Jewish Heritage: Spain

Explore Spain's fascinating Jewish heritage on this luxury private tour along the Sephardic Way. Spain was once home to one of the world’s largest and most prosperous Jewish communities under Muslim and Christian rule. Today, a few thousand Jews live in Spain, but Sephardic Jews—the descendants of expelled Spanish and Portuguese Jews—still make up a fifth of the global Jewish population. This wonderful, and quite comprehensive, introduction to Spain also includes cultural touring through UNESCO World Heritage sites and some of Spain’s greatest cities—all with expert guides and luxury accommodations.

Begin in Madrid, the Spanish capital known for its elegant squares, stately Habsburg architecture, leafy boulevards and superb museums. With your expert private guide, explore the highlights of the city. See world-renowned museums such as the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia, CaixaForum, and/or the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Tour the majestic Royal Palace. Stroll through the exclusive shopping and residential districts. Also visit historic squares and lively markets, including the gourmet San Miguel Market. One evening, enjoy a private “tapas tasting” tour of some of some of Madrid’s most beloved tapas bars.

One day, enjoy a private excursion to Toledo. Known as the city of three cultures, Toledo once flourished as a unique center where Jews, Muslims and Christians lived in harmony. Accordingly, this mix of cultures is reflected in the city’s architecture, beautifully displayed in its ancient churches, mosques, and synagogues embellished with the floral motifs, coffered ceilings and horseshoe arches of the Mudejar style. Toledo was also home to the painter known as El Greco, and many of his paintings still remain here—including his masterpiece, The Burial of Count Orgaz.

Next, travel by high-speed AVE train to Cordoba, a capital city under the Romans and the Moors. Cordoba was a major learning center during the Middle Ages and the hometown of Maimonides, the great Jewish rabbi and philosopher. During private touring, explore the highlights of the UNESCO-listed city center, such as the incredible Cathedral-Mosque, the ancient Roman bridge, and the narrow backstreets lined with whitewashed buildings and historic buildings in the old Jewish Quarter.

Continue to Seville, the capital of Andalusia and a city flavored as much by the sounds of flamenco and the smell of orange blossoms as by its 500-year domination by the Moors. Take an insider’s tour of this beautiful city. Explore the charming Santa Cruz neighborhood (the former Jewish Quarter), tour the gardens and mosaic tile-covered rooms of the Reales Alcazares—a spectacular Moorish palace, see the world's largest Gothic cathedral (which contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus), browse specialty boutiques and markets, and other cultural highlights. One evening, you may wish to attend a local flamenco performance or a bullfight at the famed bullring.

Next, enjoy comprehensive private touring in Barcelona, one of Europe's most dynamic cities. Tour narrow lanes and the ancient synagogue in the Call, the former heart of the Jewish community deep inside the Gothic Quarter. Discover Gaudi’s fantastical structures such as Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo or the hillside Parc Guell. Perhaps visit some of the city’s excellent museums, such as the Picasso Museum or Miro Museum. If desired, also explore the city’s shopping districts, stopping at upscale boutiques along the broad Passeig de Gracia and design shops in the stylish Born and Raval neighborhoods. Also visit the city’s leading food markets, including the Santa Caterina Market and La Boqueria Market.One day, take an excursion to Girona, a lovely city that was once home to Spain's largest Jewish population. Visit Girona's Call, the best-preserved Jewish Quarter in Spain, and the Museum of Jewish History, as well as other highlights such as the Arab Baths and Gothic cathedral. Also tour nearby Besalu, a beautiful medieval town with a 12th-century mikvah, one of the oldest in Europe.