I stopped by the synagogue on my most recent Azores visit, but alas no one was available to let me in to see it. Katharine. = = = = = = = = = = =
"Abandoned 19th century Azores synagogue to be renovated" - 29/1/2011: <http://www.theportugalnews.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=1097-15> The renovation of the 19th century Jewish synagogue in the capital of Portugal’s Azores Islands, in ruins after five decades of abandonment, will begin next year, an official said this week. Architect Igor França told Lusa News Agency the synagogue, located in Ponta Delgada’s historic centre, would be restored as a place of worship and include a museum and Jewish library. He said the project was approved after Lisbon’s Jewish community offered the building to Ponta Delgada City Hall. Built in 1836, the synagogue was the first to be constructed in Portugal after the installation of a constitutional monarchy which began reversing discriminatory policies launched by the Catholic Inquisition in the 16th century. The synagogue was built by Jews returning to Portugal from North Africa, where their ancestors sought refuge on being expelled from Portugal and Spain during the Inquisition. TPN/Lusa -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
