The foundation of the synagogue dates to 1923, with the initiatives of the Jewish community in Porto and of Captain Artur Barros Basto, who converted to Judaism. The Porto Synagogue is only open to religious services and community activities of its members. If you are a Jewish tourist and want to participate in the ceremonies, you should send an email to tourism@community-israelite-port.org, with your identification. The ceremonies take place on Fridays at the end of the day and Saturdays in the morning, as well as on Jewish holidays. The Synagogue is only open to the Jewish community, so the visit will take just 20 minutes from the outside.

The Ribeira area was a bustling trading center, with merchants from all over Europe congregating there to buy and sell goods. Jewish traders were among the most prominent, and they played a significant role in the city's economy.