Jewish Legacy Tour: Girona, Besalú and Castelló d'Empúries from Barcelona

Jewish Legacy Tour: Girona, Besalú and Castelló d'Empúries from Barcelona

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From Barcelona, discover the Jewish legacy in Girona, Besalú and Castelló d'Empúries: historic neighborhoods, museums, rituals and medieval architecture on a cultural route along the Costa Brava.

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Highlights

Tour Girona's Jewish quarter and its historical museum
Discover the unique medieval micvé in Besalú
Explore the Jewish heritage in Castelló d'Empúries

Description

We start our route from Barcelona to delve into the rich Jewish legacy that survives in three of the most captivating destinations on the Costa Brava. Girona, Besalú and Castelló d'Empúries open their doors to discover a valuable testimony of the life of the Jewish communities that flourished in the region during the Middle Ages. Our first stop is Girona, where we will visit one of the most well-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. The old call, formed by narrow cobblestone streets winding between stone houses and silent courtyards, stretches at the foot of the cathedral and was the scene of the splendor of a vibrant community between the 13th and 14th centuries. Walking through this fabric is an immersive experience: the walls convey stories and the atmosphere keeps the medieval essence intact. In this historic environment we will visit the Museum of Jewish History, located in the same place where centuries ago the main synagogue stood. Its exhibition brings us closer to the daily life, customs and role of the Jews in Girona and other towns in Catalonia. We continue our journey to Besalú, a town with a county soul whose most emblematic image is the imposing medieval bridge that stretches over the Fluvià river. This postcard is only the prologue of a monumental complex that invites us to travel through centuries of history. Among its charms, we discover a Jewish quarter that in medieval times was home to an organized and active community. One of the most outstanding findings is the micvé, a subway room used for ritual baths, built in Romanesque style and considered a unique case in the Iberian Peninsula. This legacy, together with the harmony of its medieval architecture, has earned Besalú the declaration as a National Historic-Artistic Site. Here we will take a break for lunch. Although lunch is not included, we will provide you with carefully selected recommendations so you can enjoy the local cuisine in one of the most charming villages in Catalonia. After this gastronomic stop, we take the road to Castelló d'Empúries. This town, located next to natural areas such as the Aiguamolls del Empordà and the Bay of Roses, was home to one of the most important Jewish communities in the region. In its heyday, it was home to nearly three hundred people who left a visible mark on the town planning and historical documentation of the place. Strolling through the old town is to immerse oneself in a labyrinth of streets and squares that once formed the heart of the call. In the Museum of Medieval History of the Curia-Prision we will find a room dedicated exclusively to this legacy, with records that allow us to know the existence of synagogues, cemeteries and the commercial role of the Jews in the life of the town. After a day full of history, culture and medieval architecture, we return to Barcelona.

Includes

Private transportation to and from Barcelona. Specialized guide throughout the tour. Entrance fees to the Museum of Jewish History (Girona), micvé (Besalú) and Museum of Medieval History (Castelló d'Empúries). Free time to explore in each destination.