Vila Cova à Coelheira

Vila Cova à Coelheira is known for having housed a considerably large community of Jews.

The strong presence of the Jewish community marked the customs and experiences of this village, with clear traces and witnesses, found in oral tradition and in place names, the signs on houses and customs of the people.

The strongest persecution of crypto-Jews (Jewish presumably Christians because they were baptised but who professed the Jewish faith in secrecy) in Vila Cova à Coelheira took place in 1724 and 1730. Despite this effort of the Inquisition, a large number of people continued to secretly practice their rituals of worship, as you will understand better when you visit the Jewish Memorial Centre | Synagogue.

During the 1980's several journalistic works were done about the Jewish legacy in this village, a prominent Jewish researcher, Inácio Steinhardt, is welcomed with a warm and proud: "I am also one of those".