Travel > Spain

Jewish Spain: A Tarnished Ornament

Dates: TBA
Prices: TBA
Prices are listed in US dollars.

Spain is steeped in rich history and culture, and the Jewish experience is an unforgettable part of it. For centuries, Jewish communities thrived here, enriching Spain with their contributions to art, science, and culture, until the 1492 expulsion by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Yet, Jewish culture has left an indelible mark on Spain.

Join us as we visit the vibrant cities where Jewish heritage flourished — Toledo, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Madrid, and Barcelona. These cities were home to remarkable figures like Nachmanides, Maimonides, Yehudah HaLevi, and Ibn Ezra.

As we journey through 500 years of Jewish history in Spain, we’ll explore profound questions: When do Jewish communities thrive? How do minorities connect with their surrounding cultures?

A trip to Spain, focusing on its rich Jewish heritage, is a captivating experience for anyone passionate about history, culture, and the resilient spirit of a community that has left a lasting legacy on Spain's vibrant tapestry.

Please notify me when registration opens

Highlights:

  • The Jewish Quarter in Seville and The Great Cathedral, the burial place of Christopher Columbus
  • Granada: The Alhambra Palace in the Old Muslim Quarter/Moorish Bazaar
  • Cathedral-Mosque in Cordova, La Mezquita with its 1,000 colored columns and visit Cordova’s Jewish Quarter and Maimonides Synagogue
  • Festive Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner with Madrid’s Reform Jewish community
  • The Prado in Madrid
  • Las Ramblas in Barcelona and visit the medieval synagogue located in Cali, the Jewish Quarter


For the itinerary, FAQs and other details, please see the tabs below. On a mobile device, use the menu icon (☰) to open other tabs.

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  • Jewish Spain: A Tarnished Ornament 
    Sample Itinerary 
    (Subject to change) 

    Day 1: Monday

    • Welcome and opening session at the hotel. 
    • Walking tour of the Santa Cruz neighborhood, formerly Seville's Jewish Quarter, La Juderia. (Lunch at leisure)) 
    • Opening dinner at “Manolo León” with guests from the small local Jewish community. 

     

    Overnight: Catalonia Santa Justa, Seville 


    Day 2: Tuesday

    • Breakfast at the hotel.  
    • Start the day with the sight of the iconic Plaza de España, built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. 
    • Walk towards the Alcazar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
    • Lunch at leisure. 
    • Visit the 12th century Great Cathedral, burial place of Christopher Columbus, and La Giralda, Seville’s symbol. 
    • Dinner and evening at leisure.  

     

    Overnight: Catalonia Santa Justa, Seville  


    Day 3: Wednesday

    • Breakfast and checkout at the hotel. 
    • Depart for Lucena, a town that during the period of Muslim rule was known as “The Jewish city.” Visit its JewishNecropolis.  
    • Continue to Granada, the last stronghold of the Moors (lunch at leisure en route).  
    • Tour of the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens.   
    • Dinner and evening at leisure. 

     

    Overnight: NH Collection Victoria, Granada  


    Day 4: Thursday

    • Breakfast and checkout at the hotel.  
    • Drive to Cordoba, with a stop at the San Cristobal Lookout point. 
    • Explore the Cathedral-Mosque, La Mezquita de Cordoba.  
    • Walk through the Jewish Quarter, including Plaza Tiberias and the Yehuda Halevi Square. Continue to the Maimonides Synagogue.  
    • Lunch at leisure. 
    • Visit Casa de Sefarad.  
    • Group dinner at Casa Mazal.

     

    Overnight: Las Casas de la Juderia, Cordoba 


    Day 5: Friday

    • Breakfast and checkout at the hotel.  
    • Drive to Toledo.  
    • Explore Toledo, including the Jewish Quarter, the Samuel Halevi Abulafia Synagogue (Nuestra Señora del Tránsito), and the Santa Maria La Blanca Church (formerly the Grand Synagogue).  
    • Continue to Madrid.  
    • Lunch at leisure en route.  
    • Arrive at the hotel for check-in.  
    • Festive Kabbalat Shabbat & dinner with the Madrid Jewish community.  

     

    Overnight: Catalonia Atocha, Madrid 


    Day 6: Saturday

    • Breakfast at the hotel. 
    • Stroll along the main streets of Madrid’s oldest quarter & the Literary area, the original site of Madrid, called “Austrias”.  
    • Visit the Plaza de la Villa, and the 15th century Tower of Los Lujanes, the site of the original Arab shuk of Madrid.  
    • Continue to the 17th century Plaza Mayor, the center of historic Madrid.  
    • Lunch at leisure. 
    • Visit the Prado Museum.  
    • Havdalah and group reflection at the hotel. 
    • Dinner and evening at leisure. 

     

    Overnight: Catalonia Atocha, Madrid 


    Day 7: Sunday

    • Breakfast at the hotel along with an early morning study session. 
    • Visit Segovia, a microcosm of the story of Jews in Iberia until the Expulsion. 
    • Start with the Roman Aqueduct and then to the former Great Synagogue, housed in the Corpus Christi Convent.  
    • Lunch at leisure.  
    • Return to Madrid, with a stop at the imposing Valley of the Fallen.  
    • Dinner and evening at leisure. 

     

    Overnight: Catalonia Atocha, Madrid 


    Day 8: Monday

    • Breakfast and checkout at the hotel. 
      Transfer to Atocha Train Station and board the comfortable high-speed train to Barcelona. 
      Enjoy a panoramic tour of Barcelona including Plaza España, the mountain of Montjuic, and Passeig Maritim.
      Lunch at leisure.
      Visit Gaudi’s unfinished Basilica de la Sagrada Familia.
      Dinner and evening at leisure.

     

    Overnight: Hotel Avenida Palace, Barcelona


    May 9: Tuesday

    • Breakfast at the hotel.  
    • Morning tour of Passeig de Gracia Boulevard and the Las Ramblas area of Barcelona.  
    • Lunch at leisure at the Boqueria Market. 
    • Visit the Medieval Synagogue discovered in the Jewish Quarter known as Cali. 
    • Walk through the Gothic Quarter, where there was a sizeable Jewish community as early as the beginning of the Common Era.  
    • Visit Casa Adret, now home to “Mozaika”. 
    • Dinner and evening at leisure.  

     

    Overnight: Hotel Avenida Palace, Barcelona  


    Day 10: Wednesday

    • Breakfast at the hotel.  
    • Visit Girona, famous for its Kabbalists and the home of Nachmanides. 
    • Explore the Jewish Quarter, and the Jewish Museum, the Centre Bonastruc ça Porta.  
    • Enter Casa Cundaro, for a glimpse at life in a former Jewish home from medieval times.   
    • Lunch at leisure. 
    • Continue to Besalu, a medieval town that features one of the best preserved mikvaot in all of Europe.  
    • Return to Barcelona.  
    • Farewell group dinner at a local restaurant.  

     

    Overnight: Hotel Avenida Palace, Barcelona  


    Day 11, Thursday

    • Breakfast and checkout at the hotel.  
    • Bus transfer to Barcelona Airport.  
    • Departure flight to the U.S.A or other add-on destinations.  
  • The Melton tour to Spain will be led by Avi Ben-Hur, distinguished Melton field scholar and scholar in residence at Classrooms Without Borders. Avi specializes in Ancient and Medieval Jewish History, as well as geopolitical issues, interfaith programs, and Holocaust studies.

    Melton travel is open to adults of all ages.

    We look forward to travelling and learning with you,

    The Melton Travel Team


    Please contact us here if you would like to be notified when registration opens.

  • Price Includes:

    • 10 nights’ accommodation
    • 10 days touring in a deluxe air-conditioned bus
    • Breakfast at the hotels daily and 4 group dinners
    • Educational Programming: All entrance fees and programs as per the Melton itinerary.

    Hotels:

    Note: We will do our best to assist you with extensions both before and after the seminar.


    Not Included:

    • Flights and personal insurance 
    • Personal expenses, including meals or drinks not mentioned in the itinerary, unless specified

     

    • Group rates are per person and a minimum of 15 fully paying participants. Should the number of participants drop below the minimum listed above, we may adjust the cost of the trip to reflect the additional expense of operating the program.
    • Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides, drivers, and the tour guide/educator are included.
    • A nonrefundable deposit of $1,250 per person is due upon registration. If the trip is cancelled, the registration fee will be refunded. Final balance will be due 100 days prior to trip start date: February 1, 2025.
    • Participants who reserve a double room and are sharing with a friend or family member will be subject to the single supplement if that person cancels prior to departure if final payment has not been paid.  
    • There will be no refunds for unused services. All cancellations must be submitted in writing.
    • Hotel Accommodations: The tour price includes all hotel accommodations, in hotel rooms with private bathrooms. Our standard is to provide the best available hotels while considering value. Although the level of the accommodation may differ slightly from hotel to hotel, we are committed to your comfort.
    • Meals are kosher style and included as indicated in the itinerary. Participants may order Glatt kosher meals at prices set by our local vendors upon request.
    • A Melton scholar & educator will be with the group throughout the tour.
    • All gratuities are included.
    • Baggage: Melton shall not be held responsible for any damage to or loss of luggage/personal items. All damage/loss must be reported at time of incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to the insurance company.
    • About airline baggage allowance, different carriers have different regulations for business and coach, please check with your individual carrier with regard to permitted number of pieces, weights and dimensions. The tour operator is not responsible for fees levied by any air carrier for the transport of personal belongings of any kind.
    • Porterage at hotels. Please note that room service is not included.

    Not Included

    • Flights and personal insurance 
    • Personal expenses, including meals or drinks not mentioned in the itinerary, unless specified
  • Melton Travel recommends Forbes Advisor for the most up-to-date travel insurance comparisons. Consider travel protection for:

    • Trip Cancellation
    • Trip Interruption
    • Emergency Medical Expenses
    • Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains
    • Trip Delay
    • Baggage & Personal Effects
    • Baggage Delay

    Please Note: To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the protection plan must be purchased within 21 days (about 3 weeks) from the time you make your initial trip deposit, the entire non-refundable amount of the trip must be insured, and you must be medically able to travel at the time the premium is paid. However, the travel protection plan itself can be purchased any time prior to departure.

    Additional Information

    Airline Security Measures: Your name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket, or you may be denied boarding. If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S., you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification are required for that airport.

    Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items.

    Holidays and Museum Closures: Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or state and local holidays observed in the destinations being visited.

    Photography During Tours: We will occasionally use photographs taken by fellow guests or your trip director for promotional purposes. If you prefer your photo not used in any marketing activities, please notify us at the start of your tour.

     


  • Frequently Asked Questions ...

    IS THIS TRIP RIGHT FOR ME?

    Who are these trips for?

    Our programs are designed for adult travelers who enjoy meaningful learning, cultural exploration, and engaging with fellow travelers. We welcome individuals, couples, friends, and multi-generational families traveling with adult children or grandchildren.

    Our journeys are thoughtfully paced to balance learning, exploration, and free time, making them comfortable and rewarding for a wide range of travelers.

    Participants must be 18 years of age or older.

    ABOUT MELTON WORLD TRAVEL

    Why should I travel with Melton World Travel?

    Our journeys are led by experienced educators and local experts who bring depth, context, and perspective to each destination. Through guided exploration, learning sessions, discussions, and meaningful encounters with local residents, travelers gain a deeper understanding of the places they visit.

    We go beyond landmarks to include conversations with local communities, visits to cultural institutions, and opportunities to hear firsthand stories that bring each destination to life.

    Each itinerary is thoughtfully designed to balance iconic sites, immersive learning, authentic local experiences, and time to explore independently, creating a travel experience that is both enriching and rewarding.

    BOOKINGS, PAYMENTS & POLICIES

    How much is the deposit and when is final payment due?


    A deposit is required to reserve your place on the trip. Deposit amounts vary by program and are listed on the individual trip page.

    PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP

    Do I need a visa?

    Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality, destination, and, in some cases, the countries through which you transit. Travelers are responsible for determining and obtaining any required visas and travel documents before departure.

    We recommend checking the requirements with the appropriate embassy or consulate well in advance of your trip. If you have questions or are unsure what is required, the Melton World Travel team is happy to serve as a resource and help guide you to the appropriate information and visa services.

    DURING THE TRIP

    What size are your groups?


    Group sizes vary by destination but are intentionally kept small, typically ranging from 15 to 25 participants. This allows for a more personal, engaging, and flexible travel experience.

    A minimum of 15 travelers is required for a trip to operate. Maximum group size depends on the destination and demand but is generally capped between 24 and 25 participants to ensure a comfortable, personal experience.

    We aim to keep groups small enough to allow meaningful connection and a high-quality travel experience, while also making space for more participants on particularly popular or bucket-list journeys.

    JEWISH PRACTICE & OBSERVANCE

    How is Shabbat observed during the trip?

    Shabbat is an important part of a Melton journey and is observed in ways that reflect the destination and itinerary. When possible, we include opportunities to enjoy Shabbat meals, attend services, participate in meaningful discussions or walking experiences, and enjoy time for rest, reflection, or personal observance.

    To respect a range of traditions and practices, we do not schedule group transportation on Shabbat. Travelers with specific Shabbat observance needs or questions are encouraged to contact us before registering so we can discuss whether a particular journey is the right fit.

    ISRAEL-SPECIFIC

    Is the trip suitable for first-time visitors to Israel?

    Absolutely. Many of our Israel journeys are designed with first-time visitors in mind, providing a meaningful introduction to the country while going far beyond the highlights. At the same time, returning travelers consistently tell us they discover new places, hear new stories, and gain fresh perspectives with every visit.

    Each itinerary has its own educational focus, so no two Melton journeys are exactly alike. Whether it is your first visit or your tenth, you'll experience Israel through the lens of history, culture, contemporary society, and meaningful encounters with the people who call it home.


    For more information ...

    For more information, please contact us here.

    T: 1–646–921–0747, Ext. 4

Why We Love To Travel with Melton

  • Suzie Taryan

    Melbourne, VIC
    A wonderful learning experience at every level - touching the mind and the heart.
  • Bob Landau

    Pittsfield, MA
    The perspective Melton put on 3000 years was astounding... a perspective of who I am, where I'm from and why I am the person I am: a deep, rich understanding of the history of Israel and the Jews.
  • Nina Bonderow

    Philadelphia, PA
    One of the most wonderful experiences I have ever taken part in... The Melton seminar provides the perfect atmosphere for knowledge and friendship to blossom. It is a most worthwhile experience.
  • Errol Lipschitz

    Vancouver, BC
    The seminar is a treat for anyone and was filled with opportunities to create memories for a lifetime… you deserve to spoil yourself. You will not be disappointed as so much of the program is brought to life by the on-site visits and thoughtful presentations. The seminar left me glowing.
  • Ruth Starr

    London, UK
    I didn't enjoy it - I loved it. I've been to Israel so many times before, but this was so different... very stimulating and wonderful. Thank you!
  • Linda Woloshin

    Chicago, IL
    An outstanding learning experience among compatible students led by an amazing teacher whose enthusiasm and depth of knowledge cannot be compared to any tour I have ever taken before.
  • Bobbie Blau

    West Hills, CA
    I am richer for the friendships made and the knowledge gained. My understanding of the history and the future of Israel has been greatly deepened by "living" the text in context throughout the country. Perhaps, though, it has raised many more questions that will require at least one more Melton seminar to answer... it has complicated my understanding!
  • Anne Rothman

    NJ
    I loved the inclusion of poetry and literature, as well as Biblical sources: they made the ancient and the current Israel come alive.
  • Buzz Krovitz

    Denver, CO
    This was my fifth visit to Israel and the best… Everything fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
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