Keshet
Th e C en ter for Edu c at ion al T our ism in I sr ae l
‫מרכז קשת לתיירות חינוכית בע"מ‬
Jewish Heritage Journey to Spain
May 6 – 12, 2015
Wednesday, May 6
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To Spain
Fly to Barcelona
Tour the Call (from the Hebrew word meaning "community") of the Juderia, the Jewish
Quarter, from where the Jews were expelled in 1492, including Spain’s oldest synagogue,
Sinagoga Mayor Barcelona
Bus and walking tour of general highlights of Barcelona, including Casa Btlló, La Sagrada
Familia Cathedral designed by eccentric architect Antoni Gaudi, Las Ramblas and Park
Guell
Transfer to hotel
Optional tour of Museu Picasso, a museum dedicated to the history of Picasso's work, with
hundreds of his pieces on display
Overnight: Meridian Hotel, Barcelona
Thursday, May 7
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Girona
Travel to Girona, center of Kabala and Jewish mysticism, one of the most beautiful cities in
Spain, with a rich heritage that allows us to immerse in Catalonia’s ancient and medieval
history.
Tour Girona by bus and on foot, including the enchanting Medieval streets of the Call with
the Catalan Jewish Museum, the Catedral with its single turret and the Arab Baths
Continue to the charming Medieval town of Besalu, a beautifully preserved town in northern
Catalonia, to view its bridge and the second oldest Mikveh (Jewish ritual bath) in Europe,
from the Eleventh Century.
Return to Barcelona
Visit Monjuic (Jew Mountain) and its Magic Fountain, a spectacular display of colour, light,
motion, music and water acrobatics
Overnight: Meridian Hotel, Barcelona
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Friday, May 8
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Madrid
Travel by high speed train to Madrid
Transfer to hotel
Free time for individual exploration of Madrid
Shabbat dinner and meeting with local Jewish community representatives
Overnight: Luchana Hotel, Madrid
Saturday, May 9
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Shabbat in Madrid
Explore the Prado Museum, one of the great museums of the world, founded by Charles V
in the late Eighteenth Century.
Tour of Madrid’s main cultural and architectural monuments, including the Parque del
Buen Retiro, La Puerta de Alcala, El Parque Del Buen Retiro, Plaza de Cibeles, El Museo
Reina Sofia y el Thyseen-Bornemisza and more.
Visit the Plaza de España, including the Monument to Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don
Quixote
Flamenco Dinner Show
Overnight: Luchana Hotel, Madrid
Sunday, May 10
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Toledo
Travel by bus to Toledo, at one time considered the "Jerusalem" of the West. During the
reign of King Alfonso Toledo X "The Wise", there was a remarkable Jewish scientific and
artistic activity here.
View the city from the Tagus River, a view inspired by the famous El Greco painting
Visit the majestic Alcazar Fortress. Sitting at the highest point in the city, this site
commanded control of the city from Roman times through modern times, when it played a
central role in the Spanish Civil War.
Continue to two synagogues which were converted to churches after the expulsion of
Spanish Jewry: El Transito Church (Abulafia Synagogue), including the Sephardic Museum
and Santa Maria La Blanca Church (the Grand Synagogue)
Train to Cordoba
Check in to hotel
Overnight: Casas de La Juderia, Cordoba
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Monday, May 11
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Grenada
After breakfast travel to Grenada by bus
Tour the Alhambra and the Generalife. Built by the emirs of late Moorish Spain and
romanticized by Washington Irving in his epic poem Tales of the Alhambra, this
extraordinarily beautiful series of buildings fell to the Christian rulers in the Reconquista. In
1492 two history-changing documents were signed in the throne room: the Alhambra
Decree, otherwise known as the edict of Expulsion of Spanish Jewry and, a few months later,
the decision to grant a charter to Christopher Columbus to search for a western route to
India
Visit Taracean artisans working in traditional regional woodcrafts
Return to Cordoba
Overnight: Casas de La Juderia, Cordoba
Tuesday, May 12
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Cordoba. A Dios!
Visit the Mezquita and the Cathedral of Cordoba, which in the 9th and 10th Centuries was
the Great Mosque of Cordoba, the largest mosque in the world.
View the Roman Bridge
Wander the streets of this Roman and Medieval town, a UNESCO World Heritage site,
viewing the Yehuda Halevy Plaza, Casa de Sefarad – including a Ladino music concert,
Monument to Moses Maimonides and the Maimonides Synagogue
Transfer by train to the Madrid Barajas International Airport for international flights
 Listed activities and speakers are subject to confirmation
Including
a :Ladino
 Program
will be staffed by a Keshet Israel Tour Educator, Hostess and local Tour guide
 Three meals per day are included in the package price
 This itinerary is proprietary to Keshet and is intended for the promotion of and to inform
those considering joining this Keshet trip. It is not to be transmitted to any other party
without prior authorization from Keshet
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