Porto (Oporto) is one of Portugal’s most ancient and beautiful cities and is a modern UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nestled on the sunny Atlantic coast, Porto is world famous as the center of the port wine trade and also has a deep Jewish history. The old Jewish quarter – the Judiaria do Olival – offers a fascinating glimpse of medieval Jewish life in Portugal, while the Art Deco style Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue symbolizes the modern-day revival of Porto’s resilient Jewish community.
As well as exploring centuries of Jewish heritage in Porto with expert private guides, Gil Travel provides a unique luxury travel experience that includes private wine tasting events in Porto’s world-renowned port wine cellars. There are also opportunities to sample the very best of Portuguese-Jewish cuisine. A trip to Porto is a wonderful cultural adventure that combines an exploration of Sephardic Jewish history with a chance to meet the city’s modern Jewish community.
The History of Porto’s Jewish Community
The city of Porto was originally a Celtic settlement, and may even have been an early Phonecian trading post. During the Roman Empire, it was known as Portus Cale and became an important commercial port. Although there is little in the way of documentary evidence, it seems likely that there were Jewish merchants and traders in Portus Cale around 2,000 years ago.
The Jewish community in Porto really began to develop in the Middle Ages. Portugal was relatively tolerant towards Jews – at least by the standards of the time – and the community in Porto thrived. It had its own synagogue and Jews made a mark in various professions, including commerce, medicine, and as artisans. As an Atlantic port and shipbuilding center, Porto played an important role in Portuguese seafaring and exploration. Jewish mariners contributed to the discovery of the New World.
On 5 December 1496, life changed forever for Portugal’s Jews. Under the influence of Spain’s Inquisition, King Manuel signed an order forcing Jews to choose between conversion to Christianity or expulsion from Portugal. The Inquisition reached Porto and the authorities established an inquisitorial court. The city’s Jews (and Conversos) faced persecution and execution during the 16th century.
The ravages of the Inquisition and the expulsion of Jews basically closed Porto to Jews until the 19th century. From the 1820s, the community gradually began to revive, growing both in numbers and in confidence. The community launched an initiative to build a new synagogue in 1923. The Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue was completed in 1938 and is now the largest synagogue in the entire Iberian Peninsula.
The Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue is named after the Iraqi Jewish Kadoorie family who helped to finance the construction. They traced their origins to Sephardi Jewish refugees who fled Portugal and wanted to contribute to the renewal of Jewish life in Porto. The synagogue is a focal point of guided Jewish tours of Porto. Its distinctive white facade is particularly beautiful when it is illuminated at night, and the interior of the synagogue is exquisitely decorated. The synagogue also contains the Kadoorie Library.
Attend Exclusive Wine Tasting Events in Porto
Portugal is famous for its port wine (vinho do Porto). The sweet fortified wine originates in the Douro Valley whose unique microclimate is ideal for grape cultivation. Porto, at the mouth of the Douro River, was the commercial center for the export of port wine as far back as the 17th century. Barrels of port used to be transported down the river in flat-bottomed boats and stored in vast wine cellars. Today, port wine exports are declining, but are still worth in the region of $350 million annually.
One of the highlights of guided tours of Porto is the opportunity to visit historic wine cellars and taste the finest vintage ports. If you’re a wine buff, a private guided tour can be tailored to really delve into the centuries-old history and traditions of the local wine industry. A private tour can also include excursions to vineyards on the hilly slopes of the Douro Valley.
If you’re new to port, you’ll have a chance to taste a variety of ruby, tawny, and vintage wines, with detailed explanations about the subtleties of taste and aroma and the individual grapes that give the wine its famous flavors. Portugal’s ancient wine-making traditions offer a direct link to the past and there’s no doubt that locally produced wines were part of medieval Jewish heritage in Porto.
Your tour can also provide some fascinating insights into the historical role of Jewish merchants and traders in Portugal’s wine industry, and commerce as a whole, prior to the Inquisition and expulsions. A private wine tasting in Porto would not be complete without a choice of gourmet foods, particularly local cheeses and olives. Gil Travel will ensure that there is a special selection of kosher delicacies to accompany your wines.
Exploring Porto’s Jewish Quarters
Most American Jews probably aren’t familiar with Porto in any way, which is a pity because it is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. The old center is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it’s a real pleasure to explore the winding streets and squares with an English speaking guide. The old Jewish quarter in Porto is the Judiaria do Olival. The advantage of discovering Jewish heritage in Porto with a private tour is that your expert guide will point out each district’s hidden jewels.
Following the 16th century expulsions, synagogues and other Jewish buildings were taken over and repurposed. As you explore places like Rua Santa Ana, your guide will point out places with historical Jewish connections and give detailed explanations of their history. As you see hidden symbols embedded in the local architecture, and hear the stories connected to individual streets, the medieval Judiaria do Olival will begin to come to life. As the tour progresses, you’ll catch tantalizing glimpses of a vibrant and bustling Jewish neighborhood from centuries ago.
Gourmet Kosher Dining in Porto
Food and gourmet kosher dining is one of the great pleasures associated with traveling. Gil Travel (in coordination with the local rabinut) will provide you with up to date recommendations for kosher dining in the city. Jewish tours of Porto can be tailored to meet your individual dietary requirements and to introduce you to the delights of kosher Portuguese cuisine.
Jewish-Portuguese cuisine is an appetizing mixture of traditional Sephardic cooking that has been influenced over the centuries by Iberian and Mediterranean styles and even influences from Portugal’s overseas colonies. There is also a preference for seafood, which is hardly surprising given Portugal’s long Atlantic coastline and once mighty fishing fleet.
A local specialty is bacalhau or salted cod which was once popular with Portuguese Jews. Bacalhau was inexpensive and easy to store and made for a nourishing Shabat or holiday dinner, particularly if kosher meat was unavailable. If you’re lucky enough to visit Porto during Passover you’ll be able to try the local charoset. The addition of locally produced nuts, fruit, honey and wines give it a special distinctive flavor.
Most traditional Portuguese-Jewish foods are hearty and nourishing dishes made from recipes that turn basic foodstuffs into tasty meals that can feed an entire family. You’ll be able to sample kosher feijão (spicy bean dishes) and traditional cozido (meat and vegetable stews). Kosher empanadas, stuffed with a variety of savory fillings, are also very popular. If you have a sweet tooth you’ll love Jewish-style sponge cakes, marzipan, and sweet rice pudding.
Plan Your Luxury Jewish Tour of Porto
Porto is one of the least known – and most interesting – destinations for Americans who want to explore the Jewish history of Portugal. Gil Travel will recommend a range of options for luxury accommodation in the city that ranges from high-end boutique hotels to converted luxury mansions. It is also possible to arrange kosher accommodation and kosher dining (and wine tasting in Porto’s famous cellars)
Private guided tours of Porto are tailored to match your personal interests and are not limited to the city itself. Gil Travel has excellent local contacts and can arrange for exclusive trips to Douro Valley vineyards, or private boat hire for fishing expeditions, watersports, or just to explore the beautiful Atlantic coastline with an experienced local skipper. Porto is a wonderful city to explore at your leisure and enjoy the excellent food, wine, sunshine, and friendly people.
The Jewish history of Portugal is a story of early successes during the prosperous and surprisingly tolerant Middle Ages, cruel persecution and arbitrary expulsion during the Inquisition, and finally revival, resilience, and acceptance during the last two centuries. Gil Travel has decades of experience creating luxury Jewish heritage tours of this warm and welcoming country. Talk to us today about guided tours of Porto that are built around a tailored personal itinerary. Whether you’re a Jewish history buff, a wine and food enthusiast, or your goal is to explore your own family history in Portugal, Gil Travel will create the trip of a lifetime!
