Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Castelo de Vide
Sights
1
Castelo
B1
C2
A1
B2
(see 4)
Sleeping
C3
A2
D3
D4
Eating
C3
10
O Alentejano
D3
11
O Miguel
C3
Sights
Old Town & Judiaria
By the castle is a small
judiaria
- the former Jewish district. A sizeable community of
Jews settled here in the 12th century, then larger waves came in the early 15th century
after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. At first they didn't have an exclusive district,
but Dom Pedro I restricted them to specific quarters. The highlight of this area is the
syn-
Reopened in 2009 after being converted into a museum, the site comprises the original
synagogue - two rooms (one for women and one for men), a wooden tabernacle and Holy
Ark for Torah scrolls. The remaining rooms (part of the original village home from which
the synagogue was originally converted) house a superb collection of items illustrating the
history of the Jewish communities of Castelo de Vide. Following Manuel I's convert-or-
leave edict in 1496, many Jews returned to Spain, though some headed to Évora.
HISTORIC SITE