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Tazrià - Metzorà, Rosh Chodesh Yiar, secondo giorno - Lev. 12-1/15-33, Num. 28-9/28-15
MEIS invites you on a journey into the heart of Salento to rediscover the traces of the Jewish presence that has woven its way through the history and culture of this land for centuries. You’ll stay in Lecce’s ancient Giudecca district: a welcoming atmosphere that will allow you to experience the true atmosphere of the old town.
THE PROGRAM
Monday, May 11, 2026
The Jewish Roots of Salento: Lecce
4:30 PM Meeting point at the check-in point of the scattered structure
4:30 PM–7:00 PM Guided tour of Lecce’s historic center, the ancient Jewish quarter, and the Jewish Museum of Lecce, a journey through time among the remains of the medieval synagogue and the streets that tell the story of the community’s daily life
7:00 PM–8:00 PM Welcome harp performance with a tasting of local kosher wines
8:00 PM Dinner in Lecce
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
The Jewish Roots of Salento: Santa Maria al Bagno and Gallipoli
9:00-12:00 Transfer to Santa Maria al Bagno and guided tour of the Museum of Memory and Hospitality, where photos, testimonies, and paintings tell the story of the arrival of Holocaust survivors on the Salento coast.
12:30 Lunch at a restaurant in Santa Maria al Bagno.
14:00-18:30 Transfer to Gallipoli, visit the historic center and the ancient Jewish quarter, among alleys, courtyards, and traces of a vibrant community tied to trade and the sea.
19:30 Return to Lecce.
20:30 Dinner in Lecce.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Places of memory and hospitality: Otranto, Santa Cesarea Terme, Leuca
9:30 Departure from Lecce for Otranto
10:00-12:00 Visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria dell’Annunziata, with its famous floor mosaic, and the Diocesan Museum, which houses the Jewish funerary inscription of Glyka (3rd-4th century)
12:30-14:00 Lunch at a Salento farmhouse nestled in the countryside
14:00-15:45 Transfer to Santa Cesarea Terme and stop at the former Caffè Porta d’Oriente, whose façade preserves Hebrew inscriptions. After the war, the building housed the offices of the heads of reception for Jewish refugees.
15:50-18:00 Transfer to Leuca, visit the village and learn more about the homes used to house survivors after the war.
18:40 Return to Lecce
20:30 Dinner in Lecce
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Free time until 11:00 a.m. to return to the Jewish Museum of Lecce for further information or a free tour of the historic center.
11:00 a.m. Check-out
COSTS AND INFO
Price per person: €620 for a double room; €760 for a single room
The price includes:
- Three-night stay in a shared hospitality experience in Lecce’s historic center (rooms and apartments in the heart of the city center) with breakfast and tourist tax included;
- Specialized guide for the planned Jewish itineraries;
- Meals as per program;
- Private bus from Lecce;
- Tickets to the Jewish Museum of Lecce, the Museum of Memory and Hospitality, Otranto Cathedral, and the Diocesan Museum;
- Harp show and wine tasting;
- Cancellation insurance;
- Agency costs.
Registration by February 20, 2026.
A deposit of €190 per person is required upon registration; the balance is due by March 20, 2026. The trip will be confirmed once 20 participants have registered. In the event of cancellation, the insurance policy will reimburse travel expenses according to the applicable conditions. The €55.00 insurance premium per person is non-refundable.
Space is limited.
For more information, click on the poster.
Register by filling out the form at the following link:
