Algarve, Portugal
The Algarve is the southermost region of mainland Portugal. Maritime
discoveries in this region in the 15th century attracted
many Jewish merchants. Today,
visitors from all over the world are drawn
to the Algarve by the reputation of its white
sandy beaches and golden cliffs.
- Lagos
- Faro
- Other Places of Interest
Lagos
This city was one of the
main points of departure for the fleets of
Portuguese ships setting sail for the African
coast. Lagos therefore attracted so many Jewish
merchants that they could not all fit into
the quarter originally set aside for them
and asked Prince Henry the Navigator for permission
to settle in Christian areas, a privilege
which was granted to them and later ratified
in the reign of Afonso V (1438-1481). However,
the conflicts that arose between the Jewish
and Christian populations led to boundaries
being set for a "new Jewish quarter"
in 1481, in the reign of Dom Joao II. Although
the earthquake of 1755 destroyed part of the
city and removed all traces of the Jewish
presence there, the historical centre and
the waterfront of the fishing port are areas
that still evoke memories of the Jewish community
in Lagos during the period of the Discoveries.
Here, between Praca da Republica Rua do Castelo
dos Governadores and Rua H. Correia e Silva
are several churches whose interesting architectural
styles make them well worth a visit. Also
worthy of the visitor's attention are the
remains of the city's Manueline and Mannerist
walls 16th century The fortress of Pau da
Bandeira also offers a most beautiful view
over the harbor. Roughly 30 km to the west
of Lagos is the promontory of Sagres, an emblematic
place of great historical importance, which
finally comes to an end further to the west
at the Cape of St. Vincent. The headland "enters"
the waters of the Atlantic in such a way that
the Ancients used to call it the end of the
world and the Romans gave it the name of "Promontorium
Sacrum."
Faro
The capital of the Algarve,
mediaeval Faro had a Jewish quarter that was
noted for being the site of' the first real
experience with printing in Portugal, with
the publication of the Pentateuch in Hebrew
by Samuel Gacon in 1487. After the order was
given for the expulsion of the Jews in 1496,
the decline in the Jewish quarter and the
consequent dispersal of its inhabitants were
not reversed until the 19th century, when
a prosperous community of Jews from Gibraltar
and Morocco settled in Rua de Santo Antonio
making a great contribution to the growth
of local trade. Around 1830, this community
took the initiative of building two synagogues
and a cemetery, which later, with the almost
complete disappearance of the Jewish population,
was to fall into ruins. Through the combined
efforts of several Portuguese and foreign
organizations this cemetery, situated between
Rua Leao Beneto and Estrada da Penah was restored
in 1993 and is worth a visit. Closer to the
historical center was the Synagogue of Rua
Castillo. Some signs of the prosperity of
the Jewish community of the 19th century are
still visible, as for example Abrado Amram's
residence at the palace in Rua Filipe Alisto,
which is now the Comigo Algarve Praca Dom
Francisco by the waterfront is a good starting
point for a walking tour of the historical
centre, still surrounded by parts of its mediaeval
wall, after first passing by the Igreja da
Misericordia with its Manueline porch and
the Arco da Vila, which leads to the Largo
da Se. Here the visitor can appreciate the
impressive architecture of the cathedral,
which is RomanesqueGothic in origin with later
additions in the Mannerist and Baroque styles
in Praca Afonso III, the Archaeological Museum
contains collections that date from prehistoric
times until the 13th century as well as azulejos
ceramics, furniture and painting from the
17th to 20th centuries For those interested
in the traditions of everyday life, the Regional
Ethnographic Museum and the Ramalho Ortigdo
Maritime Museum are interesting places to
visit.
Other
places of interest
It is known that in the penultimate
decade of the 15th century in addition to
Lagos and Faro, there were Jewish quarters
in Alcoutim, Alvor, Loule Portimao Silves
Castro Marim and Tavira (there being a particularly
important community in this latter town).
Albufeira, Almansil (with its most beautiful
Igreja de Sao Lourenco a Baroque masterpiece)
and the spa of Monchique are also interesting
places to visit.
Sources: Journey to Jewish Portugal courtesy
of the Portuguese
National Tourist Office |