Mexico City: Jewish Presence

4.7
(63 reviews)

3 hours 30 minutes (approximately)
Offered in: English

Uncover the hidden tapestry of Mexican Jewish heritage!

Embark on a historical walk through 5 centuries of Jewish life in Mexico.

A once-in-a-lifetime adventure that weaves together history, culture, and incredible human resilience.

See the firs Sephardic temple, a living monument to cultural preservation and step inside the historic first Ashkenazi synagogue... feel the echoes of generations past.

From crypto-Jews of the Viceregal era to 20th-century refugees seeking a new home, every stone, every building, every story has a profound tale waiting to be discovered.

What's Included

Bottled water
Entrance to some public and private places has been agreed and has been either waived or included.
Local Guide
Coffee and/or Tea
Gratuities

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

We meet outside Number 15, República de Argentina Street, curbside, right at the door marked with #15. It is the main door and it is not at the corner. It is at the heart of Mexico City's Historic Center.

End point

We end right in front of Loreto Park, on the Justo Sierra Street (South) side.

Itinerary

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (approximately)
  • 1

    We will begin with an intro chat from a terrace overlooking the ruins of the Great Aztec Temple showing the modern peaceful coexistence of religions in Mexico.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 2

    We walk behind the Metropolitan Cathedral to see the Chapel of the Souls where the teachings against heresy (other religions) are displayed at a vantage point from where we can appreciate the colonial architecture designed "to keep the Jews away," imposed by the Spanish Inquisition.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3

    We visit the main trading marketplace from the 16th to the 19th centuries where Jews-in-Hiding had to come and trade their merchandise as they were being watched from the Palace of the Inquisition. At the palace, we decipher its anti-Semitic hidden messages as well as those on the Santo Domingo church at the starting point of El Camino Real, a safe haven for Jewish traveling traders of the time.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 4

    We will pass by the Administration building of the Inquisition as well as their living quarters, right next to its Perpetual Prison, where Jews were tortured and sentenced to death.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 5

    We will see from the outside, the place where Diego Rivera (of Sephardic origin) met Frida Kahlo (of Ashkenazim origin), to learn how the Mexican anti-Fascist movement supported the cancellation of the first and only ever anti-Semitic national convention and the reception as a refugee of Lev Davidovich Bronstein (a.k.a. Leon Trotsky).

    15 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 6

    At Plaza Loreto, we pass by the first purposedly-built synagogue, Sephardic Mount Sinai, in Mexico, and the neighboring one, the first Ashkenazim one, Nidjei Israel, where the experience comes to an end.

    15 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 7

    We visit the decommissioned and first Ashkenazim shul in Mexico.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Supplied by Mex at Max

Tags

Half-day Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Religious Tours
Small Group
Excellent Quality
Low Supplier Cancellation Rate
Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

4.7 Based on 63 63 reviews
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