Sephardic September at Lucena

Lucena celebrates its rich Sephardic heritage during Sephardic September, a series of events, tours, and activities that highlight the city’s historical role as the “Pearl of Sefarad” and “City of Poets.” Since joining the Network of Jewish Quarters of Spain, Lucena participates annually in the European Days of Jewish Culture, connecting 37 countries in a shared celebration of Jewish history, architecture, and cultural heritage.

In 2025, the theme “The People of the Book” emphasizes the collective effort of the 21 cities of the Network to preserve the Sephardic legacy and promote awareness of Jewish communities’ historical and cultural contributions.

Program Highlights:

1. Eliossana Premium

   • Date & Time: Friday, September 5, 2025, 8:00 PM

   • Place: Jewish Necropolis

   • Price: Free (registration required at www.turlucena.com)

   • Description: Guided tour of Lucena’s historic Sephardic sites, including the Jewish Necropolis, Santiago neighborhood, Castle of El Moral, and the Palace of the Counts of Santa Ana. The tour concludes with a live performance of traditional Sephardic folk songs (Kantes Populares Sefardíes) sung a cappella in Ladino by the Elí Hoshaná Chamber Choir.

   • Duration: 2.5 hours

2. Gymkhana: Pearl of Sefarad

   • Date & Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025, 10:00 AM

   • Place: Historic center of Lucena

   • Price: Free (registration required at www.turlucena.com)

   • Description: Interactive urban treasure hunt for families, friends, or groups to discover Lucena’s Sephardic history. Participants solve seven riddles while visiting key sites such as the Jewish Necropolis, Church of Santiago, Castle of El Moral, Parish of San Mateo, Palace of the Counts of Santa Ana, and the Alley of the Dead.

   • Duration: 2 hours

3. Eliossana Through Its Streets

   • Date & Time: Sunday, September 7, 2025, 10:00 AM

   • Place: Historic center of Lucena

   • Price: Free (registration required at www.turlucena.com)

   • Description: Poetic guided tour led by a descendant of Lucena’s ancient Jewish residents, visiting historic neighborhoods and landmarks, including the Jewish Necropolis, Castle of El Moral, Santiago neighborhood, and Palace of the Counts of Santa Ana. The tour evokes the city’s yeshivot (Talmudic schools) and its rich Sephardic past.

   • Duration: 2.5 hours

The event is open for the general public, families, students, tourists, and anyone interested in Sephardic heritage and Jewish culture.

Registration & Information:
All events are free, but prior registration is required at www.turlucena.com

The event is organized by the organized by the City Council of Lucena, with the support of the Red de Juderías de España – Caminos de Sefarad (Network of Spanish Jewish Quarters)

The event is part of the Cities Embracing Jewish Heritage initiative supported by the Combat Antisemitism Movement and the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage