We begin our exploration of Jewish Portugal by traveling inland to two of its most historic towns.

Belmonte: This hilltop village of fewer than 7,000 people has an extraordinary story. Here, a Jewish community managed to survive the Inquisition by practicing its faith in secret for centuries. Until the 1990s, Belmonte’s Jews maintained absolute privacy, whispering their prayers behind closed doors and keeping traditions alive in hidden spaces. Today, they proudly live openly as Jews, warmly welcomed back into the fabric of Portugal. Walking through the Jewish Quarter, we will see preserved stone houses and visit the synagogue and the Museum of Portuguese Jewish History — located in a re-purposed 18th-century Catholic schoolhouse — where members of the community share their story.

Trancoso: Perched high above the landscape, Trancoso was once a thriving medieval hub, with a Jewish population so large it eventually extended beyond the official boundaries of the Judaria. Even today, Hebrew inscriptions, stars of David, and mezuzah slots can be found throughout the town. We will visit the Isaac Cardoso Interpretation Centre for Jewish Culture, named after a 17th-century physician and philosopher from Trancoso who fled persecution and found refuge in Italy. The center is both a museum and a memorial, with exhibitions, a synagogue, and the names of more than 500 Inquisition prisoners. In 2013, it received a Sefer Torah — a symbolic return 500 years after the expulsion, a testament to the endurance of memory.

The morning is dedicated to discovering Porto, one of Europe’s most enchanting cities. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Porto combines history, architecture, and atmosphere in a way few cities can. We will walk through its narrow streets from the Sé Cathedral, where the first synagogue once stood, to the Monte dos Olivais, site of the historic Jewish Quarter. Along the way, we encounter plaques, cemeteries, and recently uncovered remnants of synagogues that shed light on the city’s Jewish past.

In the afternoon, we travel to Bragança, where we explore the town before preparing for the centerpiece of our journey — the full solar eclipse. Positioned in one of the most favorable viewing locations on Earth, we will watch as daylight fades and the sun is entirely covered, an awe-inspiring phenomenon that will be remembered for a lifetime.

We turn south to Coimbra, home to Portugal’s oldest university and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the “Oxford or Cambridge of Portugal,” Coimbra blends academic grandeur with charm. Its Jewish community once played an essential role in scholarship and trade, enjoying royal protections before facing the full force of the Inquisition.

As we walk its winding, Arab-influenced streets and explore the old university, we trace how Jewish professors and thinkers contributed to Portugal’s cultural flowering and the Enlightenment. The city’s layers — Roman, medieval, academic, and Jewish — make Coimbra a microcosm of Portugal’s story.

A day of options allows participants to tailor their experience:

Adventure: Hike the dramatic Paiva Walkways through waterfalls, quartz outcrops, and wildlife, and cross the 516-foot suspension bridge before kayaking the UNESCO Douro River Valley.

Cultural: Travel to Aveiro, the “Venice of Portugal,” with its bright moliceiro boats gliding along canals, Roman origins, and coastal charm.

Scenic: Enjoy a full-day river cruise along the Douro, past vineyards, terraced hillsides, and villages that seem frozen in time.

Evening: Shabbat begins with optional Maariv services at Porto’s synagogue, followed by a community dinner.

Morning: Optional Shacharit services and Kiddush lunch.

Afternoon: A relaxed guided walking tour of Porto.

Evening: Experience Fado, Portugal’s soulful traditional music, in an intimate performance.

Our final day of touring takes us to two remarkable UNESCO sites:

Braga: Known as the “Rome of Portugal,” Braga is rich with baroque churches, elaborate gardens, and sweeping views from the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte.

Guimarães: Considered the birthplace of the nation, this well-preserved medieval town was the first capital of Portugal and the home of its first king. Walking its squares and castle-lined streets feels like stepping directly into the 12th century.

Bid farewell to Portugal with memories of history, community, and the skies themselves.