The old Estaus Palace was the Lisbon inquisition palace. It was destroyed by the 1755 earthquake, and later became the actual D. Maria II Theatre, the national theatre. The inquisition had the power of accusation concerning heresy and encouraged fanatism with the “Autos da Fé”, which started from that square. Many Jews were victims of religious intolerance and violence from priests and monks a population that they encouraged.

The meeting point and almost obligatory passage for so many Jews who brought to Lisbon during World War II, in search of news, passages or business, was a pleasant pastry, where men and ladies sat, indoors or on the terrace, slowly redrawing their hopes and resuming a course of existence interrupted by the war. Some just passing through, others who stayed, won the taste and gave it even more fame. Today, Pastry Switzerland has disappeared, perhaps for a real estate project, but its memory remains, as a sweet image of a welcoming Lisbon even in times of war.

1506 was then the perfect set for the tragedy that ensued, one of the more tragic massacres of our history, on April 19th, 1506, and lasting for three days, starting with the death of a young Christian men and then the massacre of hundreds of men, women, children and elderly people by the Dominican priests, in front of the crowd.

A monument was inaugurated in 2008, remembering the massacre, paying tribute to the victims, signed by the architect Graça Bachman, the shape being the Star of David, and words from the Book of David.