Museo Ebraico (Jewish Museum), Venice
 Exhibits in the Jewish Museum of Venice: 19th-century silver Passover plate made in Venice; Ketubah (marriage contract) from 1792. Photos © Museo Ebraico. |
The Museo Communità Ebraica (Museum of the Jewish Community) in Venice provides visitors with insight into Jewish life in Venice over the last several centuries. The museum diplays Jewish ritual objects made or used in Venice, including Seder plates, spice boxes, silver Hanukkah lamps and torahs, and handwritten, beautifully decorated wedding contracts in Hebrew.
Although interesting in itself, the major highlight of the museum is the synagogue tour conducted by museum staff. This is the only way to visit any of the area's five 16th-century synagogues.
Tour guides explain (in English) the commercial and political climate of those times, the unique "skyscraper" architecture necessitated by overcrowding, and the daily lifestyle of the Jewish community until the arrival of Napoléon in 1797, who declared the Jews free citizens.
The tour covers three of the five historic synagogues in the area, which are dedicated to the rites of all three major Jewish groups who called Venice home: Italian (Scola Italiana), Sephardic (Scola Levantina), and Ashkenazi (Scola Canton).
Visiting these Renaissance-era synagogues is a unique cross-cultural experience. Though each is marked by the tastes of its individual builders, Venetian influence is evident throughout. Women's galleries resemble those of theaters from the same era, and some synagogues were decorated by artisans who were simultaneously active in local churches.
On the right side of the museum is the Canton Synagogue, which was built in 1531. This synagogue served Ashkenazi Jews from Germany, France and Switzerland. Inside is a beautiful ark with carved and gilded doors. It has been restored and altered a number of times and is still in use today for wedding ceremonies.
The Italian synagogue, built in 1575, served the Italians, the poorest group in the ghetto. Accordingly, the synagogue is quite simple. It was restored to its original appearance in 1970.
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of the Jewish Ghetto in Venice. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. You can explore all of Venice from space on our Venice Map.
Quick Facts
| Address: | Cannaregio 2902b, Venice, Italy |
| Location: | Campo del Ghetto Nuovo |
| Phone: | 041-715-359 |
| Website: | http://www.museoebraico.it/ |
| Vaporetto: | Guglie |
| Hours: | Museum Apr-Sept Sun-Fri 10am-7pm, Oct-Mar Sun-Fri daily 10am-6pm. Closed on Jewish holidays. |
| Tours: | Synagogue tours hourly 10:30am-4:30pm (5pm Apr-Sept). |
| Cost: | Museum only: 3€ adults, 2€ children; museum and synagogue tour: 8€ adults, 6.50€ children |
Sources
- Museo Ebraico di Venezia - Official website (Italian and English)
- Frommer's Northern Italy
- Fodor's Venice and the Venetian Arc
- Jewish Virtual Library.
