Belmonte

Europe went on Daylight Savings Time this day. This was like adding insult to injury as we Americans on the tour had already lost an hour’s sleep when the U.S. changed over in early March. Rui was so nice in starting our day a bit later than usual. It was also raining when we left Viseu, but started clearing up as we approached Belmonte, south of Viseu.

Belmonte

Belmonte

We were treated to a rainbow.

Belmonte

Belmonte

We started our tour of Belmonte at the statue of Pedro Alvares Cabral (1467–1520), the navigator who discovered Brazil. He was born in Belmonte.

Belmonte

Belmonte

Belmonte is also famous because of the history of its Jews. In 1504, Portugal ordered its Jews (as much as one–third of its population) to convert to Christianity or to leave the country. Some Jews fled to small towns in Northern Portugal and practiced their religion secretly. For 500 years, the Belmonte Jews kept their Judaism a secret, but in the 1970s, after Salazar was overthrown, they “came out.” The Belmonte Jewish Museum was opened in 2005 to tell their story. I cannot find a supporting photo that the Jewish Museum is in the building in this photo, but if not, it is in this square.

Belmonte

Belmonte

No photos were allowed in the museum. I particularly liked the lithographs there. I have scanned postcards of two of the lithographs.

Belmonte

Belmonte

The second scanned lithograph.

Belmonte

Belmonte

I also scanned some postcards of other items in the museum––here, a silver menorah.

Belmonte

Belmonte

A coin, probably from the first century.

Belmonte

Belmonte

A tapestry.

Belmonte

Belmonte

After visiting the museum, we walked uphill to see the castle.

Belmonte

Belmonte

Rui pointed out this torah on the side of a front door, which tells people that this is a Jewish home.

Belmonte

Belmonte

Street seen on our walk.

Belmonte

Belmonte

Buildings seen on our walk.

Belmonte

Belmonte

More buildings.

Belmonte

Belmonte

View of the town from the top of the hill.

Belmonte

Belmonte

The castle, begun in 1266, where Cabral was born.

Belmonte

Belmonte

Another view of the castle.

Belmonte

Belmonte

A chapel in front of the castle.

Belmonte

Belmonte

Rui asked us if we wanted to visit the cemetery at the top of the hill. Cemeteries usually don’t bother me as I think most are very beautiful, but this one did because of what Rui told us about Portuguese burial customs. In this cemetery and Rui said throughout Portugal, burial plots are only leased––for 10 years––not bought. At the end of 10 years, the body is disinterred and the bones are transported to an ossuary. The family can be present at the disinterment but there is no religious ceremony.

Belmonte

Belmonte

What makes this cemetery unique is that there are at least two Jewish graves in it. Note the gray grave stone in the middle of the photo.

Belmonte

Belmonte

Close–up of the grave stone.

Belmonte

Belmonte

View of the countryside from the graveyard.

Belmonte

Belmonte

Walking back down to the Cabral statue––an old bell tower.

Belmonte

Belmonte

An interestingly shaped house.

Belmonte

Belmonte

A tiled house of an interesting shape.

Belmonte

On the Road

Scenery on our drive.

On the Road

On the Road

Through a mile–long tunnel.

On the Road

On the Road

We all ate together today at Villa Velha Roduo. For 8 euros, we had a small feast of appetizers, cod, potatoes, salad, dessert, and coffee.

On the Road

Castelo de Vide

Coming into Castelo de Vide, our next stop.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Another view of the town.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Walking into the town. Gathering place of the town’s older residents.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Farther into the town.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

A working fountain, offering curative waters. Castelo de Vide is a spa town.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

This man is filling up a water bottle.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

The 18th–century town hall and pillory.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

A small flea market?

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

We were going to take a strenuous cobblestoned walk up the hill to the Judiaria section of white houses and maze–like streets.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Some of my tour group walking up the hill.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

An old man walking down.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

We can see the castle on top of the hill.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Looking down.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Another downward view.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

An old Gothic doorway.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

We all made it to the top to more stairs if one wanted to visit the castle. I opted to take a slow walk down. Photo: the square behind the street we came in on.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

More of the square.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

The town hall and an arched passageway to the main street.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

A mural in the arched passageway.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Close–up of the left side of the mural.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Close–up of the middle of the mural.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Close–up of the right side of the mural.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Interesting building seen on the main street.

Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide

Another interesting building.

Castelo de Vide

On the Road to Evora

We continued south to Evora, our overnight stop. We passed field after field of yellow, white, and purple wildflowers. Rui said the wildflowers are profuse every year in Portugal.

On the Road to Evora

On the Road to Evora

Seen on our drive.

On the Road to Evora

On the Road to Evora

Country scene.

On the Road to Evora

On the Road to Evora

Village seen from the road.

On the Road to Evora

On the Road to Evora

Seen on our drive.

On the Road to Evora

On the Road to Evora

I finally caught a stork in flight. You often see storks flying in the Portuguese skies.

On the Road to Evora

On the Road to Evora

Close–up of the stork.

On the Road to Evora

Evora

We have made it to Evora, being welcomed by a witch on a broomstick.

Evora

Evora

We checked into the Albergaria Vitoria hotel in Evora, but I didn’t take a photo of it. This was the only hotel we stayed at that appeared to be in an uninteresting part of town, though perhaps if anyone had any energy left to explore I am sure there were things of interest nearby. We had dinner at the hotel’s very nice restaurant.

Evora

Evora

There were probably at least 500 bottles of wine on display in the restaurant. Photo: Wine from Evora. Although we spent much time on the road today and visited only two towns, I very much enjoyed the view of the Portuguese countryside that we were given.

Evora