Panoramic Portugal

Exciting Jewish Heritage Panoramic Portugal October 30 – November 8, 2011 Visit one of the most beautiful, but overlooked, countries in Europe. Trace the footsteps of the last leader of Spanish Jewry, the Portugese-born Tzaddik, R’ Don Isaac Abravanel, who spent his most of his life here (1437-1483) before fleeing to Spain. Visit one of the oldest synagogues in the world (mid-15th Century) and view Jewish tombstones from the 6th Century BCE. Discover that the first book ever printed in Portugal was a Jewish Bible. Re-trace the footsteps of the approximately 150,000 Jews who found temporary refuge in Portugal after the Expulsion of 1492 until the Portugal Expulsion in 1497.

Despite its small size — 225 km (140 miles) wide and 612 km (380 miles) long — Portugal is one of the most rewarding travel destinations in Europe. Exploring its towns, cities, villages, and countryside will likely take longer than expected because there is so much richness and extraordinary variety along the way. It offers sandy beaches, art treasures, flavorful cuisine, a unique form of architecture (Manueline), charming handcrafts, a very mild climate, especially in October, and an amazing people, whose warmth is legendary.

Portugal is a majestic land, where you will see almond trees in the African-looking Algarve; cork forests and fields of golden wheat in Alentejo; ranches in Ribatejo; narrow, winding streets in the Alfama in Lisbon; ox-drawn carts crossing the plains of Minho; and vineyards in the Douro. Azaleas, rhododendrons, and canna grow for miles on end; the sound of fado music drifting out of small cafés; windmills clack in the Atlantic breezes; sardine boats bob in the bays; and gleaming whitewashed houses glisten in the sun
Exciting Jewish Heritage Panoramic Portugal

October 30 – November 8, 2011
Visit one of the most beautiful, but overlooked, countries in Europe!

Trace the footsteps of the last leader of Spanish Jewry, the Portugese-born Tzaddik, R’ Don Isaac Abravanel, who spent his most of his life here (1437-1483) before fleeing to Spain.

Visit one of the oldest synagogues in the world (mid-15th Century) and view Jewish tombstones from the 6th Century BCE. Discover that the first book ever printed in Portugal was a Jewish Bible.

Re-trace the footsteps of the approximately 150,000 Jews who found temporary refuge in Portugal after the Expulsion of 1492 until the Portugal Expulsion in 1497.

Despite its small size — 225 km (140 miles) wide and 612 km (380 miles) long — Portugal is one of the most rewarding travel destinations in Europe. Exploring its towns, cities, villages, and countryside will likely take longer than expected because there is so much richness and extraordinary variety along the way. It offers sandy beaches, art treasures, flavorful cuisine, a unique form of architecture (Manueline), charming handcrafts, a very mild climate, especially in October, and an amazing people, whose warmth is legendary.

Portugal is a majestic land, where you will see almond trees in the African-looking Algarve; cork forests and fields of golden wheat in Alentejo; ranches in Ribatejo; narrow, winding streets in the Alfama in Lisbon; ox-drawn carts crossing the plains of Minho; and vineyards in the Douro. Azaleas, rhododendrons, and canna grow for miles on end; the sound of fado music drifting out of small cafés; windmills clack in the Atlantic breezes; sardine boats bob in the bays; and gleaming whitewashed houses glisten in the sun