Castelo Branco Jews

Known since 1214, the Castelo Branco Jewish community, associated with commercial and craft traditions, quickly developed.

Jews were one of the most important communities in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. This tour will lead you to the most remarkable places of the Jewish heritage, such as: Belmonte, Trancoso, Guarda, Coimbra and Tomar.

When Jews were expelled or forced to convert, the city became a refuge to a large community of New Christians. Iberian Jews were called Sephardic –this designation came from Sefarad, the Hebrew name for Iberian Peninsula – and settled in Portugal prior to the rise of the Roman Empire, living a period of great economic and social growth during the Muslim era. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Sons of Zion who lived within the Portuguese kingdom engaged in manual and financial activities and were recognized as cultured men. The Kings of the First Dynasty integrated members of the Jewish population into their courts as senior officials and they would often borrow money from the Jewish community.

Apart from cities which still keep the memory from old Jewries alive, like Guarda, Castelo Branco and Covilhã, there are many other border towns which preserve traces from crypto-Judaic groups. Trancoso, Penamacor and especially Belmonte are towns where Judaism has survived for the last 500 years thanks to the secrecy with which their religion was kept alive.

The land of Amato Lusitano, a distinguished Jewish doctor, still keeps the memory of this Hebrew community alive in the stones of its 15th century houses. The city has its own route so that visitors can stroll through the streets of the old town, recreating what might have been the limits of the old Jewry. You will find traces of Sephardic Jews who lived in the city in the doors of houses at d’Ega and Nova streets.

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