Arrival in Madrid. Continue to Segovia for overnight
After visiting two masterful secular
works in Segovia, the Alcazar and the Aqueduct, we will enter into the religious
realm of the city. The present day cathedral, which dates from the 16th century,
stands on land left unoccupied after the expulsion of the Jews. Beneath the shelter
of the cathedral we can still note the urban presence of the Jews: documents indicating
the location of the butcher shop and at least one of the five synagogues -notably
the present day conventual church of Corpus Christi-, and the cemetery. Avila,
besides its Romanesque legacy noted in the walls, churches and cathedral, underscores
the difficulties faced by converted Jews. The legend of Saint Vincent tells of
one case during the Roman Age; the Jewish ancestry of Saint Teresa brings it up
again in the 15th century, as does the work of Thomas of Torquemada, founder of
the Saint Thomas convent. Travel to Salamanca for overnight
While Salamanca could never boast
a prominent Jewish community, we will attempt to trace its culture by focusing
on the city's ancient university. Additionally we will visit the two cathedrals,
the House of Shells and the Main Square. Upon arriving in Hervas, we find ourselves
in the region of Extremadura, an important Jewish refuge during the 15th century
because of its religious tolerance at the time. Hervas, situated on the Silver
Route, maintains an important Jewish quarter. We will travel to Caceres for overnight
The Jewish quarter of Caceres boasted a long history,
had the necessary institutions to be considered an authentic aljama, and was one
of the five largest Jewish communities of the kingdom of Castile. The quarter
was settled in two neighborhoods, the Old and the New, and as usual, the old synagogue
was transformed into a place of Christian worship, the chapel of San Antonio.
Between both quarters, we will take a walk through the palaces of the historical
district. After a brief stay in Roman Merida, which according to Hebrew literature
was home to the first Jewish settlement in the 1st century, we will continue our
journey towards Andalusia. Overnight in Seville
It was in Andalusia where the Hebrew culture and
the Muslim World came together on the Iberian Peninsula. The old Jewish quarter
of Seville is known today as the Barrio de Santa Cruz. It is located close to
the mosque, rebuilt as a Gothic Cathedral, the Giralda bell tower, the Courtyard
of the Orange Trees, and the Royal Palaces built in the Mudejar style. Later in
the afternoon we will roam the neighborhoods of Granada visiting the Albaicin
and Bib-Rambla districts, the Renaissance cathedral, the Royal Chapel, and the
tomb of the Catholic Kings, the monarchs who in their zeal to achieve religious
unity, completely ended the coexistence of the three prominent religions on Spanish
territory. Overnight in Granada
In the morning we will visit the Alhambra,
an exquisite complex and palace of the last Arab kings to inhabit the peninsula.
On the way to Cordoba, we will stop by Lucena, the self-proclaimed "Sephardic
Pearl" where in the 12th century a theocratic Jewish republic was formed along
with a very important Talmudic School. The only remnants left today are the alleys
in the Jewish quarter, the imposing Moral castle, and the Baroque church of San
Mateo. Cordoba is the third of the Arab capitals of Al-Andalus, having been the
capital city during the zenith of Arab rule. The great mosque is from this period
and has been well preserved despite, or perhaps because of, its conversion to
a Christian church. Close by, the welcoming Jewish quarter maintains the only
synagogue in Andalusia, which was saved in the 19th century when later additions
were eliminated. Among other notable Jewish districts, Cordoba stands out for
being the home of the Rabbi Maimonides. Overnight in Cordoba
The end of our tour will bring us to
Toledo which is the Spanish city that best summarizes the heritage of the three
monotheistic religions: from the encounters between the Visigoths and the Jews,
to the still existent famed School of Translation. There is also the Christian
legacy represented by the Cathedral and San Juan de los Reyes, a small, ancient
Mosque, and two Synagogues, Santa Maria la Blanca and El Transito, the latter
being the most important synagogue of the entire country featuring an interesting
Museum of Hebrew culture. Overnight in Toledo
Transfer to the Madrid Airport |
