We organise a variety of Jewish heritage tours to Spain, allowing you to experience the vibrant culture of this country, and to understand the fascinating history of Jews here. Our Spanish tours guarantee a truly memorable experience and include an exploration of delicious kosher Spanish cuisine.
DISCOVER
SPAIN
Barcelona, known as the country’s “avant-garde capital” includes a beach-front, Gaudi’s architecture, Las Ramblas boulevard, the hilltop fortress of Montjuic, previously the Jewish quarter, and has a cosmopolitan feel. Close to Barcelona is Figueras, where Salvador Dali was born. Its Dali Museum hints at the craziness of his genius. Spain was finally conquered by Emperor Augustus in 19 BCE, 200 years after the Romans first arrived on the Iberian Peninsula. The rhythm of life, where meals are eaten at hours that reflect an ability to enjoy days and nights to the fullest, still includes the daily siesta as a necessity for many. Its people are welcoming and inclusive.
Madrid, the nation’s capital, is home to the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Von Thyssen museums. Bullfighting is still practised in Madrid and the South. Andalusia, in southern Spain, is renowned for its olive groves, laid-back style, and “white villages”. Visits to Granada, Seville and Cordoba are not complete without a flamenco experience, including dance, song and Spanish guitar.
The tiny city of Jerez produces marvellous sherry and houses the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Marbella is the capital of the Golden Mile, home to the rich and famous. Ronda is renowned for its dramatic views of the Serrania de Ronda mountains, and its Puente Nuevo bridge which overlooks the 100-metre chasm of El Tajo Gorge.
SPANISH CUISINE
On our kosher tours to Spain, you will experience a full variety of delicious Spanish cuisine. Andalusia is all about simple pleasures – a glass of wine from Jerez and homemade goat cheese with good pelayo bread and olive oil from the Cordoba region. It’s all about the freshness, quality and diversity of the produce. Many of the dishes go back to Moorish times or earlier as many cultures settled in Andalusia, including Jews, Romans, and Phoenicians, creating an incredibly rich gastronomic heritage.
Tapas originated from Andalusia and they remain one of the region’s most popular foods – you just can’t visit without experiencing these famous mini dishes. Another famous export of Spain is olive oil; in fact, it produces more than any other country and much of it is high quality. The Cantabrian sea, along with the mountains and valleys of the inland area, are the natural larder of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque country. These are the four regions that make up what is known as ‘Green Spain’. Its stoves produce delicious dishes based on traditional recipes but also produce novel, imaginative and avant-garde culinary creations.
When we speak about the cuisine of the north of Spain, we must talk about San Sebastian, which attracts travellers from far and wide. With 15 Michelin stars, San Sebastian’s gastronomy sparkles as brightly as the turquoise sea that lies beside it. Top-quality produce from land and sea are the common denominators in a cuisine whose characteristics vary from area to area, influenced by its history and culture. Come and savour it for yourself!
FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE
It is said that the first Jews arrived in Seville in the sixth century BC, and were from David’s family. They spoke Ladino, a Judeo form of Spanish. The Sephardic Jews suffered persecution from the Visigoths during the sixth century AD, followed by a period of harmony under Moorish rule. In the 13th century, they fled the fundamentalist Almohads to the Christian north of Spain, returning after the Reconquest. Sephardim prospered in banking, medicine, law and commerce, with a far higher literacy rate than other Spanish communities.
Valued for their commercial expertise, the Jews in Spain worked as tax collectors, which led to popular resentment and hatred. The Jewish quarter in Seville was burned, popular animosity whipped up by fierce anti-Jewish rhetoric from a Catholic cleric; its inhabitants sought shelter with Moors in Granada, or were baptised and forced to convert to Christianity.
In 1481, the Spanish Inquisition started, with its headquarters at the Castillo San Jorge in Seville, targeting Jews among other groups. In 1483, all Jews were expelled from the city and in 1492, all of Spain was to be free from those of the Jewish faith who had not converted. Half of the country’s 300,000 Jews left, many for Portugal, while some stayed in hiding. Those who stayed behind eventually became integrated into the Christian population; many Spanish surnames ending in -ez, adopted when they converted, indicate Jewish ancestry.
Most tours are bespoke, suiting your taste and budget. Browse example itineraries and our planned tours.