First Jewish merchants came to Venice at the beginning of 14th century. Issued in 1381 the first Condotta which allowed Jews to settle in Venice and occupy with money lending and second-hand trade became only a temporary solution, and thorough 15th century Jews who wanted to live in Venice encountered numerous problems especially from the side of rival Venetian merchants.
The first ghetto has been created in 1516 to accumulate Jewish groups fleeing from the French army after a defeat of Venetian forces at Agnadello.
They settled on the small island Ghetto Nuovo connected with the city by two bridges closed for the night.
In 1541 the area has been enlarged by the district called Ghetto Vecchio for new coming Levantine and Spanish Jews, and in 1633 by another part Ghetto Nuovissimo were lived some rich Sephards families
The gates of the ghetto felt down in 1797 when French occupant allowed Jews to settle all over the city. Their privileges were officially confirmed by the king Vittorio Emanuele II, who grant Jews the rights of ordinary Italian citizens.
The origins of the word Ghetto
One of the districts in Venice was formerly occupied by an army foundry. Getto was the description of raw material used in foundry, the name was commonly referred to the foundry itself, and to the whole district. When the new foundry has been built on the small island, the island was named Getto Nuovo, and the first district Getto Vecchio.
in the 16th century the name Getto became the synonyme of Jewish district in Venice, later in Florence and Germany, where got the harder pronunciation Ghetto.
Ghetto Nuovo
there are three buildings of synagogues ( schole ) Schola Grande Tedesca ( German Synagogue est. 1528 ) Schola Canton (1532 ) and Schola Italiana from 1575.
In 1954 the Jewish Community of Venice founded the Museo Ebraico which is situated of the ground floor of German Synagogue.
The ticket to the museum allows entry to the three synagogues.
On the side of the main square Campo del Ghetto Nouovo there is the monument of Holocaust with names of the Jews taken from Venice to the Concentration camps during WWII.
Ghetto Vecchio
There are two buildings of working synagogues Schola Levantine ( 1541 ), and the biggest Venetian synagogue Schola Spagnola founded about 1580.
Along the main street Calle del Ghetto Vecchio there are numerous Jewish shops including sweet shop Panificio Volpe,antiques in Stamperia del Ghetto and Nesher e Nesher.
[photo of Ghetto Nuovo courtesy of Zingaro]
Guides: Destinations, venice
