Rede de Judiarias de Portugal

Alentejo

Land of the great plain that stretches from the Tejo River to Algarve, the large territory of Alentejo was not only the national barn, but also the territory where there were more populous cities and towns in the Portugal of the 14th and 15th Centuries.
Largely located in border area, these centers accommodated many Jewish communities that developed and, in the 15th Century, showed great economic and social influence. Évora was one of the three most important cities in Portugal but the Sephardic organization extended to other strong cores, like Beja, Olivença, Estremoz, Castelo de Vide, Portalegre, Serpa, Elvas, Santiago do Cacém, Arraiolos, Avis, Montemor-o-Novo, Moura, Nisa, Portel, Viana do Alentejo, Arronches, Crato, Borba and Monsaraz.

Some of these communities dated from the Muslim period (Évora). Others began to follow the Christian reconquest that was advancing towards the south.
Still, the Jewish Quarter was separated from the Christian in larger Sephardic communes in Alentejo.
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