Belmonte | |
|---|---|
 Belmonte | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 40°21′N 7°21′W / 40.350°N 7.350°W | |
| Country |  Portugal |
| Region | Centro |
| Intermunic. comm. | Beiras e Serra da Estrela |
| District | Castelo Branco |
| Area | |
• Total | 118.76 km2 (45.85 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 6,205 |
| • Density | 52/km2 (140/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (WEST) |
| Website | http://www.cm-belmonte.pt |
Belmonte (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˌbɛlˈmõtɨ] ) is a municipality and town in the district of Castelo Branco, Portugal. The municipality's population in 2021 was 6,205,[1] in an area of 118.76 square kilometres (45.85 sq mi).[2]
Belmonte is distinguished by its enduring Jewish community, which dates back to at least the 13th century. This community, numbering about 300 in 2008, preserved its faith through crypto-Judaism, maintaining Jewish traditions in secret despite the pressures of the Inquisition and forced conversions. Open practice was re-established with the founding of a synagogue in 1996.[3] The Belmonte Jewish Museum, opened in 2005, chronicles this remarkable history.[4]
- ^ Censos (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto Nacional de Estatística, 2021
- ^ "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ Nolan, Rachel (2 January 2008). "After 500 Years in Hiding, Jews Bring Prosperity to Iberian Town". forward.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "Museu Judaico de Belmonte | e-cultura". www.e-cultura.pt. Retrieved 2024-03-11.