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Belmonte, Portugal

Belmonte
Belmonte
Belmonte
Flag of Belmonte
Coat of arms of Belmonte
Coordinates: 40°21′N 7°21′W / 40.350°N 7.350°W / 40.350; -7.350
Country Portugal
RegionCentro
Intermunic. comm.Beiras e Serra da Estrela
DistrictCastelo Branco
Area
 • Total
118.76 km2 (45.85 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
6,205
 • Density52/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Websitehttp://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]

  1. ^ Censos (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto Nacional de Estatística, 2021
  2. ^ "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Museu Judaico de Belmonte | e-cultura". www.e-cultura.pt. Retrieved 2024-03-11.

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