Barcelona: Jewish Cuisine & Culture Walking Tour

Before the Inquisition forced many of Spain’s Jewish population to flee or convert, many Spanish cities housed truly thriving Jewish communities,  some of whose citizens were among the most notable philosophers and scholars of the era. Additionally, in the early Middle Ages, many Spanish cities of great culture, learning and knowledge were home to Christian, Jewish and Muslim populations that all coexisted quite peacefully. Hence, a key to discovering Spain’s fascinating past – particularly its medieval one – is understanding the remarkable (and rather unique) co-existence between the three religious groups. 

From the 12th century Jewish bath house of Besalu (only 2 of its kind in Europe) to the dramatic Jewish heritage in Girona, this one day Jewish Cuisine and Culture Tour will provide a rich and comprehensive backdrop to Catalunya’s heartbreaking and inspiring past. For 1,300 years, the Jewish communities formed an active part of the history of the Iberian peninsula. The expulsion of the Hispanic Jews -the Sephardic diaspora- would become the most tragic episode in the peninsula’s medieval history. Forced to sell off their property and belongings, they ended up spread around several Mediterranean and Atlantic ports and would, with a lot of effort, refound communities that, in some cases, would manage to maintain their original language. The Jewish diaspora became a wide-reaching phenomenon and a good part of the Israelite nation would end up spread around the great coastal cities of the Roman Mediterranean. The archaeological evidence confirms that Tàrraco (Tarragona), Emporion (Empúries) and Dertosa (Tortosa) all had large Israelite communities. By the end of the tour, you’ll not only have a deeper understanding of Catalunya’s Jewish history, culture and cuisine after visiting both Besalu and Girona, but you’ll have an insatiable desire to explore the rest of the peninsula’s vast Jewish diaspora. 

Highlights

• Meander through the windy cobblestone alleys while learning about Girona’s and Besalu’s rich Jewish history
• Savor regional foods and wines
• Discover Catalunya’s Jewish culture and history with your local English speaking guide