Jewish Ghetto

The Ghetto of Venice is the district where, starting from 1516, Jews were required to live during the Venetian Republic. It is located in Cannaregio and is considered the first ghetto in history, so much so that the word “ghetto” actually originates from here.

Before that, it was not a residential area: there were foundries there, and this is where the name comes from.

Life was not easy: the district was closed at night with guarded gates, so residents could not move freely.

Over time, however, the ghetto became a sort of “city within the city”: there were shops, synagogues, activities, and different communities (German, Italian, Spanish, etc.) living together in the same space.

Because it was so crowded, buildings were constructed vertically (even taller than usual for Venice).

This situation lasted for centuries, until 1797 when, with the arrival of Napoleon, the gates were removed and Jews were finally able to live freely in the city.

Today it is no longer a place of isolation, but an important historic district, with synagogues, museums, and a strong memory of the Venetian Jewish community.