"There are still many archaeological sites in Navarre to be explored", said Mikel Ramos, member of the Gabinete de Arqueología e Historia Navark S.L., at the University of Navarra. He made these statements at the framework of the workshop 'Sefarad tangible e intangible', organized by the project 'Creativity and Cultural Heritage' of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) on the 5th International Ladino Day (language Judeo-Spanish).

Regarding the Sephardic bequest , topic of the ICS activity, he indicated that it is still necessary to continue exploring the Jewish quarter of Pamplona, which is located at area of the archbishop's palace, as well as those of Tudela, Estella, Lerín, San Adrián.....

"Archaeological interventions are very attractive to the general public," he emphasized. Thus, he added that most of the works that have been carried out incorporate guided tours open to the public. As an example, he mentioned that on the European Day of Jewish Culture, the Jewish quarter of Estella has crowded visits.

He announced that this summer the intervention will continue in this Navarrese town, which he sees as having "a great tourist potential". He has advanced that the City Council of the city "is interested in working on the recovery of the place as a singular element of the Navarrese culture and of the city itself". In addition, he has commented that during July an International Camp of volunteer activities will be celebrated in the above mentioned Jewish quarter to go advancing in his knowledge.

In the future the project will include explorations with georadar and geomagnetism to find out the layout of the Jewish quarter and, once this exploration is done, excavations will be carried out to recover the neighborhoods and the wall.

Estella, a unique Jewish quarter

Ramos recalled the uniqueness of the Jewish quarter of Estella because "it is the only one in Europe with independent walls". In addition, it was the third in importance of the Kingdom after those of Pamplona and Tudela. "Its weight was important. It contributed 1,500 pounds a year to the Kingdom (almost 10% of what the king earned), despite the fact that the community only had around 500 inhabitants", he pointed out.

Sepharad tangible and intangible' is the second edition of conference organized by the ICS of the University of Navarra on the historical and cultural bequest of the Jews in Spain. In addition to Mikel Ramos, other speakers included Sergio Vidal Álvarez, from the National Archaeological Museum; Miguel Fernández de Arcaya, director of Bodegas Fernández de Arcaya; and three ICS researchers, Ana Marta González, Anna Dulska and Sarali Gintsburg.

The event concluded with a poetic-musical recital at language Judeo-Spanish, 'Luvia de 'Lluvia de Estreyias y Rozas en Sefarad', at position by Matilde Gini Barnatán and Viviana Rajel Barnatán, directors of the program 'Luz de Sefarad' and 'Emisión Sefarad' on Radio Exterior de España (recitation); and Pablo Sallabera (guitar and baglama).