Join a 2-hour guided Jewish Ghetto Venice tour through the Cannaregio district, available as a small-group or private experience for a more intimate setting. You will see a side of Venice that most visitors miss.
Along the way, visit the Deportation Memorial and historic synagogues while hearing fascinating stories that reveal the city’s Jewish heritage. This Jewish Ghetto Venice tour offers a perfect mix of history, culture, and local life.
Begin in the Cannaregio district, a handsome and intriguing residential area in the north of the city. From the moment you arrive, you’ll notice the Jewish influence. Yellow signs in both Hebrew and Italian point toward the synagogues. Moreover, the charming Ghetto Vecchio (Old Ghetto) overflows with artisan workshops, galleries, shops, and delis. You’ll explore these at a relaxed pace.
Next, cross the bridge into Campo del Ghetto Nuovo (New Ghetto Square). Venetians established it in 1516 as a fortified island. Here, you will learn how city officials confined Venetian Jews and how residents solved overcrowding by building tenement blocks up to six stories high – a remarkable innovation in 16th-century Europe.
Then, pause at one of the tour’s most moving highlights. Your guide will show you a series of intricate bas-reliefs whose story many visitors never hear.
Afterwards, step inside the Levantine Synagogue and the Spanish Synagogue with expert guides from the Jewish Museum. Although the Museum itself is under restoration, the synagogues remain open. As a result, you can still admire their breathtaking interiors and gain a rare, authentic glimpse into Venice’s Jewish heritage.
Hear how Napoleon tore down the ghetto gates, allowing Jews to live freely throughout Venice. Today, only a small percentage of residents are Jewish; however, the district still thrives with Jewish culture, bakeries, restaurants, and handicraft shops.
Finish your tour in the Jewish Ghetto, surrounded by historic landmarks and distinctive architecture that showcase centuries of tradition, resilience, and cultural identity in Venice.
This hidden cultural heart of Venice will come vividly to life as your guide leads you from one fascinating corner to the next. Ultimately, the stories you hear will stay with you long after your visit.
We meet at Campo di Ghetto Nuovo. You will see a big square, right in the center of the square there is a waist-height, black drinking fountain. Your guide will be waiting for you there.
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