The city of Venice surely is full of many great things to see; between St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and a tour on the famous gondolas, we’re sure your trip to this magical city will be easily filled with amazing things to see, but, if you wish to take the road less traveled by and see some less popular tourist attractions, we highly suggest you visit the Jewish Venice Ghetto.
Being somewhat of a town within the city of Venice, the Jewish Venice Ghetto is the perfect place for a different but fantastic Tour of Venice!
The history of this Ghetto
The Jewish Venice Ghetto was funded in 1516, sometime after the League of Cambrai War. The reason for this is that Jews were living among Christians but were not very well welcomed. The government couldn’t kick them out of the city because they were the only bankers, making their presence essential for the economical growth of the city. They were then confined to live on the island nowadays known as “Ghetto Novo”.
The Jewish Venice Ghetto is actually the most ancient ghetto in the whole world. The word “ghetto” actually comes from the Venetian word “gèto”, meaning “to melt” and the reason it was called like this is that the Ghetto Novo was really rich in foundries.
The Shoah memorial
To remember the victims of Nazi deportation, a monument consisting of seven bronze panels picturing heartbreaking situations regarding the Shoah was created in 1980 by Arbit Blatas.
During the Nazi occupation of the city of Venice in 1943, Giuseppe Jona, the head of the Jewish Community of Venice, was asked to get the Nazis a list of all the Jewish people that lived in the city. On the day he was supposed to deliver the list, Giuseppe Jona chose to burn it and take his life, saving over 1200 people from deportation.
In fact, thanks to his bravery, only 243 people were captured and deported by the Nazis.
What to see in the Ghetto
This area of Venice is filled with buildings that truly differ from the others you may find in the same city. Given the fact that the population of Ghetto Novo had reached over four thousand people at a certain point, taller buildings were built, reaching over 8 floors per building!
In this place, you will also be able to find 5 different synagogues: The Schola Levantina, The Spanish Schola, the Italian Schola, the great German Schola, and the Schola Canton. These synagogues were built as part of the building where people would live and so they’re a bit hard to spot. They are all located on the last floor of the building because it’s important for religious reasons that nothing stands between the roof of this sacred place and the sky.
Here’s how you can easily spot a synagogue in Ghetto Novo:
Synagogues have 5 big windows on their front facade that are used to represent the 5 books of the Torah!
Typical food
Given the amount of Jews that proudly carried on their culinary traditions (that has a few restrictions) throughout the many difficulties that they had to face over the centuries, one of the most popular dishes in Venice is the “sarde in saor”, a typical kosher dish that consists of fried sardines immersed in saor, a typical condiment made with onions cooked in vinegar, pine nuts and raisins!
Jewish sweets in Venice have a long history dating back to the 16th century when the city was home to a significant Jewish community. Some of the most popular sweets include fry cakes, made with almonds, honey and spices, and the Bussolai Buranei, a type of biscuit made with anise and orange peel. Another staple is the Galilean sweet, made from ricotta cheese, lemon and cinnamon. These sweets have been passed down from generation to generation and are still enjoyed today by locals and visitors alike, often served with a cup of coffee or tea. The rich history of Jewish sweets in Venice adds to the city’s diverse culinary heritage.
Conclusion
If you want to get to know more about Italy and the city of Venice, make sure to check out our blogs and book a private tour with us to fully immerse yourself in the exploration of this majestic city!
