The 6th Sephardic September Festival begins on Friday, September 5, in Sagunto, a historic city in Spain’s Valencia region, and runs through September 28.
The event features gastronomy, heritage activities, and cultural performances, with the Department of Tourism coordinating the program alongside local businesses.
Visitors who consume at least €20 worth of Sephardic products or stay at participating establishments will receive vouchers for free nighttime tours of the city’s Jewish quarter. The tours, organized by Pars Tours Guided Tours, will take place every Friday and Saturday in September at 10 p.m. Reservations must be made in advance through designated phone numbers.
Gastronomy and Local Participation
A number of Sagunto restaurants and accommodations are participating in the program. Establishments such as Artesans Forn la Melica, La Taverna de la Serp, Vivavins, and Le Fou de Sagunt will offer Sephardic-inspired dishes, tapas, sweets, and kosher wines throughout the month. Accommodations including the modernist Casa “La Trinidad” and Villas de Corinto will welcome guests with Sephardic pastries.
On Fridays and Saturdays, Artesans Forn Melica will feature items such as bureca with pumpkin and pistachio jam, Haman ears with fig and walnut jam, matzah, and challah bread. Additional Sephardic offerings will be available at other partner restaurants during regular hours. Participating venues stated: “In this edition, as we have done for five years now, we are once again highlighting our city’s Sephardic historical heritage with a gastronomic event.”
Heritage and Cultural Values
Tourism officials highlighted the festival’s broader significance. “As every September, Sephardic gastronomy and heritage come together in Sagunto, as an example of the different cultures that have left their mark on our city,” said Natalia Antonino, Councilor for Tourism.
She emphasized that Sagunto is a city “that champions coexistence and is proud that different cultures have passed through it, leaving in their wake a rich heritage that contributes to the city’s tourism.”
Participating businesses added that the event seeks to convey “values of coexistence among different religions, which are needed today and which we want to reclaim as part of our society. We ask and hope that conflicts everywhere be resolved with words, not weapons,” they said, in reference to ongoing global tensions.
Performances and Family Activities
Alongside gastronomy and tours, the festival program includes theatrical performances and interactive activities. On Saturday, September 13, at 8 p.m., the Joaquín Rodrigo auditorium will host Rodrigo, querido maestro, a play written and directed by Amparo Vayá and performed by Passió per Sagunt. The work portrays the life of composer Joaquín Rodrigo, whose wife, Victoria Khami, was of Sephardic origin. Admission is free with prior reservation at Servientradas until capacity is reached.
Families can also join “The Rabbi’s Secret,” a free digital treasure hunt available throughout September. The interactive game uses mobile phones to guide participants through Sagunto while exploring its Jewish heritage. Players who complete the experience and leave a review including a keyword can redeem a prize at Casa dels Berenguer, subject to availability.
Tourism and Cultural Promotion
The Sephardic September Festival continues to serve as a showcase of Sagunto’s cultural diversity and hospitality. By combining gastronomy, guided tours, theatrical productions, and family-friendly games, the event highlights the city’s Jewish heritage while reinforcing its role as a cultural destination within the Valencia region.
Further information, including the full program and reservation details, is available on the Sagunto tourism website at www.saguntoturismo.com.
