Since 1516
Jewish Ghetto & Cannaregio
The history of the Venice Ghetto and the everyday life of Cannaregio, to Tintoretto's church.
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Visitor guide · Cannaregio
The Jewish Ghetto of Venice: a visitor's guide
The history of the Jewish Ghetto in Venice, Italy, established in 1516, its three areas and five historic synagogues, how to visit the Jewish Museum, and how to walk the neighborhood with respect and with a licensed guide.
- Licensed guide no. 05000058
- Guiding since 2008
- Private tours only
- EN · IT · FR
In short
What is the Jewish Ghetto of Venice?
The Jewish Ghetto of Venice is the area of Cannaregio where, by a decree of the Venetian Senate of 29 March 1516, the city's Jews were required to live, behind gates closed at night, until the fall of the Republic in 1797. It includes the Ghetto Nuovo, the Ghetto Vecchio (1541) and the Ghetto Novissimo (1633), with five historic synagogues, the scole, which can be seen inside only on the Jewish Museum's guided visits. The neighborhood is free to walk through. Licensed guide Daniela Zarpellon tells its story on a private tour in English, Italian or French; free quote, reply within 24 hours.
A short history of the Venice Ghetto
Jewish merchants and moneylenders had worked in Venice for centuries, often living in Mestre or staying only for limited periods. In 1516, with refugees arriving during the wars of the League of Cambrai, the Senate decided that Jews could live in the city, but only in one place: a small island in Cannaregio, closed by gates that Christian guards locked at night, at the community's expense.
The name most likely comes from the Venetian geto, the casting of metal, because a foundry had stood here; historians still debate the exact origin. From Venice, the word "ghetto" spread to the rest of Europe.
Inside these narrow limits a remarkable community grew: Jews of German, Italian, Levantine and Spanish and Portuguese origin, with their own languages, rites and synagogues. Venice became a center of Hebrew printing, and the Ghetto attracted scholars and travelers. The gates were removed in 1797, when Napoleon's army ended the Republic. During the Second World War, from 1943, Jews of Venice were deported; memorials in the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo remember them.
Three areas
Ghetto Nuovo, Vecchio and Novissimo: what is the difference?
The names are a puzzle: the "new" ghetto is the oldest part, because it took its name from the newer of two foundry sites.
| Area | Year | What to see |
|---|---|---|
| Ghetto Nuovo | 1516 | The wide campo with wellheads, some of the tallest houses in Venice, the Jewish Museum, the Holocaust memorials and three synagogues on the upper floors |
| Ghetto Vecchio | 1541 | The street from the Cannaregio Canal, where the Scola Levantina and the Scola Spagnola stand |
| Ghetto Novissimo | 1633 | A few quiet streets and houses added for a growing population |
Look up as you walk: with no room to expand outward, families built upward, and some houses reach seven or eight stories, unusually tall for Venice.
The scole
The five synagogues of the Ghetto
Each community had its own synagogue, called a scola. From outside they are almost invisible: a row of windows, a small dome on a roof.
Scola Grande Tedesca
The German, Ashkenazi synagogue, traditionally dated to 1528, on the upper floor of a building in the Ghetto Nuovo, with an elegant elliptical women's gallery.
Scola Canton
Also Ashkenazi, traditionally dated to 1532; its small wooden cupola can be glimpsed from the campo.
Scola Italiana
The synagogue of the Italian-rite community, of 1575, recognizable by its five large windows on the campo.
Scola Levantina and Scola Spagnola
The synagogues of the Levantine and of the Spanish and Portuguese communities, in the Ghetto Vecchio, with interiors remodeled in the 17th century. The Spagnola is the largest of the five.
Can you visit the synagogues in Venice?
Yes, but only on the guided visits organized by the Jewish Museum of Venice (Museo Ebraico di Venezia), founded in 1953 and located in the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo. The museum decides which synagogues are shown on each visit. Its building and the synagogues were restored and the museum expanded in recent years.
The museum follows the Jewish calendar, so closing days, including Saturdays and Jewish holidays, should always be checked on the museum's official site before you plan your day. Opening times and visit slots vary: we always check them when we prepare your tour. Museum tickets are not included in the guide fee; Daniela tells you which ones to book and when; you book them directly.
How to visit with respect
- The Ghetto is a living neighborhood, with homes, a community and places of worship: keep your voice low.
- Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and follow the museum staff's instructions inside the synagogues.
- Do not photograph inside the synagogues unless you are told you may, and ask before photographing people.
- Stop in silence at the Holocaust memorials on the walls of the campo.
Good to know
- The Ghetto is a public area and free to walk through on any day.
- It is a short walk from Santa Lucia station along the Cannaregio Canal, past the Ponte delle Guglie.
- On Saturdays, out of respect for the Sabbath, the neighborhood is especially quiet.
- The old Jewish cemetery is on the Lido, a separate visit by vaporetto.
Gallery
A visual diary of Venice
How to see the Jewish Ghetto with a private guide
The Ghetto is small and easy to cross in ten minutes, which is exactly why it is easy to miss. With a guide you read the buildings, the hidden synagogues, the traces of the gates and the long history of a community that shaped Venice.
On the Jewish Ghetto and Cannaregio private tour, about 2.5–3 hours, Daniela Zarpellon, licensed tourist guide, walks you through the three areas of the Ghetto and on to Madonna dell'Orto and Tintoretto's house, and can time the walk so you join the Jewish Museum's visit. You can also meet Shylock on the literary Venice tour, or begin your stay with Understanding Venice. If you are planning the whole trip, Venice Stay Design helps you fit the Ghetto into the right day.
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Discover the tourFAQ
The Venice Ghetto: your questions
Why is the Venice Ghetto called a ghetto?
The name is usually traced to the Venetian geto, the casting of metal, because the area had been a foundry before 1516, although the etymology is still debated. Venice's Ghetto is often described as the first to carry the name, which then spread across Europe.
Is the Jewish Ghetto in Venice free to visit?
Yes, the streets and campi of the Ghetto are public and free. The Jewish Museum and its guided visits to the synagogues require a ticket, which is not included in the guide fee.
Can you go inside the synagogues?
Only on the guided visits organized by the Jewish Museum of Venice, which decides which synagogues are shown. Check times and booking on the museum's official site; we always check them when we prepare your tour.
Is the Ghetto open on Saturdays?
The neighborhood can be walked through any day. The museum follows the Jewish calendar, so check its closing days, including Saturdays and Jewish holidays, on the museum's official site before you go.
How long do you need to visit the Jewish Ghetto?
A walk through the three areas takes about an hour with explanations; add the museum's guided visit if you want to see the synagogues. Our private tour of the Ghetto and Cannaregio lasts about 2.5–3 hours and can be shortened or extended.
How much does a private tour of the Venice Ghetto cost?
Every private tour is quoted individually because it is tailor-made. The quote depends on length, number of guests, language and season, while museum tickets are separate. It is free and without obligation, with a reply within 24 hours.
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From the Ghetto, Rialto and the Frari are within walking distance. See all the sights in our guide to what to see in Venice.
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Walk the Ghetto with time and care
Tell us your dates, whether you would like to join the Jewish Museum's visit, and any family history you are tracing. Tailor-made, quote on request. Free, no-obligation quote – reply within 24 hours.
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