The Lisbon synagogue

The Lisbon synagogue, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

Hidden behind other buildings and a fence. Catholic Portugal kicked out its Jewish population at the end of the15th century, just five years after neighbouring Spain did the same. Many of them came to Amsterdam, where the largest synagogue remaining is, in fact, the Portugese synagogue. One of the descendants was none other than the great philosopher Baruch Spinoza.