JEWISH GHETTO – THE SLOW WAY
JEWISH GHETTO – THE SLOW WAY
A private water-taxi will pick us up at the hotel and, via Grand Canal and other minor waterways, will drop us at the entrance of the former Jewish quarter of Venice, the Ghetto (the word originates here in Venice), first established in 1516. During navigation you will start learning about the history of the Jews in Venice.
The area surrounding the tiny Ghetto district is today busy with locals and tourists alike, dotted with a variety of small shops and cafes and has a lively open-air market. Once this was a secluded part of town, far from the main hubs of San Marco and Rialto, but today we are a stone-throw away from the hectic railway station!
As soon as we enter the proper Ghetto, we realize that every wall bears the signs of a strong, long-lived, and multi-faceted Jewish presence. A crucible of languages, traditions, commercial connections and cultural-religious interests, the Ghetto of Venice is one of the best preserved historical Jewish neighborhoods in Europe. If once there were up to 5,000 Jews here, today only a few hundred remain.
Your guide will help you spotting the five synagogues, each corresponding to a different nationality, as Venice became the new home of Jews arriving from Germany, France, central and southern Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. If Venice was a multi-ethnic, the Ghetto was a Jewish melting pot. The main activities were related to moneylending, international trade, medicine, and the printing of texts in Hebrew.
Every stone is imbued in history, every corner enshrines a tale. We shall decide together whether to visit one or two (or three) of the old ‘Scuole’ (this is how the synagogues are named in Venice) or rather hanging around shopping for Judaica and talking with people. We can also take a pleasant stroll along one of the airy canals that are so typical of this part of Cannaregio and stop at a table along the water for a refreshing drink or for a grest coffee or cappuccino. Before we start feeling tired our water-taxi will take us home.
HIGHLIGHTS
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- private water-taxi to and from the Ghetto
- lecture about the Jewish presence in Venice
- brief stroll in the picturesque backstreets of Cannaregio
- coffee break in a local cafe’ by the Ghetto
- on request: visit to some of the 5 synagogues (if available)
DRESS CODE AND ADVICE
- No sleeveless, no shorts.
- Short sleeves and knee high garments are ok !
COST
- This tour lasts two and a half hours and costs 460 euros up to six people (not per person), only private parties. For larger parties send us an email!
- The above cost does NOT include entrance fees and drinks. Admission fees at Jewish Museum from 14 euros per person
- The Jewish Museum is closed on Saturday
