10 Museums in Castelo Branco District That You Shouldn't Miss

Reviewed By Y4453CCsaras - New York City, United States

This tiny collection is a beautifully curated museum done chronologically as well as thematically. While there are parts that are only in Portuguese, much is also in English and thoughtfully done so that anyone can visit if you are an English speaker. We were privilleged to visit guided by Jose Levy Domingos, whose family treasures make up the majority of the museum collection. The items in the museum collection are Judaica and home goods, books and documents that make up the history of the Jews of Portugal, and tell the arc of the story of the expulsion, the New Christians and all the way up to the current history of the Portugese Jews, as well as the story of the local Jewish community in Belmonte. It is rich, deep and textured, offering a glimpse into personal stories, the scope of what was lost over time, the persecution and the ways in which the Jewish community dealt with that persecution. If you can, find Jose (his full name at gmail.com) and ask him to guide you on a tour of the museum and the entire town. It will not be free, but it will be a priceless insight into a community that is living history.