Lisbon Memorial of 1506
Portugal

The Expulsion of 1496 and the forced conversion of all Jews in the kingdom of Portugal, in 1497, originates a climate of social tension between Christians and New-Christians, which had as its epitome the massacre of April 19th 1506. On that day, instigated by Dominican friars, the people of Lisbon and dozens of foreign seaman anchored in the cities harbors, killed in the most barbaric manner ever seen. About 4000 people were burnt alive in several pyres across the city.

The Jewish History of Lisbon

500 years later, on April 19th 2006, in the same square where the massacre took place, a Memorial was unveiled, evoking the violence of those dark times. On the cornerstone of such monument you can read a passage from the book of Job (16:18): “Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest!”.

Lisbon

Standing before the Dominican church, in 2000, another monument was unveiled, and the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon acknowledged and apologized for centuries of intolerance and persecutions by the Inquisition.

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