Secrets of Jewish Majorca - Full Day Experience

Discover the Crypto-Jewish contributions to modern society. The Spanish island of Mallorca was home for hundreds of years to a thriving Jewish community where Jews played a pivotal role in cartography before having to go underground with the rise of the Spanish Inquisition in the 14th and 15th centuries. Many Jews faced forced conversions, becoming Crypto-Jews, who displayed their Catholic face outwardly while adhering to their Jewish faith through secret signs and hidden synagogues in their homes.

1. 1

   Palma de Mallorca

   4 hours

   Begin your experience at the Call Major, home to remnants of ancient synagogues and a statue of the 14th century Jewish cartographer Jafuda Cresques. Walk through the narrow, winding streets with signs of the secret community- centuries-old family owned jewelry shops and ensaimada, a famous Mallorquin pastry. Discover how the Inquisition forced conversions and limited the Catholic descendants of the Jewish Conversos to specific streets to live and work in. See the Gate of the Jews, and the site of the old synagogue. You will also stop at a local bakery and visit the house of a medieval Jewish merchant to learn the secret traditions the Jews created to keep their faith close. Break for lunch and enjoy some local tapas.

2. 2

   Castell de Bellver

   30 min

   Enjoy a photo opportunity of Bellver Castle and take in the stunning view of the bay of Palma below.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   30 min

   Memorial to the German-Jewish refugees hiding in Mallorca during the Spanish Civil War

4. 4

   Stop 4

   30 min

   Memorial to the Crypto-Jewish victims of the Inquisition in Plaza Gomila

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.