The synagogue was on Calle del Rabilero.

Ribadavia's Jewish heritage is quite well preserved. There are a number of festivals in Ribadavia that have Jewish origins - the Festa da Istoria, the Boda Judía and performances of Sephardic music. The synagogue would have been on Plaza de la Magdalena.

Ribadavia is a good place to get information on Jewish Spain, as the Network of Jewish Quarters in Spain and the Sephardic Information Center of Galicia are both in this town.

The Catalan town of Tortosa has a strong history of both Muslims and Jews. The Jews in the town occupied an important position in the town as early as the eighth century, when the town was occupied by the Muslims, as they were able to provide a link between the Christians and the Jews. When the Christians liberated the town in the 12th century, the Jews received the Muslim shipyards. The new Jewish quarter, founded in the 13th century, is still well preserved to this day, occupying the streets around Major de Remolins.

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Spain & Portugal Tour 15 Days

Spain & portugal jewish heritage.

Spain is considered the world‘s leading country in foreign tourism (about 60 million foreign tourists annually) – blessed with people who come to visit its famous sites or relax on the golden beaches of the Costa Brava or the Costa del Sol. To us, Spain is important for other reasons: the rich Jewish history of Catalonia, Andalusia and the city of Toledo is firmly planted in our national psyche – mainly because of the Spanish Inquisition in the late 15th century. We will visit the main sites connected to the Jewish history of Spain, as well as some of the primary sites that attract tourists from all over the world.

Gibraltar is a small peninsula, but it’s huge in history, geology and Jewish warmth. A British crown colony located in the southern Iberian Peninsula, it’s the entrance gate to both the Mediterranean basin as well as a bridge between Europe and Africa. At the foot of the Rock of Gibraltar, one can find a population of about 300,000 people from 16 different faiths, including a warm and close-knit Jewish presence. We visit Gibraltar on Shabbat, which we spend together with the local community, in all its synagogues.

Portugal stands somewhat alone in Europe separated from everyone by its border with Spain. It‘s a small country, but it offer so much: a spectacular Atlantic coastline, dotted with classic and historic fishing villages such as Nazare; majestic mountain ranges and dense forests; and vineyards as far as the eye can see alongside quaint, picturesque hamlets in the Doro Valley. History, monumental architecture, religious and secular art, all finds expression in churches and monasteries both ancient and modern. Combine all this with an entire population that is discovering its Jewish roots, and renewing Jewish life in this beautiful land. Then add warm hospitality, fine wine and great food – and you‘ll discover a Portugal you never knew existed.

An article by Bella Scharf Zelingher about this tour experience on The New Jersey Jewish News – press here>>

Monday: Barcelona

We will meet at the airport and fly to Barcelona, ​​Spain, the capital of the province of Catalonia. Arrival to Bracelona till 12:00 PM. 2:00pm – After landing we’ll take a tour of one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. We will see the Sagrada Familia, one of the famous works of the architect Antonio Gaudi, and also one of the symbols of the city.

Gaudi never lived to see it finished. During the tour we will be impressed by the architect’s other buildings, which are scattered throughout the city. We will see the Plaza Cataluña, the city’s famous main square, as well as the Columbus column, a monument near the harbor built to honor the famous explorer, Christopher Columbus. We will stroll along the famous, vibrant Ramblas Avenue, as well as the nearby Boqueria Market, which is close by. Finally, we will visit the ancient synagogue of the Rashba – Rabbi Shimon Ben Adret.

Tuesday: Barcelona – Basalo – Gerona – Barcelona

After breakfast we will travel to the province of Catalonia to Basalo, a beautifully preserved medieval town. We’ll tour the city and visit what used to be the Jewish quarter. Here there remains the mikveh, which was built in 1264, near the remains of the ancient synagogue. We’ll continue to Gerona – the city of the Ramban – Nachmanides.

Gerona is one of the centers of Jewish creativity in the Middle Ages and one of the wellsprings of the Kabalah. We’ll wander through the old city’s alleyways to the Jewish quarter, where only street names remain to tell of its glorious past. We’ll visit the museum that displays ancient Jewish tombstones. At the end of the day we’ll head back to Barcelona.

Wednesday: Barcelona – Granada, Alhambra Palace, Albaisin Quarter, Jewish Quarter

This morning we’ll fly to Grenada, a city that was nicknamed “Grant el Yahud” – “Grande of the Jews”. After landing we will take a tour of the city. We will visit one of the most famous sites in Spain, the Alhambra Palace (entrance is subject to site approval).

We will see the Ambassadors’ Hall where the expulsion order of Spanish Jewry was signed by the Catholic Kings Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. It was from here that Columbus was sent to discover the “New World”. We will admire the Lions’ courtyard and the Hadasim courtyard, and we will mention them in the amazing context of Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Gabirol and Shmuel Hanagid, who was an army minister and the chief minister in the court of the ruler. Our visit to the palace will end with an enjoyable walk in the Generalife, a garden area attached to the Alhambra which became a place of recreation and rest for the Granadan Muslim kings when they wanted to flee the tedium of official life in the Palace. At the end of the visit, we will visit the Caves of Albaysin, where the Gypsies lived in Granada in the past (and some even in the present).

Thursday: Granada – Cordoba

In the morning we will travel to Cordoba, the city of Maimonedes, Yehudah HaLevi and other great Spanish Jewish sages, and the central symbol of the Golden Age of Judaism in Spain.

We will cross the Guadalquivir (the Great River), walking on the ancient Roman bridge, and visit the Old City, which is a testimony to the glorious Jewish community that existed here during the period of the Moorish rule. We will visit the squares and streets that still bear names reminiscent of the Land of Israel, such as Tiberias Square and Yehuda Halevy Square. We will see the statue of the Rambam, erected by the city’s leaders in memory of the “Great Eagle.” We will enter the synagogue named after the Rambam, stroll along the picturesque alleyways and visit the Mezquita, once the great mosque of Cordoba that now serves as the local cathedral.

Friday: Cordoba – Gibraltar

After breakfast we’ll travel to Gibraltar, the British enclave known as “the Rock.” On the way we will tour the resort city of Malaga and its yacht harbor, Fuerte Banoche, on the Costa del Sol beach.

Gibraltar is the abbreviation of Jabel al-Tariq – after the Berber conqueror from North Africa who invaded Spain and brought about the beginning of Muslim rule for 800 years. We will see Monkey Colony, walk through the city streets and soak in the British atmosphere that dominates the colony. During the tour we will experience the unique Jewish aspect of the place and will discuss the harmony between the different religions. We‘ll continue to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat.

Shabbat: Gibraltar

The Jewish presence in Gibraltar is strong; it has five synagogues, three schools,  a cemetery, stores and kosher restaurants, various minyanim, a kollel and a rabbi. We‘ll spend Shabbat with the community and after Shabbat lunch we‘ll go out for a walking tour of the area.

Sunday: Gibraltar – Ronda – Seville

Today we will bid farewell to Gibraltar and travel to Seville, the capital of Andalusia. On the way we will stop at Ronda, the most famous settlement in the white villages, which has become one of the oldest white cities in Spain.

The bullfighting tradition was born and grew up here. Generations of bullfighters from the local Romero family have created a legacy of martial art and styles, which to this day are accepted throughout Spain. But Ronda is not only famous for bullfighting. In this stunning city, sitting on its steep cliffs, Ernest Hemingway was inspired to write his book “For Whom the Bells Toll” about the terrible civil war in Spain. After the visit we will continue to Seville. Upon arrival, we will visit the fort of Alcazar and see the magnificent Cathedral of Seville, one of the largest in the world, where Cristopher Columbus is buried. We will continue to the magnificent España Square and see the Spanish Pavilions of South America built for the exhibition planned for the late 1920s. We will continue with a walking tour of the Jewish Quarte, the “Juderia”, now called the Santa Cruz District, and will discuss the city’s Jewish roots and history.

Monday: Seville – Evora

After breakfast, we will head to Portugal. On the way we will stop at the visitors’ center of the charming town of Arsana, to learn about the geography and geology of this amazing place. We will cross the border to Portugal and travel to Evora, the former capital of Portugal.

In the walled city, which has been declared a cultural heritage site by UNESCO, we will find ruins including the oldest Roman Temple in Portugal. A Jewish community was once concentrated in the Juderia district and to this day remains can be found dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as symbols from the Inquisition period, when many “Marranos” were burned at the stake. This city was the headquarters of the Inquisition of Portugal. We will walk through its alleys and visit the Roman temple of Diana.

Tuesday: Evora – Castelo De Vide – Belmonte

After breakfast we will tour the small town of Castello de Vida. We will visit the Roman remains in and around it. Most of the town’s fame comes from the most impressive Juderia (Jewish Quarter) in Portugal. It contains the oldest synagogue in Portugal, now recently restored.

In the synagogue there is a display showing the integration of Jews in the town’s famous textile industry and in various other industries. Here, the President of Portugal, Mario Suarez, apologized to the Jewish people for the terrible injustice and murder his people have committed. We will walk through paved alleys and hear about the community that lived here in the past and how they came to accept Christianity by royal decree. We will also see the fortress that gave the city its name. At the end of the tour we will drive to Marvao, the city of the hilltop citadel, and from there we’ll continue to Belmonte, built around a 13th century fortress. The town preserves the history of the Jews well – to such an extent that it is also home to a community former Marranos who, after 500 years without Jewish tradition, decided to return to Judaism in the 1980s.

Wednesday: Belmonte, Guarda, Trancoso

Today we will tour the city and visit the Jewish Museum, which presents a fascinating display of Jewish life during the period of the Inquisition. The are is also an exceptional display dedicated to Jewish life in the Marrano villages.

After visiting the museum, we will stop at the local synagogue, Beit Eliahu, and become acquainted with the local people and the Shavei Israel organization, which works to help bring the Marranos back to Judaism. We will continue to Guarda, to visit the Jewish Quarter, to see the engravings of various shapes on the door frames of the Marranos. After that we will travel to Trancoso, which was an important Jewish center in the Middle Ages, and visit the synagogue and the newly opened Jewish museum, and if we are lucky, we might meet some of the local Jewish / Marrano residents.

Thursday: Trancoso – Coimbra – Tomar – Lisbon

After breakfast we travel go to Coimbra, a beautiful cliff-top city surrounded by a river. We will visit the local university – the oldest in Portugal – and the library of King Joao, which is built in Baroque style with some 300,000 ancient books. We will see the “Fountains of Love and Tears”.

At the end of the tour we will continue to the old town of Tomar. We will visit the ancient synagogue that was built in 1430 and named after Abraham, a Jewish astronomer and mathematician after whom a crater on the moon is named. We will stroll through the quiet streets of the town, between ancient buildings and conservation sites, and walk up to the impressive 12th century fortress – a Templar monastery that dominates the city. At the end of the visit, we’ll head for Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.

Friday: Obidos, Lisbon

Today we will visit Obidos, a small walled museum-town. The town looks like a toy. Everything here, except for the castle on the hill, is of especially small dimensions, including the white houses and the squares.

For the courageous among us there is a real challenge – walking on the town wall. But the reward for accepting the challenge is the amazing view of the surrounding landscapes that are revealed. We‘ll continue to Nazare, a beautiful fishing village that sits atop a rocky outcrop that overlooks the sea. After the tour we will depart to Lisbon, Portugal‘s capital city which sits astride the Tejo river estuary on the Atlantic coast. Lisbon, like Rome, is built upon seven hills. The most famous hill is the Afalma upon which the old city is built, as is Lisbon‘s ancient Jewish quarter. We‘ll make our way to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat.

Shabbat: Lisbon

After Shabbat services and lunch we’ll take a walking tour of the area near our hotel.

Sunday: Lisbon – Estoril – Cascais – Sintra

Today we will leave Lisbon for the charming town of Sintra, which offers fascinating architecture and a number of interesting museums, beautiful gardens and impressive palaces. Sintra in Portuguese means pink, and indeed this small town is all pink.

Originally it was built as a summer palace for the kings of Portugal. We will see the unique palace with the huge chimneys above its kitchen. We will continue along the coast to the westernmost point of Europe, Cabo de Rocca, and continue to Cascais, the most prestigious resort town in Portugal, and see the “Devil’s throat.” From there we’ll continue to the resort town of Estoril, a town with a casino, hotels and luxurious villas inhabited by some of the world’s the richest people as well as some exiled kings. At the conclusion of this day full of experiences, we will return to our hotel in Lisbon.

Monday: Lisbon – Home Gateway

On our last day we will get to know Lisbon, the capital and heart of Portugal. The city, like Rome and other cities, spans seven hills. The most famous of these is the hill of Alfa, on which the Old Quarter is built, where the Jewish Quarter of the city was also located.

We will visit the district of Belem (Portuguese for Bethlehem), a quarter built on the waterfront and where Vasco da Gama is buried. We will see the Tower of Belem and the monument to the explorers of Portugal. We will climb to the heights of St. George’s Castle overlooking the city and then descend via the winding alleyways of the ancient Alfa district, which also includes the Juderia (the Jewish Quarter). Our fascinating excursion is over. We’ll go to the airport in Lisbon and fly back home.

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Prices & dates.

* Price per person in USD double or twin room

** Supplement Price for single room

NEED TO KNOW

Price includes:.

Superior tourist class/First class hotel Entrance fees as per the itinerary Comfortable air-conditioned touring coach Kosher half board & supplies for making sandwiches for lunch Tips for local service providers Professional experienced English-speaking guide

Price Excludes:

International flights and taxes Travel & Health Insurance Personal expenses Tip for our Tour Guide (Recommended: $5 per person per day)

Important to Know:

There may be changes to the order of places visited. We will make every effort to visit every place mentioned in the itinerary. The tour organizers have no control over airline services such as seating, special meal requests, changes in departure times or delays. These remain the sole responsibility of the airline company.

Kashrut on Tours

Only strictly kosher food is provided to our travelers on all our tours. On some of our tours we are able to provide glatt meals. Kashrut is of utmost importance to us and we take special measures to ensure that everything served is kosher.

Breakfast is prepared using our utensils. We use local fresh fruits and vegetables, and we use milk products when they are permitted. We use kosher cereals, and bread. We usually serve hard boiled eggs and sometimes scrambled eggs or omelets. At breakfast, we prepare our lunches so that people have their choice as to what they eat for lunch. We bring food from Israel to supplement what is served in the hotel such as cheeses, peanut butter, tuna, etc. For dinners, we serve either fish or meat (usually chicken) as our main course. In areas where meat is not available nor readily acquired, we will have fish. When possible, we acquire the meat locally from Chabad or other reliable kosher source, and in some cases we fly the meat in from Israel. We try to provide as many meat meals as possible. The main course at dinner is preceded by soup and salad and accompanied by freshly prepared vegetables. Dessert typically consists of fresh fruits. We do not guarantee Pat Israel and Chalav Israel for all destinations. In many destinations we have our own dishes and silverware. Where we don’t, we provide disposables at the meals. When we cook in hotel kitchens, we use our own knives, cutting boards, pots and pans, cooking implements and disposable metal trays. All food preparation is done on covered surfaces under the strict supervision of our trained staff/guides who function as our mashgichim. We make great efforts to assure that our travelers will experience local foods first-hand, while maintaining stringent observance of Kashrut laws on all occasions. On most of our tours, you will be accompanied by two of our staff members- one a guide for the tour who is knowledgeable about the places you are visiting and will accompany you throughout the day and the second, a person who will deal with the logistics of the tour and provide kashrut supervision in the kitchen.

It is our aim to provide the finest hotel possible in each area we visit. We require our hotels to allow us to work in the kitchen and to supervise the cooking and there are many hotels that are not willing to cooperate. They simply have no desire for us to be “meddling” in their cooking process nor are they happy about our bringing our equipment into their kitchens. We work very hard to find the best hotel in the area that will meet our requirements. Because we are not ready to compromise on kashrut, we may not always be able to use a five star hotel.

Deposit, Cancellation Fees & Policy:

A $500 USD Deposit per person must be received at the time of booking in order to confirm your reservation. Payment in full is due 60 days before departure. A minimum number of participants are required to operate tour dates. If a minimum number has not been reached prior to tour departure and the tour is cancelled you will receive a FULL refund.

• 60 working days before departure bookings are refundable less a $100 administration fee • 30-59 working days prior to departure 25% of total per passenger • 15-29 days prior to departure: 50% of total per passenger • Less than 30 working days prior to departure: 100% of total – no refund

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Portugal and Spain

12 day portugal and spain jewish heritage tours, the soul of sefarad.

The Jewish presence in Spain and Portugal dates back centuries, and its gifts to the arts, philosophy, commerce and sciences helped forge the cultural heritage of Iberia. In Portugal, this unique tour focuses on places related to our heritage, particularly on the descendants of the Inquisition, often referred to as Marranos. Forced to convert during those awful days, many secretly, and over the centuries, retained their Jewish practices and their pride. You will see many Portuguese jewels: Porto with a revived and steadily growing Jewish community; Belmonte, with its Jewish Quarter, Synagogue, and Jewish Museum; Lisbon with its upcoming world-class Jewish Museum; and Cascais, a chic seaside resort with a new and thriving Jewish center. In Spain, travel to the source of great sages like Maimonides and the Kabbalists of the “Golden Age.” While Jewish communities are no longer active in Cordoba, Lucena, and Toledo, their history still radiates in these jewels of Sefarad. Throughout, you will gain a rare insight to the Jewish soul of Iberia, spanning over more than 500 years.

EXPLORE OUR 7 DAY JEWISH TOURS TO PORTUGAL

Explore our 10 day jewish tours to portugal.

Trancoso – Belmonte – Tomar

Lisbon – Cascais

Faro – Seville

Cordoba – Lucena

Granada – Toledo

Tour Information

Portugal and spain heritage tour porto – trancoso – belmonte – lisbon – cascais – faro – seville – cordoba – granada – toledo, duration : 12 days., 2024 departures : may 20 – may 31 september 16 – september 27, price per person : $4,999 land only $1,150 single supplement, 2025 spring departure : march 24 – april 4, price per person : $5,499 land only $1,350 single supplement, accommodations : porto , 2 nights palacio das cardosas belmonte , 1 night mt. sinai hotel/ pousada de belmonte lisbon , 3 nights portobay liberdade seville , 2 nights inglaterra hotel cordoba , 1 night eurostars palace granada , 1 night alhambra palace toledo , 1 night san juan de los reyes, meals : 11 breakfasts (b), included highlights : private transfers private touring and sightseeing private licensed guides full-time tour director deluxe hotel in porto, lisbon, seville, cordoba, granada first class hotel in belmonte, toledo breakfast daily at the hotels complete program with insights to the jewish history of portugal and spain all taxes and fees, these departures are guaranteed (8 travelers minimum), pre/post tours : we can accommodate pre/post tour arrangements in conjunction with this departure. to madrid or other places of your choice., passport & visa : no visa is required for travel to portugal and spain. always make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the tour ends., not included : flights pre, post or other private tour arrangements services and meals not mentioned tips expenses of personal nature travel insurance (we strongly recommend travelers to purchase insurance).

Day 1 Arrival in Porto (Monday)

Private transfer to your hotel in the heart of the capital of northern Portugal, beautifully located above the river Douro. In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour in the old quarter or Baixa, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Descend to the Ribeira area, where the characteristic stone quays are beautifully restored. Porto was well known among the Jewish traders during the Middle Ages, and today its Jewish Quarter remains. You will see both “Rua Monte Judeus” and “Escadas da Esnoga” (which mean “Street of the Jewish Hill” and “Stairway to the Synagogue”), as well as a panoramic view of Dona Maria Bridge (designed by the famous Gustave Eiffel). Besides it historic aspects, Porto is also a contemporary and artistic city. This is visible everywhere, in the streets, architecture, art galleries and museums, and also in the restaurants and boutiques the city offers. Palacio Das Cardosas.

Day 2 Porto ( Tuesday)

This morning, visit the Makor Haim Synagogue (“Source of Life”). With help from abroad in the early 20th Century, this was the first synagogue built in Portugal for native Portuguese Jews in over 400 years. Captain Barros Bastos, also known as “Ben Rosh,” pushed the construction to assist the many Crypto-Jews returning to the open practice of Judaism. While discovering Porto, you will find many surprises. Besides its welcoming yet rather conservative atmosphere and look, Porto is also a very much contemporary and artistic city. This is visible a bit everywhere, in the streets, architecture, art galleries and museums but also in the terraces, restaurants, and all the leisure and shopping facilities the city has to offer. Remainder of the day at leisure. Palacio Das Cardosas. (B)

Day 3 Porto – Trancoso – Belmonte (Wednesday)

Drive to Trancoso, a well-preserved sample of a Portugese walled town. The Jewish presence in Trancoso dates back to the 12th century. In the Medieval Era, Jews prospered in the middle and upper classes. Jewish and “New Christian” legacy still lives in the written documents, local traditions and in buildings such as the Gato Preto House, or Poço do Mestre (Master’s well), and other dwellings of the historic center. The town of Trancoso has honored its Jewish heritage with the establishment of the Isaac Cardoso Center for Jewish Interpretation, along with a new synagogue called Beit Mayim Hayim – “the House of Living Waters.” A mezuza was affixed to the entrance of the synagogue – the first mezuza in the village for hundreds of years!  Continue to Belmonte, crowned by a medieval castle. Belmonte stands out for the beauty of its landscapes and monuments, for its fabulous strategic position, which has made it dominate, from immemorial times, territories and communication routes. To its credit, Belmonte also welcomed people of other creeds and cultures.

A Jewish community was established that has survived for centuries. It still exists today – heir to the ancient historical presence of the Sephardic Jews. Even throughout the time of the Inquisition, Jews managed to preserve many of their rites, prayers, and social relations. Despite the pressure of the Catholics, many “New Christians” continued to marry only among themselves for centuries. In 1989, the community was officially recognized, and in 1996, it inaugurated the synagogue “Beit Eliahu” (Elijah’s House), appropriately located in the old Jewish Quarter. The Jewish Cemetery was restored in 2001, and in 2005, the Jewish Museum opened, portraying the history of the Sephardic presence in Portugal, and including a memorial of the Inquisition. Since 2011, Belmonte has also hosted the “Portuguese Network of Jewish Quarters.”  This Community consists of twenty-five families, all descendants of the “Secret Jews” who perpetuated their religion against all odds for centuries. In Belmonte’s old Jewish Quarter, we can observe small houses with crosses engraved on them – a protective pretence by Jewish people to escape persecution. Mt Sinai Hotel or Pousada de Belmonte. (B)

Day 4 Belmonte – Tomar – Lisbon (Thursday)

Begin this day with a visit to the Jewish Museum portraying the history of the Sephardic presence in Portugal, including a memorial of the Inquisition. Since 2011, Belmonte has also hosted the “Portuguese Network of Jewish Quarters.”  Later depart for Lisbon. En route, visit Tomar, one of the oldest and most charming towns in Portugal, founded by the Order of Knights Templar. Visit the 15th Century Synagogue, now the Museum Luso-Hebraico Abraão Zacuto, located on what was once Rua da Judiaria. Here you will find a significant reminder of one of the greatest Sephardic Jewish communities, now classified as a national monument. With Gothic vaults upheld by four central columns, this structure houses Jewish gravestones, the cornerstones of the 13th Century Synagogue of Belmonte and the 14th Century Lisbon Synagogue, and other remains of Tomar’s medieval Jewish community. Arrive in Lisbon in the later afternoon. PortoBay Liberdade. (B)

Day 5 Lisbon – Estoril – Cascais – Sintra – Lisbon (Friday)

In the morning, visit the Shaare Tikva Synagogue, restored in 2004. Next, depart for a small but significant Portuguese treasure, Cascais, a beach resort beloved by Lisbon’s Jewish community. During the Holocaust, this town also sheltered Jewish refugees, and Cascais’ Municipality has opened the Espaço do Exilio Estoril (Exiles’ Memorial Center) to honor this memory. Recently, the Rabbi of the vibrant Jewish Center, R. Eli Rosenfeld, published a groundbreaking book, Jewish Voices for Portugal , which highlights the wisdom of six Portuguese-Jewish commentators (among them, the 15th century scholars Isaac Abarbanel and Joseph Karo) on the Torah. It is worth noticing, the preface of the book was written by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, and Carlos Carreiras, Mayor of Caiscais. During the visit to the center, you will see documents dating back 500 years. Next, continue to Sintra, a World Heritage Site also known as “Lord Byron’s Glorious Eden.” Sintra was used as a retreat by the Romans, the Moors, and the Portuguese Kings, all of whom revelled in its location, beauty, wooded ravines, and natural water springs. Its former Jewish Quarter, where Jews lived and mixed at the Court before the forced conversions of 1497, is still visible today. Visit the glorious National Royal Palace. In the afternoon, return to Lisbon. PortoBay Liberdade. (B)

Day 6 Lisbon (Saturday)

Enjoy a day at leisure or a full day to visit Lisbon and its various neighborhoods.  Begin with a panoramic visit to the Riverside area. Passing the Rossio, reach the Largo da Graça, from where you can admire the magnificent city view, the Tagus River, and the “Seven Hills” of Lisbon. Continue to Porta do Sol, descending on foot through Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest area, to the “Rua da Judiaria,” the old Jewish Quarter, with its narrow, cobbled streets. You will also stand in the Praça do Comércio, where the dreaded “Autos-de-Fé” of the Inquisition took place.

Later, see the Belém-Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most representative monuments of Manueline style in Portugal. View the Monument to the Discoveries, which owes much to the Portuguese Jews and “New-Christians,” as many forced converts were called. From Torre de Belém, guarding the mouth of the Tagus River, explorers once set out on voyages to discover trade routes to Africa, Asia, and the New World. (Brazil, of course, is the most famous product of these journeys.) See the striking monument, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, which celebrates the Portuguese adventurers who took part in the Golden Age of Discovery. Return to the hotel in the afternoon. PortoBay Liberdade. (B)

Day 7 Lisbon – Faro – Seville (Sunday)

This morning, depart Lisbon and drive towards the famous Algarve Coast of Portugal. Visit Faro, capital of the Algarve coast. Its Jewish population was expelled in the late 15th century. At its peak, Faro was a well-known center of Hebrew printing – in fact, in 1481, Samuel Porteira printed the first book in the history of Portugal: a Bible, in Hebrew. Jews began to resettle in Faro in the 19th century, and a small community was formed. Today, Faro boasts a restored cemetery with several well-preserved tombs, as well as a small Jewish museum and synagogue. The rededication occurred in 1993, in the company of the President of Portugal (who planted 18 trees) as well as many honorable visitors from Spain, France, Belgium, South Africa, Israel and the United States. Later, continue to Seville in Spain. Upon arrival in the afternoon, check-in at the centrally located hotel. Inglaterra. (B)

Day 8 Seville (Monday)

Today, enjoy a visit to the elegant and classic Seville, immortalized in opera classics such as “The Barber of Seville,” “Don Giovanni,” and “Carmen.” From the hotel, walk past the imposing Cathedral, one of the largest in the world. Here, find the resting place of Spanish Kings and Queens, as well as the impressive sepulcher of Christopher Columbus – but are his remains actually there? Continue past the Alcazar Palace, still used as a residence for the Spanish Royal Family, to the grand Plaza Espana, site of the pavilion of the great 1929 Exhibition. Last, but not least, visit the exciting Barrio de Santa Cruz – the former Jewish Quarter. Today, it is one of Seville’s most charming areas, with several references to the historic Jewish presence in Seville. Visit Santa María la Blanca, formerly an exquisite synagogue. Continue in the Bario de Santa Cruz to a parking lot, where (sadly) the remains of the former Jewish Cemetery can be traced. In the afternoon, enjoy the time to browse the elegant pedestrian area and its vast and elegant shops. If you ever dreamed of watching a flamenco show, Seville might be the perfect option. Remainder of the day at leisure. Inglaterra. (B)

Day 9 Seville – Cordoba (Tuesday)

Today, a short drive takes you to nearby Cordoba, former home of many Jewish scholars and poets. Once the biggest city in all of Europe, Cordoba thrived and expanded with its unique blend of cultures. Upon arrival, begin a walking tour with a visit to Mezquita, the most significant Muslim architectural achievement in the Western world. This 8th century structure was first a church, later a mosque, and now has a cathedral placed in its center. Next, walk the street leading up to the Juderia, with its whitewashed houses and colorful courtyards and shops. Although not Jewish in its current expression, a few signs still hint of the Golden Age. Note, for example, the tiny, gem-like synagogue, not to mention the statue of the great court doctor and Torah sage, Maimonides (Rambam, or Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon). Later, check-in at the hotel located in the heart of the Juderia. Remainder of the day at leisure, with ample opportunity to browse the colorful streets of the Old Town. Eurostars Palace. (B)

Day 10 Cordoba – Lucena – Granada (Wednesday)

Depart on a short drive to Lucena, formerly the principal Jewish town in Andalusia. Here was  the home of many prominent Jews, including the family of Maimonides. Lucena was, in fact, known as the “Pearl of Sefarad.” A Jewish cemetery was discovered here in 2006, telling the story of a culture that once flourished. Since then, the city has decided to honor the site, preserving more than 340 tombs in accordance with traditional Jewish law. Jewish historians and prominent Rabbis have helped, making this the most important Jewish cemetery in Spain. Next, walk the narrow streets to the Torre Del Moral, site of two tombstones that were found at the cemetery, and see the Palace of the Counts, housing a small Jewish Museum. Afterwards, depart for Granada. Upon arrival, visit one of the Wonders of the World — the Moorish Palace of Alhambra and the Generalife. Located on a hilltop with the Sierra Nevada Mountains behind it, Alhambra’s exquisite layout and breathtaking design have few rivals. Be filled with a sense of mystique as you are guided past graceful courtyards, splashing fountains, and lavish rooms. Now, check-in at the luxurious hotel in this historic town. Remainder of the day at Leisure. Alhambra Palace. (B)

Day 11 Granada – Toledo (Thursday)

This morning, drive to Toledo. With its naturally fortified location, Toledo was once the true center of Spain, and it is also revered for its subtle beauty. Additionally, Toledo was once the center for Jewish Spain, with a rich, creative heritage; you will feel this atmosphere as you stroll the narrow alleys in its historic section. See El Greco’s house, formerly the palace of the prominent Samuel Halevy, treasurer of King Pedro I and architect of the El Transito synagogue. Continue to Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca, later converted to a church, and Sinagoga del Transito, today the Sephardic Museum. Check-in at your historic hotel, located in the former Jewish Quarter. In Toledo, history seems to have stopped, and you will feel this as your hotel is surrounded by synagogues and the Samuel Halevy Statue. This is the final stop on this remarkable journey through Iberia’s Jewish story — and the setting couldn’t be more perfect. The remainder of the day at leisure. Hotel San Juan de los Reyes. (B)

Day 12 Toledo – Madrid – Home flights (Friday)

This morning, transfer to the Madrid international airport for the flights back home. Alternatively, choose to extend your stay with a day in Madrid. (B)

Jewish Heritage Spain Tour: Retracing the Steps of History

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Countries Visited

Places visited, suggested duration, customizable itinerary, madrid – the capital and the past.

Madrid is a modern city with a vibrant history. The streets are endlessly filled with effervescent life, from overflowing cafes to luxury stores. The flavors and aromas of the San Miguel Market offer the traditional tastes of Spanish cuisine with a modern, elegant twist. Your private transfer is waiting for you at the airport. They escort you to your luxurious accommodation in the historic center of Spain’s capital city. Plaza Mayor was the centerpiece of Madrid for hundreds of years. The square is surrounded by regal architecture that dates back to the 17th century.

The colonnade surrounds the plaza on three sides. In the archways you find cafes overflowing with people enjoying a glass of wine, sangria, or a cup of coffee in the afternoon warmth. The ochre colors of the buildings create an inviting atmosphere behind the wrought-iron balconies. The history of the square isn’t just in the beauty of the buildings but is also told in pictures through the carvings you can find on the circular seats beneath the lampposts. Spain’s river of history runs deep and you have just begun to dip your toes in the water.

What's Included:

Madrid – Diving into the Past

The city is peaceful in the early morning hours. The streets seem empty and the energy is reserved for the moment. The sun continues to rise and life begins to percolate, scented with fresh, strong coffee and sweet pastries. Your private guide meets you at your hotel and you are ready to venture out into the city. Puerto del Sol is the “heart of Madrid,” and is also one of its most bustling areas. The square is known as one of the original 15th century gates to the city. A street sign made from tile and painted with a charming depiction of the square connotes the importance and beauty of the area’s history.

The old Post Office is now home to the current regional government offices. The opulent gothic façade resembles a majestic castle more than a modern presidential office. The Casa and Torre de los Lujanes are located in the Plaza de la Villa. They are among the oldest buildings in the city and were constructed at different times in the 15th century. The tower was once the tallest building in Madrid, and the plaza was home to the city’s Arab marketplace. The plaza is filled with charm in its tranquil surroundings and subtle décor. You feel a connection to the city and the culture which begins to burn brightly.

Toledo – The Collective Cultures

Toledo is a city rich with imagery, from its collection of past medieval cultures to its stunning panorama made famous by El Greco’s painting, View of Toledo . The old mosques and synagogues are now filled with the embellishments of the church. The winding, narrow streets create a stunning historic labyrinth that opens up to hidden plazas. Mudejar architects constructed the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca in the 11th century. The complex is mesmerizing in its splendor, complete with elegant horseshoe arches. The synagogue maintained its original majesty throughout the turbulent times in Toledo and the whole of Spain.

The interior divides into five aisles. Each arch is embellished with intricate Moorish décor shaped into the plaster. The floor is decorated with dark red tiles. The plain exterior and rounded windows create a view of European décor, but the interior’s décor creates an entirely unique atmosphere that allows you to step into a historical monument. The Sinagoga del Transito contains the Sephardic Museum that opened in the 1970s. It maintains a fabulous collection of Jewish art and ritual objects spanning the centuries. Toledo is rich in natural charm and depths of history ready to be uncovered.

Cordoba – The Old Quarters

Today you will make the train ride to Cordoba, located in the wondrous countryside of Andalusia. The hills are brushed with gold and the mountain ranges roll against the backdrop of vast blue sky. Cordoba sits on the banks of Rio Guadalquivir. Narrow cobblestone streets meander around the Mosque-Cathedral known as the Mezquita. Plaza de las Tendillas is surrounded by neo-classical buildings and filled with a cool mist from the springing fountains. The town center is always bustling with life. The bars are intimate with crowds of jovial locals. The restaurants emanate the aroma of traditional cuisine, such as salmorejo cordobés , cold tomato-cream pasta.

The old Jewish quarter is known as Juderia and contains the illustrious 14th century Synagogue. Mudejar style and décor spreads throughout the temple, from the ogival arch of the walls to the specific geometric shapes that run along the divisions. The Casa de Sefarad was once connected to the synagogue by a series of underground tunnels. The home is now a small museum with an exhibit dedicated to the local Jewish poetesses of Al-Andalus. In the courtyard a large mosaic of a Star of David fills the open space and is surrounded by a colonnade of arches.

Seville – The Southern Capital

The energy of Seville is unique to Spain and distinctive to the city. Soulful guitars and vocals emanate from restaurants. Flamenco dancers tap their heals to the rhythm and express an eclectic mixture of longing. The Moorish Palace, known as the Alcázar, watches over the entire city, a collection of gardens, courtyards, and lavish halls. Charming duck ponds and quiet pathways wind around Maria Luisa Park. Barrio de Santa Cruz is the most fashionable neighborhood in the city; however, it once stood as the Jewish Quarter.

The Cathedral of Saint Mary and of the See, or just Seville Cathedral, is situated next to the old quarter. The church is magnificent and gigantic, known as the world’s largest church by sheer volume. It was built over the 12th century mosque and is 413 feet long and 272 feet wide. The exterior looks almost like a fortress, made of strong brick and imposing material, the walls are more powerful than graceful with dashes of intricate decoration on the various doors.

Once you enter the building you find a world of opulence. The Tomb of Christopher Columbus is found inside the Door of the Princes. The tomb is large and regal. Four knights of the church stand holding a treasure trove. Their gilded cloths capture the light. The tile that lines the room is polished. It feels like a room fit and decorated for royalty. The vaulted ceilings of the cathedral are inspiring and the overall majesty of the basilica can leave you wanting to stay a while longer.

Seville – Fruit of the Vine

The day is yours to experience Seville as you wish. The Calle de las Sierpes is a road that winds through the spirited crowds of the shopping district. The buildings’ facades are colorful and inviting. The Museo Arqueologico is considered one of the best archeological museums in the country and houses the treasure of Carambolo , believed to be a vast collection of gold of Tartessus. You could also choose to indulge in a private cooking lesson that will show the delectable secrets of Spanish and Sevillian cuisine. Join a celebrated top chef to explore the intricate simplicity of ingredients.

The traditional flavors of the region are spiced with Moorish influence. Spend time in the kitchen of the chef’s restaurant with the aromas of the particular dishes meant to provide you the best examples of regional cuisine. The Rabo de Toro is a rich ragout made of bull’s tail and filled with tremendous depths of flavor.   Sherry wine offers a bit of sweetness to the dish and flame to the experience. A variety of cheeses add decadent richness to your palette as you prepare the food.

Granada – The Moorish Legacy

After breakfast you will arrive in Granada and check into your hotel. Your expert guide will meet you and escort you to the incredible complex of the Alhambra. The collection of palaces shines red in the late-morning light. The structure rises out of spruce and pine trees and looks almost like a peak of an imposing mountain. The 11th century was the basis for the 14th century additions, which turned the original fortress and palace into a citadel of both strength and opulence.

The complex is spread over three tiers that rise up the mountainside and is a collection of courtyards, gardens, and residences. The Hall of the Ambassadors is the largest room in the complex reaching 37 feet in length. The central dome reaches a height of 75 feet. The grand hall encompasses the grandeur of the entire citadel and provides views of the entire palace in three separate directions to see the landscape below. This room is where Isabel and Ferdinand received Christopher Columbus.

The wealth of history is as enticing as the decor. It seems like the exuberant artistry never ends, taking you from one hall to another. The Hall of the Abencerrages contains vaulted ceilings are honeycombed and resemble stalactites. A cool breeze blows through the open portals. The water in the pool at the Partal ripples and the calligraphy on the walls of the Nazaries Palace is delicately engraved. The intricate history of the complex and the city is intertwined with the diverse faiths that once filled the neighborhoods and called Granada home.

Barcelona – In Touch Heritage

The city is a maze of winding narrow streets filled with historic buildings and a wealth of culture. Each shop you pass and each restaurant you look into is like a quiet nook, hidden from the rest of the world and known only to those living in Granada. After breakfast your private transfer will escort you to the airport where you will board your flight home. However, you can always stay a while longer and discover more of the ancient Jewish heritage of Spain, which would take you to the world-famous Catalonian city of Barcelona.

Arrive in Barcelona to experience the renaissance of Jewish culture in the city that sits on the Mediterranean. An ancient synagogue was discovered in the city in 2001 dating back to the 3rd or 4th century and was expanded in the 13th century.  The simple architecture is moving and informative. The unassuming building is made of stone and the door is a tiny portal you have to duck under to enter. The interior is subtle in design and décor and allows you to experience the historical importance without pomp.

Optional Add on: The Spirit of Barcelona

Enjoy a full day in Barcelona at your leisure. The city is filled with a spirit unlike any other city in Spain. Each street is unique, from the architecture of Gaudi to the golden beaches on the Mediterranean Sea. The city is proud of its heritage as the capital of Catalonia and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya offers insight into the artistic eyes of the state, displaying over a millennium’s worth of artwork. The museum is housed in an Italian style building that was built in the 1920s and is known as the National Palace.

You can understand the pride and culture of Catalonia in the collection of work, the images, styles, and focus of life and religion, including numerous works of el Greco and Alexandre de Riquer. In the grace of the artwork and the vibrancy of the city you can find an endless amount of beauty in its history, architecture, and natural spirit. The following morning you will have a private transfer to the airport where you will make your flight home.

Trip Highlights

• Enjoy a private walking tour of Madrid, the capital city of Spain, to view the incredible Royal Palace and Prado Museum
• Discover the tremendous medieval Jewish cultural history in Toledo amidst the sensational gothic architecture
• Witness the Maimonides synagogue in Cordoba and the celebrated Mezquita that dates back to the 8th century
• Traverse the remarkable Jewish Quarter of Seville
• Explore the tremendous Alhambra, a complex of Moorish of palaces in Granada 
• Visit the recently discovered synagogue in Barcelona that was once hidden for almost a millennium 

Detailed Description

The history of Spain is entwined in the treasures of Jewish culture. This tour will take you through the wealth of ancient and medieval Jewish quarters and repurposed synagogues. You will discover charming plazas hidden to the world. Explore the exceptional connection between modern culture and historic traditions. From the cathedral in Toledo to the staggering palaces of the Alhambra in Granada, regional cuisines to archeological museums, you will experience the history of Spain’s Jewish heritage through the indelible persistence of the past.

Your discovery of Jewish heritage in Spain begins in Madrid. Modern and historic grandeur fill the city’s divided neighborhoods, torn between the new and the old. Exuberant décor sweeps through the Royal Palace and artistic integrity drapes the walls of the Prado Museum. A full-day tour in Toledo offers you the chance to visit the Spanish synagogues and the Sephardic museum. Journey to Cordoba and take a private tour of the old Jewish quarter, including a visit to the Maimonides’ synagogue.

Once in Seville you will have two days to meander through the Jewish Quarter of Barrio de Santa Cruz. The city’s architecture is charming and a leisurely day in the city will eventually lead you to the celebrated chocolaterias . Transfer to Granada, home to the stunning Alhambra palace-fortress. The city is a historic maze that blends the North African influence of its past with the Arabic traditions of its present. You have the option of adding on two enlightening days in Barcelona.

A new congregation was established in the late 1990s and an ancient synagogue was discovered in 2001. The gothic architecture presses against modernist buildings and the entire city overflows with a unique spirit. Your private transfer will meet you at your hotel on your final day in Barcelona and escort you to the airport. You may be leaving Spain but you are taking the enriching history and vibrant heritage home with you.  

Starting Price

$2,491  per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

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• Accommodations
• In-country transportation
• Some or all activities and tours
• Expert trip planning
• 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

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Jewish Spain

N ow, more than five centuries after Spain violently expelled its Jews , the country is having a revival of interest in its Jewish Sephardic heritage. In fact, Sephardic culture has been going through a boom-with conferences, music festivals and even restaurants specializing in Sephardic cuisine.

The biggest push has come from the Spanish government, which has created a network linking 15 medieval Jewish cit ies across Spain in an initiati ve known as “Caminos de Sefarad “ or “Sephardic Routes .” A trip to Spain is like walking in the footsteps of y our favorite Sephardi c heroes, whether they be Moses ibn Ezra, Samuel Nagrella , Jacob ben Aser , Halevi and Maimonides.

For Girona and other similar sized cities like Jaen in the south to  Oviedo  and  Tudela  in the north, there is a new pride in revealing and showing the Jewish past. Today, there are around 2 0,000 Jews living in Spain , and the country has come long way in reconciling with its anti-Semitic past. Nowadays, Spaniards can tune into Radio Sefarad , read Jewish publications and even watch a weekly cultural TV show called “Shalom .”

Jewish Barcelona

What remains in   Barcelona  today is but a remnant of the once-thriving Jewish c ulture that existed during Spain’s Golden Age. One of the main attractions that is still in existence is the ancien t Call or  Juderia and the main Synagogue of Barcelona.

Originally built during the fifth century, a new synagogue was later built on top of it in the fourteenth century and additional floors were added to the building through the subsequent centuries. Despite being one of the oldest synagogue s in Europe, the Sinagoga Mayor was forgotten and abandoned until the 20th century. It was even used at one time as a storage warehouse and as a dry cleaner!

While there is little that remains of the former Jewish ghetto or Call of Barcelona, our guide is able to bring the history and culture of the quarter back to life.

Lying just outside Barcelona proper are two other ancient Jewish sites. The first is the ancient cemetery of Montjuic  (lit. Jewish mountain) located on the western edge of the city. The ancient cemetery houses the last remains of some of the most notable members o f the pre-exp ulsion Spanish community and is officially a city park.

This visit can be combined with the old city of   Gi rona , approximately 60 miles northeast of Barcelona. While there are few, if an y, Jews currently residing in Gi rona, this small city was once the home of the great Jewish sage Maimonides who defended the Spanish Jews in the thirteenth century at the Disputation of Barcelona .

Jewish Girona

When you visit this Medieval Catalan city, you are visiting one of the oldest and most intact Jewish quarters in all of Europe, 100 kilometers north of Barcelona. The “Call” –  Girona ‘s Jewish c ommunity – existed from the 9th century to the later years of the 15th century . Moreover it was one of the most important centers of Kabbalistic learning in all of Europe. It was also once the home of the great Jewish rabbi and philosopher, Moses ben Nahman – Nahmanides (Ramban 1194-1270).

European Jewish Heritage Tours ’ local guides provide an enlightening walking tour through the narrow cobblestone lanes, high stonewalls and step street s of the Call de Girona, allowing you to see both private courtyards and gardens. The tour departs from the Centre Bonastruc ça Porta , an institute of Jewish learning built around the old Synagogue on Carrer de la Força , the main artery of the medieval quarter which has remained amazingly intact over the centuries.

Following this walking tour, visitors will tour the  Museu d’Història dels Jueus (Jewish History Museum)  – which has developed a map of the maze-like streets and hosts small exhibits on Carrer de la Força . Containing the most accurate, information about medieval Jewish communities in Spain , particularly those in Catalonia, the museum’s exhibits provide a picture of daily life in the quarter, Jewish traditions and the region’s most influential calls . The Hebrew lapidary (tombstone) collection is considered to be one of the fines t in the world.

Not to be missed is the new cultural complex – Bonastruc Ca Porta Centre – which recreates Sephardic Jewish life through musical events and food tastings. A visit can also be arranged to the Institute for Sephardic and Kabbalistic Studies , which hold important medieval Jewish manuscripts. (Our visit of Girona can be done in a half-day; you can reach the city by private car or by train, depending on your budget).

(*If you have time, we will arrange for you to see the nearby Medieval town of  Besalu , which has preserved a 12th century mikvah -one of the oldest in Europe. )

Our leisurely full-d ay walking tour in Girona includes the following :

In the morning, you will start with the walking tour of Girona- Medieval town: you will visit the entire historical center, including the entrance to the Sant Feliu church . Our guide will also show you the city walls, the Cathedral, the ancient University, the medieval quarter and the Rambla . After a two-hour break for lunch and shopping , our second walking tour will start at 2 pm. It centers around Girona ’s Jew ish history , and includes an exclusive walking tour around the Jewish quarter, which is the largest and best preserved in Europe : The Call, integrates the Bonastruc ça Porta Center and its surroundings , which have the most significant architectural interest. Our local guide brings to life the hubbub of activity that was in the 14 th and 15 centuries, when the Girona Call was one of the most vibrant districts in Europe. Th is part of the tour also includes a visit to the Museum of Jewish history .

Jewish Segovia

The hilltop city of  Segovia , which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site , is two – hours north of Madrid by train. It is also cooler than Madrid in the summer -which is why it attracted the Spanish court, and still attracts tourists today.

There are two bridges in Segovia, according to its Mayor: one is the renowned Roman aqueduct , the other is to the city’s Jewish past . Not everyone knows that Segovia has one of the biggest Juderias in all of Spain.

European Jewish Heritage Tours organizes visits to the old Jewish cemetery with gravestones that go back to the 11th century. The black iron fence that runs the length of the walkway protecting pedestrians from the steep drop is decorated with abstract candelabras — menorahs alerting to the special nature of the ancient site.

Also on the tour is the former major synagogue of Segovia -now transformed into the Corpus Christi Church . Similar in structure to Toledo’s Santa Maria del Blanca , its interior is set off with graceful horseshoe arches and a cedar ceiling. It’s a beautiful testimony to the former wealth and culture of the Jewish community in M edieval Segovia.

Lastly, you will visit the spectacular hilltop Alcazar fortress that gave Segovia its name -“Ship of Stone”. It was here that King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella signed the 1492 order expelling Jews from Spain . Rapunzel towers, turrets topped with slate witches’ hats and a deep moat at its base make the Alcázar a prototype fairy-tale castle , so much so that its design inspired Walt Disney’s vision of Sleeping Beauty’s castle . Fortified since Roman days, the site takes its name from the Arabic al-qasr (fortress). Highlights include the Sala de las Piñas , with its ceiling of 392 pineapple-shaped ‘stalactites’, and the Sala de Reyes , featuring a three-dimensional frieze of 52 sculptures of kings who fought during the Reconquista. The views from the summit of the Torre de Juan II are truly exceptional .

Toledo and Its Jewish Past

For more than two millennium, the city of  Toledo   has sat on the top of a granite hill surrounded like a horseshoe by the River Tagus, just 40 miles from Madrid . The present day Alcazar stands where there was once a Roman fortress. Jews were a part of Toledo’s history since the last years of the Roman occupation in 192 BCE.

The Jews co- existed peacefully with the Romans and were always an important part of the city. They became known as money-lenders, merchants of fine textiles and precious metals , as well as intellectuals who were generally well-respected by other residents of different faiths. For centuries, scientists, philosophers, poets and artists of widely differing backgrounds met in Toledo to exchange ideas.

Christians, Jews and Moslems, three ethnically distinct communities, lived together in the city until the conquest of Cordoba in 1085. In Toledo we find street names such as Calle Juderia , and C alle Samuel Ha-Levi among the small narrow streets of the medieval area. With its naturally fortified location, Toledo was once the true center of Spain, and is widely considered a “pearl” in terms of its subtle beauty. This city was also considered the center for Jewish Spain, with a rich, creative heritage. You will feel this atmosphere as you stroll the narrow alleys in its historic section.

Toledo is one of the few towns of Spain where remnants of Jewish edifices have been preserved. These two synagogues are built in pronounced Mudéjar style and are distinguished for the beauty of their arches an d general appearance.

With European Jewish Heritage Tours , you will visit El Greco’s house , formerly the palace of the prominent Samuel Halevy (treasurer of King Pedro I, and architect of the El Transito Synagogue ). You will then tour the Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca , later converted to a church, and the Sinagoga del Transito , which today houses the fascinating Sephardic Museum .

Jewish Seville

Seville is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain . It is the capital of the community of Andalusia and its population of 700.000 people. Today, less than 3% of that population is Jewish, even if many centuries ago, Jews were a prospering community in the city.

All around the city, European Jewish Heritage Tours local guide will show you many different influences starting with the Romans , who created the city in 563 BCE . Many years later, the Visigoths brought Christianity to Seville and the series of Church Councils. Then, during the Arab occupation, Seville emerged as the second most important city, after Cordoba, in the Umayyad Caliphate and became a wealthy, picturesque and vibrant society helped by the Jews who lived there and were engaged in commerce, medicine and the dyeing industry.

The Jewish quarter was in the western part of the city, in what are now the parishes of  Santa Magdalena   and  San Lorenzo . During the Reconquest of Spain , many Muslims and Jews fled from Seville because the city was repopulated by Castilians. Seville became the first site for an Inquisition Tribunal . In 1391, disaster struck in Seville and the entire Jewish community was nearly destroyed and the synagogues were converted to churches . The once vibrant community never recovered and along with the other Jews of Andalusia, they were exiled in 1483 , nine years before the final expulsion .

Despite several disasters and destructions, you will still be able to visit, the parishes of Santa Magdalena and San Lorenzo , but also the al- Shawwar Gate, known as the  Meat Gate ( Puerta de la Carne). The main streets of the Jewish quarter nowadays are called Santa María la Blanca and San José . The square called plaza de Santa María la Blanca with its  synagogue  of the same name, is not to be missed either.   The Inquisition  in Seville was organized in Triana C astle . And finally, to remember the Jewish history of Seville, you can also visit the  Jewish cemetery   near the Puerta de la Carne.

Ship to Shore Tours in Jewish Spain

f you want to discover Jewish Spain on a private ship-to-shore tour, European Jewish Heritage T ours can arrange for a private driver and guide to meet you at the port to show you the Jewish sites of Barcelona and Girona in a single day, or visit Jewish sites in Seville with a pickup in the port city of Cadiz. We also can arrange ship-to-shore tours in Bayonne, France, even if you stop at a port in Spain .

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Tours from Europe bases

Ansbach Outdoor Recreation plans a tour to Costa Brava, Spain, on May 23. (iStock)

Base tours offer an easy way to see Europe with other members of the military community. Here is a sampling of trips scheduled as of April 19, 2024. Please update this information and add tours by sending an email to Marcus Klöckner at [email protected].

SHAPE TRIPS AND TOURS: Call 06544-3884. Email [email protected] or visit www.shape2day.com .

ANSBACH OUTDOOR RECREATION: May 7, Tuesday evening cycling with ODR, $5; May 18, Neuschwanstein castle area, $579 adults, $139 children ages 3-11, $119 children ages 2 and under; May 23, Costa Brava (Spain), $449 adults, $399 children ages 3-11, $199 children ages 2 and under; June 5, sunset paddling with ODR, $25 adults, $5 children ages 12 and under; June 13-17, Paris, Normandy, $439 adults, $389 children ages 3-11, $149 children ages 2 and under. DSN 467-3225/CIV 09802-83-3225 or MWR Central DSN 467-1780 or CIV 09802-83-1780.

BAUMHOLDER OUTDOOR RECREATION: April 27, Neuschwanstein castle, $149 adults, $119 children ages 7-17, $105 children ages 6 and under; May 4, Paris, $129 adults, $119 children ages 11 and under; May 4, Rhine river boat cruise, $79 adults, $49 children; May 5, Utility Vehicle Tour (UTV), $155-$195; May 11, Keukenhof, tulip gardens, $129 adults, $119 children; May 11, Black Forest tour, $79 adults, $49 children; May 12, Baden-Baden, spa day, $75; May 19, Tongeren (Belgium), antique market, $79; June 1, Champagne tour Epernay (France), $149. DSN 485-7182 or CIV 06783-67182.

GRAFENWOEHR OUTDOOR RECREATION: May 11, Mother’s Day fishing event, $29 adults, $19 children; May 25, fishing season opener, $20-$25; June 7-9, fishing course, $65 adults, $40 children ages 10-18; June 15, Father’s Day fishing event, $20 adults, $10 children. DSN 314 475-8529 or CIV 09641-83-8529

KAISERSLAUTERN OUTDOOR RECREATION: May 23-27, Croatia, $1,329-$1,469, $269-$949 children; May 23-27, Memorial Day weekend in London, $1,049 adults (single room), $829 adults (double room); May 24, Normandy and Omaha Beach, $749 adults (single room), $599 adults; DSN 493-4117 or CIV 0631-34064117.

RTT TRAVEL RAMSTEIN: April 26-28, Paris premium, 489 euros adults, 369 euros children ages 11 and under; April 20, Strasbourg and Alsace, 149 euros adults, 129 children ages 11 and under. CIV 06371-463650 or see www.RTTtravel.com .

RTT FLIGHT TOURS/RAMSTEIN: Call 06371-463650 or see www.RTTtravel.com .

SPANGDAHLEM INFORMATION, TICKETS AND TRAVEL: DSN: 452-6567 or CIV 06565-61-6567.

STUTTGART OUTDOOR RECREATION: Through April 30 (2024), Seasonal ski and snowboard rentals; May 11, MWR adventure tour: Hirschgrund Zipline, $120 adults, $105 children ages 12-16; May 18, MWR adventure tour: whitewater rafting, $200 DSN 431-2774 or CIV 0703-2774.

WIESBADEN OUTDOOR RECREATION: April 18-21, Wiesbaden, Spring bazaar, free; April 26-28, Amsterdam, $739 adults, $699 children ages 3-11, $539 children ages 2 and under; Through April 27, U.S. Forces German hunting course, $269; DSN 337-5760 or CIV 06117-055760; email usarmy.wiesbaden.imcom-europe.list.mwr-outdoor-recreation@mail.mil.

USO ROME: Daily: 8 a.m., Rome, 36 euros adults, 28 euros ages 2-8; 9:30 a.m., Borghese Gallery, 45 euros adults, 35 euros children; 3 p.m. daily, Love and Death in Rome: 2,700 Years of Scandals, 40 euros adults, 33 euros ages 5-17; daily: 10 a.m., Vatican museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, 65 euros adults, 46 euros ages 5-17; 9:30 a.m. daily, ancient city (Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill), 60 euros adults, 45 euros children ages 5-17; 7 p.m. daily, Rome at Twilight, 29 euros adults, 23 euros ages 5-17; 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily, Underground Rome, 46 euros adults, 38 euros ages 5-17; 2 p.m. daily, catacombs, 45 euros; Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Arts and History Elite Walking Tour, 35 euros adults, 28 euros ages 2-12; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Rome by Night with dinner and music, 75 euros adults, 60 euros ages 2-12; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, Jewish Ghetto, Tiberina Island and Trastevere, 35 euros adults, 28 euros ages 2-12; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Baroque Rome and Caravaggio, 35 euros adults, 28 euros ages 2-12; Mondays, Florence (semi-private walking tour), 52 euros adults, 39 euros ages 5-17; call CIV 06-397-27419 or visit www.rome.uso.it .

The Netherlands

SCHINNEN: (+31) (0) 46-443-7561 or DSN 360-7561 or email [email protected].

ROTA OUTDOOR RECREATION: April 20, canyon descending; April 27, rock climbing; May 18, canyon descending; May 24, Almunecar, multi-adventure trip; June 1, Los Alcornocales, hiking Garganta del Capitin; June 8, canyon descending. DSN 727-3101 or CIV 095682-3101/3208.

ROTA ITT: April 20, Sevilla, spring fair, $35; April 27, Essence and Flavor of Tuna in Barbate, $110; May 4, Marbella and Puerto Banus, $35; May 11, Los Patios in Cordoba, $40; May 18, Sevilla historical tour, $70 adults, $55 children ages 2-14; May 25, Ronda, $35.Tickets and Travel. DSN 727-3101/3208 or CIV 095682-3101/3208.

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