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Portuguese Jewish Heritage

During 3 hours, I will show and explain the Jewish occupation and its historical evolution in Porto and Portugal. From the high medieval times until today.

The main subjects will be the medieval períod and peaceful one. The Jewish quarter construction and how the history gets grey. The conversos or “Cristãos Novos” and the lack of religious freedom. The inquisition and its terrible impact. And, finally, the local community after the XX century.

Since I started to give this tour my main concern was to offer good and correct information. After giving this tour dozens of times, I can affirm that my public was the most important challenge and “tool” for my success because each doubt and each question were and still are important.

At a calm pace, I will provide you a tour as we planned or am ready to adapt to some preferences and be able to listen to your question, so we can share stories and have an excellent tour together.

Galilean Cooking Workshop

Experience Galilee’s rich flavors and legendary hospitality in a village cooking class near Haifa, and cook lunch in a local kitchen. Join a Druze, Muslim or Christian family for a traditional coffee then prepare a seasonal menu. Local favorites include makluba, hubeza and sinya; wild greens, smoked green wheat and regional vegetables that infuse the dishes with a distinctive Galilean flavor. Share the feast around the family table, and get a unique taste of village life.

Chagall Windows & Heritage Center Tours

Come visit us in the Abbell Synagogue, home to the famous Chagall Windows, in the Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem.

The twelve stained glass windows, which Marc Chagall created for the synagogue and donated to Hadassah in 1962, represent the unique characteristics, attributes, professions and strengths of the twelve sons of the biblical patriarch Jacob. Marc Chagall’s main inspiration is derived from the Bible, particularly Jacob’s blessings to his twelve sons and Moses’ words to the twelve tribes.

The colorful light that emanates from the twelve stained glass windows bathes the Abbell Synagogue at the Hadassah University Medical Center in a special glow. The sun filters through the brilliant hues of the stained glass capturing their radiance. Even in the misty haze of a cloudy day, Chagall’s genius transforms time and space.

The tour of the Hadassah Heritage Center and the Chagall Windows is the best way to discover one of the most famous and splendid works of Marc Chagall and the incredible humane work of the Hadassah organization throughout the past 100 years.

Caesarea, Zichron, and Haifa Tour

This is a one-day private tour to Zichron Yaakov, Caesarea and Haifa. With a personal guide you will tour the highlights of these sights, representing ancient, modern and multicultural Israel. Tour the ruins in Caesarea and visit the famous amphiteater. Then, journey to Zichron Yaakov, one of Israel’s first settlements and learn about the Jewish pioneers whilst enjoying the quaint atmosphere. Visit the Carmel winery during your Zichron Yaakov private tour before journeying north to Haifa. Here you will enjoy panoramic views over the city where Jews, Muslim, Christian and Bahai peacefully coexist. For a final stop on your private tour, stop at the Druze village Dalit-el-Carmel, it’s a real feast for the senses. Your personal guide will be able to tailor the day to your preferences. This is your private tour so customize it and enjoy it!

During the tour we will stop at the following sites: Bahai Gardens in Haifa, Beit NILI, Caesarea National Park, Daliat-el-Carmel, German Colony in Haifa, Zichron Yaakov Wineries, and Muhraka Monastery in Haifa

The private tour starts by driving along the coast road to Caesarea. Made famous by Herod, he built a Roman City in honor of Caesar Augustus. On your private tour you will explore the ancient ruins with your personal guide, explaining the history surrounding the aqueducts, homes, stores, hippodrome, Herod’s palace, temples, warehouses and the ancient port. View the crusader fortress, the Ottoman mosque and the Roman amphitheater, which still functions today.
You will continue your private tour to Zichron Yaakov, at the southern end of the Carmel Mountain range. Founded in 1882, by Baron Rothschild, it’s one of Israel’s earliest settlements. There are cottages with inner courtyards designed with a European influence. The main thoroughfare of Zichron Yaakov is a cobbled street with quaint cafes and boutique shops. Your Zichron Yaakov private tour will take you to Beit Nili, a base for a spy ring during World War I. Next, a visit to the Ohel Yaakov Synagogue, dating back to 1886. Finally, stop for wine tasting at The Carmel Winery, established in 1885 as Israel’s first winery. This is your Zichron Yaakov custom tour, so you decide the order and the pace.

Heading north to Haifa, enjoy the immaculate Baha’i Gardens and take in the panoramic view across Haifa bay. On your private tour, visit the German Templar settlement, then head up to the Muhraka Monastery which sits on the highest point of the Carmel Mountain range. It is believed that the Prophet Elijah took refuge here during the Crusader era. Enjoy some wonderful views of the valley below.On the return journey, stop at the Druze village, Dalit-el-carmel. This is a feast for the senses with a vibrant marketplace packed with delicious food and fresh aromas. Have your personal guide explain the traditional Druze dress and religious beliefs.

Eliyahu Tzur

Tzur Tours, a company with a family atmosphere, was founded by Eliyahu Tzur, based on his vast experience as a qualified tour guide. Our expertise is in organized tours for small and medium-sized groups as well as private tours. Our aim is to connect you to this wonderful country, to maximize your experience, and this with good quality service and at competitive prices.

Akko (Acre) Israel is an old city with a natural port at the northern tip of Haifa Bay. This natural port, standing at the end of the mainland route linking the wealth of the east with the Mediterranean Sea,has made Akko strategically important for thousands of years. As you wander through the old city, you are surrounded by buildings, tunnels, and walls, all from different periods in history.

Akko, especially the old city, is blessed with many attractions including the Inn of columns, the Knights Hospitaller wholes, The ancient fortifications, a colorful market and much more. Akko’s fabulous local market with the charm of an old city, don’t miss ou the excellent baklava sweets shop at the market!

Across from the mosque, you can walk down several levels and see how the Turks built many levels over the Crusaders city. The Knights’ Hall is the most beautiful of all, which was used by the Crusaders for ceremonies. Today the main hall is used for concerts.

Acre Old City Market

The Crusader city of Acre lies on the Mediterranean coast just north of Haifa. It is one of the most beautiful ancient cities in Israel with a hidden Crusader city beneath the ground and the 18th century Old City above ground. One of the most exciting things to do in Acre is walking through the Old City where the main streets are lined with market stalls and shops that open up onto the street.

The Acre Old City Market is a dirty, colorful, loud and bustling market where the local residents do their shopping among curious tourists. The prices are very reasonable, the vendors friendly and you can even try bargaining. Most of the market is covered so you won’t be in the sun and vendors display their goods hanging from every possible surface and spread out onto the street. The market operates during daylight hours and it is perfectly safe to walk around during the daytime. If you follow the market streets you will eventually reach the sea.

The market’s real purpose is to supply locals who live in the Old City with all they need. Among the goods on sale there is clothing, kitchen utensils, toys, jewelry, accessories, shoes, leather goods and more. Food on sale includes both raw and ready-to-eat food. See the fish monger; butcher; vegetable stalls; cheese and spice stalls. At the bakery see large trays of traditional baklava sweet cakes being prepared. You can find unique traditional items in the Acre Old City Market like hooker pipes. In among the market, stalls are several restaurants selling grilled meats, fish dishes, shawama and falafel.

Having entered the Old City Market and walked for a few meters you will see a doorway on your right that opens up to a gentrified, restored 18th century market street. This market is dedicated to arts, crafts and souvenirs. It is completely different to the Old City Market and is lined with elegant boutiques, eateries and pubs. If the Old City Market is a bit much for you then head in to this quieter and cleaner side street.

Hopla Guide

Hi there! We are Laura et Georges, the team behind Hopla Guide.

We run this project together, and in our spare time, we run our life together. We are an international couple, she’s Argentinian, he’s French, but both “Made in Alsace”.

Travellers, food lovers, culture addicts, wanderers… our lives brought us in many places, from Europe to Latin America.

Every trip, we seek for authentic experiences. We want to discover it all, but freely, spontaneously.

During our trips, we found ourselves with two options: either we had to follow a guided group, losing our independence, or wander around with the feeling of missing out on important places.

What to see ? In what order ? And what souvenirs to buy and bring back home ?

Is there no other way?

What if we could visit a city on our own, with freedom and flexibility, and be sure we are going to see everything, learn about the local culture, and have fun at the same time?

What if we could be guided explorers?

One day, we decided to put our abilities together and innovate. Laura has a master’s degree in tourism specialized in management, marketing and eco-sustainability. Georges has a master’s degree in history of art from Paris-Sorbonne university. We both have professional experience in tourism companies.

That is how Hopla Guide started. We built a solution, reimagined guided tours, and created a complete experience, both physical and digital.

Cultural information had to be accessible to the explorer at any time, so we chose to build a mobile app, allowing interactivity and flexibility.

But we wanted to go further and create something that doesn’t stay on your phone but materialises in the real world. So we selected exciting items that enhance the visit and bring the tour on another level of interaction, using other senses : touch, taste and smell.

We believe in slow tourism, in a respectful and deeper way of discovering. We empower little groups to live a true cultural exploration, not just a quick run in the city to take some pictures and go away without learning anything. Our explorers are meant to get an honest grasp of the local identity.

We invite you to take part in our story and give a chance to another kind of cultural experience.

Jewish Seville: La Judería

Discover with us the most beautiful corners and the most illustrious characters of what was the most extensive Jewish quarter of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Jewish Quarter of Seville is the ultimate place to retrace the footprints of Jewish history in Spain. A neighborhood of singular beauty described by the great romantic travelers of the 19th century. A place to discover the fascinating history of the Jews in the capital of Andalusia.
This visit can be combined with a visit to the Real Alcazar, the oldest royal palace in use in Europe. In the Royal Palace of Seville, Jewish intellectuals, musicians and poets played an important role both in the court of the Muslim king Al-Mutamid and in the court of the Christian kings Fernando III and Alfonso X.
Discover with us the heart of Jewish Andalusia and the fascinating story of the Royal Jews of Seville.

Jewish Cordoba: The City of Maimonides

The Jewish quarter of Córdoba is one of the best preserved medieval Jewish quarters in all of Europe. Home of great thinkers and unsurpassed beauty, its streets and houses keep secrets that fascinate both locals and visitors. In it we can visit the only medieval synagogue preserved until today in Andalusia. Discover with us the fascinating history of this neighborhood, declared a world heritage by the UNESCO, as well as the life and work of its most famous inhabitants such as the great thinker Maimonides.

Rashi Guided Tours with CulturistiQ

Five guided tours with Rashi through architecture, nature, honey, wine, and sacred textes, are proposed through Aube territory by CulturistiQ. These guided tours are an opportunity for discovering the Jewish local history between the lines following Rashi and the Tossafists commentaries on the Talmud and the Bible.

Tour & Guide Language: French