A Heritage In Salamanca

Nov 26, 2019 | Blog

When it comes to Jewish heritage tours, Kosher River Cruises always aims to provide the best experience for our guests, from embarking on tours through locales of Jewish legacy, to providing delicious kosher cuisine aboard our riverboats.

On our 2020 river cruise along the Douro River, we will explore the heritage of the Sephardic Jews in the Iberian Peninsula. While the majority of our travel destinations for this cruise are situated in Portugal, one of our destinations will be in Spain, the university city of Salamanca.

Douro River Cruise

A University in Antiquity

As the site of one of the three oldest universities in Europe, Salamanca saw plenty of students, scholars and tourists visiting it during its heyday. As part of the “triangular culture” of the Iberian peninsula (consisting of Jews, Christians and Muslims), Jews of Spain also visited this university city, where it was a center of Hebrew learning. Abraham Zacuto, the famed Jewish astronomer and mathematician, was born in Salamanca, taught astronomy at the university.

Jews of Salamanca

Prior to the 1492 expulsion of Jews across Spain, the Jewish population of Salamanca received relatively better treatment than their fellows in other places. When King Ferdinand II of Leon warred with the King of Castille in the 11th century, the Jews of Salamanca assisted the former, and in gratitude, they were granted equal judicial rights with the Christians. From this fruitful engagement, the Jews of Salamanca were allowed to prosper, and despite the varying taxes that they had to pay, the Jewish quarter of Salamanca was unique in how it was not as confining as other Jewish quarters: Some Jews lived outside it, and some non-Jews lived within.

Salamanca Today

In the present day, Salamanca remains an active university city, catering to students, scholars and tourists from all over the world. Besides the University, other tourist destinations include the Plaza Mayor and the Casa de las Conchas. The Jewish Quarter of Salamanca is here as well, preserved in spite of the ravages of time, a legacy of Jews in Spain.

On our next Douro River cruise, we will visit this historic university town, along with other locales of Jewish heritage in the Iberian Peninsula. Cruise with us in 2020, on fulfilling kosher vacations around the world.

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We could not believe what we were served. Chef Malcom is a GENIUS!!! Please tell the directors that we do not have words to express how pleased we were. I suppose that we will be recommending you to every friend we know.

Jose T, Miami FL

Rhone River Cruise 2019

Fabulous & flawless service

I have been totally spoiled for future vacations. Riverboat is the way to go. I’ve met such nice people, staff was great, food fantastic. A really well run and well thought out trip

Harriet S

Another successful experience

Our experience was unique in that we were able to tour a lot of territory and a variety of places with minimal inconvenience. The fact that our boat was always with us and there were no long bus rides or waits made this mode of travel extremely enjoyable.

Micheol R