As every year since Lucena joined the Network of Jewish Quarters of Spain, the town is creating its “Sephardic September” programme around the European Day of Jewish Culture on 4 September. It includes experiences, routes and events highlighting the “Pearl of Sepharad” and “City of Poets”, as Lucena was known between the ninth and twelfth centuries.
Lucena City Council’s Tourism Councillor Teresa Alonso (PSOE) announced the new activities taking place throughout September. They begin next Sunday, 4 September, with a commemorative event shared by the 21 cities in the network, which Lucena chairs. At 12:30, the chosen slogan and graphic design will be presented on a mural in Calle El Peso, with the collaboration of the Eliossana Open Shopping Centre.
“The Rebirth of the Butterfly” is the European slogan chosen for the European Day of Jewish Culture on 4 September. Thirty-five European countries are participating to raise awareness of Jewish cultural and historical heritage.
On 5 September, renowned painter Antonio Villa-Toro will open his “Shalom” exhibition. As Alonso explained, he “has spent these months preparing an exhibition with the Jewish world as its connecting thread and Lucena as its protagonist”. The previously unseen work will be presented at Casa de los Mora at 20:30.
On 15 September at 20:00, the Palacio de los Condes de Santa Ana will host the presentation of the Network of Jewish Quarters of Spain’s training platform and a course on Lucena’s Jewish world led by official chronicler Luis Fernando Palma Robles. It will also feature the city’s official presentation of Alejandra Abulafía’s book Ciudades de Sefarad.
The programme also includes one of the traditional walks through which the Tourism Department promotes nature tourism and local trails. On 18 September, a historic walking route lasting approximately three hours will visit city locations of particular importance to the history of the Iberian Peninsula. It departs from Castillo del Moral at 09:00.
On 21 September at 20:30, the early Christian Basilica of Coracho will host, for the first time, the presentation of a book by Esther Bendaham, from Madrid’s Centro Sefarad-Israel.
The programme closes with “Harmony with the Flavours of Sepharad”, one of its most anticipated events. This year, the experience moves to a winery in Las Navas del Selpillar on Friday 23 September.
This renewed version of the “Synaesthesia of Wine” will be distinctive both for its location and its dishes: recipes from Javier Zafra’s book Sabores de Sefarad, prepared by Tres Culturas restaurant and Dulce Tres pastry shop, and served and presented by the author himself. The experience also includes Aceites de Lucena PDO olive oil paired with wines selected by Gregorio Córdoba and accompanied by Sephardic music.
Other Activities to Discover Lucena
Alongside Sephardic September, Lucena’s Tourism Department is organising complementary activities for visitors from nearby towns and local residents to discover new attractions, as part of the campaign “Lucena, a World of Experiences, Routes and Events within Your Reach”.
“Pearl of Sepharad”, Sunday 4 September at 10:00 at Lucena’s Jewish Necropolis. A pleasant hosted experience for families, couples or friends, travelling back in time to the City of Poets. Advance registration: 957 59 36 62.
“Castillo del Moral Escape Room”, Friday 16 September at 19:00. The architect in charge of converting Castillo del Moral into a museum disappears under mysterious circumstances. Investigating police discover documents linked to the castle that hide a series of clues. Can the investigation team solve the mystery?
“A Quantum Visit to the Palacio de los Condes de Santa Ana”, Saturday 17 September at 11:00. A guided visit with theatrical recreations accessed through QR codes, starring the Count of Santa Ana, Don Antonio Rafael de Mora. Duration: 45 minutes.
“Pearl of Sepharad Premium”, Sunday 25 September at 09:00 at Lucena’s Jewish Necropolis. A journey back to the Pearl of Sepharad, the name by which Lucena—called Eliossana—was known among Jews, including a short Sephardic music concert by the Elí Hoshaná Chamber Choir.
Tourism Councillor Teresa Alonso invited all Lucena residents to take part in these varied activities, some free and others paid. Full information and registration are available at www.turlucena.com.
