Jewish Mexico: 500 Years of Arrival and Survival

4.6 (96 reviews) Mexico City, Mexico
  1. Home
  2. Activities
  3. Mexico City
Duration3h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 10 travelers

Overview

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

  • Local Guide
  • Gratuities

What to expect

  1. 1h
    We will begin with registrations and introductions.
  2. Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Mexico
    20m
    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.
  3. Plaza de Santo Domingo
    20m
    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.
  4. 20m
    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.
  5. Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso
    15m
    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).
  6. 15m
    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.
  7. Justo Sierra Synagogue
    20m
    We visit the decommissioned and first Ashkenazim shul in Mexico.

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.

Additional information

  • 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

Cancellation policy

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

Reviews

4.6 (96)
From
$89.00 per person
Check availability & book
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by Mex at Max · Booked through Viator
More activities in Mexico City
From
$89.00 per person
Check availability