In October 1497, twenty thousand Jews came to Lisbon from every corner of Portugal. King Manuel I promised that ships would be waiting in the harbor to take those who did not wish to abandon Judaism out of the country. But there were no ships in the Port of Lisbon! Instead, the Jews were harassed by the priests and their henchmen and forcibly converted to Christianity. And so, Judaism was dead in Portugal, or was it?

Drawing on extensive academic research and personal experiences during an extended stay in Portugal, Shaland paints a vivid picture of the Sephardic Jewish experience in Iberia from Antiquity through modern times. This captivating narrative accompanied by full-color photographs will keep you turning pages.

And if you decide to follow in Irene Shaland's footsteps and explore Lisbon on your own, this book will help you plan your trip and guide you to the exact locations of the sites related to Jewish history.

In "Shaland's Lisbon" you will learn about:

- Sephardic History from Biblical Times to the Edict of Expulsion and to modern times

- How to plan your exploration of Lisbon

- Lisbon's long-gone Jewish quarters

- Importance of Jewish scientists for world exploration during the Age of Discovery

- Forced conversions of Portuguese Jews and the emergence of New Christians

- Sinister role of the Inquisition

- Rebirth of the Jewish community of Lisbon in the 19th and 20th centuries

- Lisbon during WWII

- Portugal as a safe haven during the Holocaust

- What to look for in Sintra, Mafra, Ericeira, Cascais, and Estoril