Jewish Museum of Venice

Take a leisurely stroll in a small group to see landmarks to deepen your understanding of Venice's Jewish history. Choose to enhance your experience by joining the Synagogues tour organized by the Jewish Museum. Begin your Jewish Ghetto tour in the Cannaregio district, a fascinating residential area in the city's northern part. Walk past artisan workshops, galleries, shops, and delis, best explored at a relaxed pace. Next, cross the bridge into Campo del Ghetto Nuovo (New Ghetto Square), which was founded as a fortified island in 1516. Learn about the confinement of Venetian Jews to the island and how it became densely populated. Then, learn from your guide as they point out to one of the most significant highlights of the tour: a series of bas-reliefs in the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo – a sight that most visitors to Venice never see. Next, discover how Napoleon's decision to tear down the gates of the Jewish Ghetto gave Jews the right to live anywhere in Venice. Visit a hub of Jewish culture with bakeries, restaurants, and handicraft stores. Finally, in the second half of the tour, you can choose to include the Synagogues tour. Although the Museum itself is under restoration and closed for visits, you can still visit the Levantine Synagogue and the Spanish Synagogues with their dedicated guides.

Your local guide will take you to see beautiful palace facades, houses of past Arab merchants, the Campo dei Mori, and beautiful views of the northern lagoon. Cannaregio was once home to one of Venice’s most famous painters, Tintoretto. Enjoy stories of his life and peers and see the place of his burial, the Madonna Dell’Orto Church. The church, often referred to as Tintoretto’s church, holds a spectacular collection of his masterpieces, and is truly a must for all Tintoretto fans. Walking from here, your guide will accompany you to the famous Jewish Ghetto. Dating back to the early 14th century, there is much to discover on this island within an island. In 1516, the Senate approved the proposal that all Jews should be moved to a closed area within the city. By crossing over one of the three bridges to enter this area, you can step back in time and learn about this complicated history.  Your guide is an expert on Jewish history and you'll be able to learn how the local community lived throughout the ages and how they live today. Enjoy the kosher shops, restaurants, library and synagogues where services take place today to serve Jewish Venetians.  At the conclusion of this walking tour, it will be possible for you to visit the Jewish Museum and synagogues separately, where individual entrance fees are required. After taking this tour, you may also like to consider visiting the old Jewish Cemetry on the Lido of Venice. Goethe, Byron, and Shelly were all fascinated by the melancholy beauty of this cemetery, abandoned in the 18th century.

Enhance your experience at the Venice Jewish Ghetto with this informative, web app-based audio guide. Your smartphone is all you need to experience the authentic atmosphere of this historical landmark. The digital experience starts in Campo del Ghetto Nuovo. The web app will guide you throughout the neighborhood, exploring centuries of history and works of art. The digital multi-media guide is immediately available on the browser of your smartphone, and it allows you to access the story of the Ghetto, its inhabitants and the immense cultural heritage contained within it.

The word ""ghetto"" was born in the Venetian Ghetto, so it is the best place to learn about the causes and consequences of segregating Jews from the Middle Ages to World War II in Europe. Join a passionate Private Guide on the streets of the Old and New Ghetto to learn about the local Jewish community and their traditions, and see the historic synagogues and heritage sites in Venice. Choose the 2-hour option to explore the Jewish Ghetto in the Cannaregio sestiere. Your walking tour will begin near the Ponte dei Tre Archi and pass by one of the three gates to the medieval ghetto of Venice. As you explore the narrow streets of Calle Ghetto Vecchio, you will discover the hidden symbols of the ghetto and learn how the local Jewish community managed to grow and thrive here despite adversities. Highlights include Scuola Levantina and several other old synagogues, and crossing the Ponte de Ghetto vecchio, one of the bridges that was closed every night to cut off the Old Ghetto. In Campo del Ghetto you can admire the Italian Synagogue, the Great German Scola, Banco Rosso, and the Venetian ""skyscrapers"" that were created as a result of the overcrowding of the ghetto. You will also the only remaining of the first three banks in the world, find out where the phrase ‘to be in the red’ comes from and why pawn shops were so important to Jews. Of course, you will also hear stories of the Jewish residents who were persecuted and murdered during World War II. Learn about the Holocaust in Italy and see the Stolpersteine (stumbling blocks) and the Deportation Monument. Other points of interest include the special wells and the Chabad of Venice. You will also have a chance to stop at a kosher bakery to try a local snack (at your own expense) and get tips on the best things to see and do in Venice.

Enjoy a unique walk through the popular neighborhood of Cannaregio on the North-West side of Venice with a local guide. Visit the Jewish Ghetto and enjoy entry to the synagogue. Admire the picturesque canals of Cannaregio and hear the history behind each turn from your guide as you make your way to the Jewish Ghetto. Visit the monuments, palaces, and churches of one of the wealthiest areas of Venice: the famous Jewish Ghetto. Explore this area of Venice and learn all about Jewish heritage and history. “Ghetto” is a Venetian word meaning “foundry” because the Jewish quarter was built to replace a foundry. This name now means “Jewish District” all over the world. Here you can join a visit to the Jewish Synagogues with specialized guides.

Firstly, our tour starts in the bustling Rialto area, where you’ll get to see the famous Rialto Bridge. Built in the 16th century, this bridge spans the Grand Canal and is one of Venice’s most iconic landmarks. Your guide will give you a brief history of the bridge and its significance to the city. Then, we’ll make our way to the Jewish Quarter, an area steeped in history and tradition. The Jewish community in Venice dates back to the 16th century. The neighborhood is home to several historic synagogues and the Jewish Museum of Venice. Your guide will take you on a walking tour of the area, pointing out key landmarks and providing you with an overview of Jewish history in Venice. As we explore the Jewish Quarter, you’ll get to see several notable landmarks. One of the highlights of the area is the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo. A historic square that was once home to Venice’s Jewish population.