The Jewish Ghetto of Venice
In 1516 the Republic ordered the Jews of Venice to live on a small island in Cannaregio, behind gates locked at night. It stood on the site of a foundry, a getto, and gave the world its word for ghetto. The tall houses and the hidden synagogues are still there.
- What it is
- Walk
- Time to allow
- 1 to 2 hours
- Cost
- Free to walk; synagogues by tour
- Best time
- A weekday morning; it is quiet on Saturdays
Venice this week
Why the Ghetto is worth it
Crowded into a small space, the Jews of Venice built upwards, and the houses round the Campo di Ghetto Nuovo rise to seven and eight storeys, taller than anywhere else in the city. Communities from Germany, Italy, the Levant and Spain each had their own synagogue, the scole, set in the upper floors.
The gates came down when Napoleon took the city in 1797. Two monuments on the square remember the Jews of Venice deported in 1943 and 1944.
What to see
The Campo di Ghetto Nuovo
The square of the first ghetto, with its tall houses and three wells.
The synagogues
Five synagogues of the different communities, seen on a guided visit.
The Jewish Museum
The museum of the community, with silver, textiles and the story of the Ghetto.
The memorials
The reliefs on the square to the Jews of Venice deported and killed in the Holocaust.
How to do it well
- The synagogues can only be seen on a guided visit.
- On Saturdays and Jewish holidays the synagogues and the museum are closed to visitors.
- Walk on along the Fondamenta della Misericordia for the canals and bars of Cannaregio.
Where it is
Address
Campo di Ghetto Nuovo, Cannaregio
Nearest station
Guglie, on the vaporetto, about three minutes away
Museums and sights nearby
- Ca' Pesaro600 m
- Basilica dei Frari900 m
- Teatro La Fenice1.4 km
- St Mark's Basilica1.6 km
Distances are in a straight line.
Tickets and tours: The Jewish Ghetto
The Jewish Ghetto: common questions
- Why is it called the Ghetto?
- The island had been the site of a copper foundry, a getto in Venetian, and the name passed to the place the Jews were made to live, and from there to other cities.
- Can you visit the synagogues of the Ghetto?
- Yes, on a guided visit, except on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
- How much time do you need for the Ghetto?
- Allow 1 to 2 hours. That is this site's estimate for an unhurried visit.
What visitors say about the Ghetto
Rating from Google
Things to do near the Ghetto
The nearest of this site's best things to do in the city. Distances are in a straight line.
- 14See modern art and Japanese armour at Ca' Pesaro600 m awayMuseum, 1 to 2 hours, ticket
- 17Eat cicchetti standing at the bar of a bacaro900 m awayWalk, 2 to 3 hours, what you eat, or a food tour
- 7See Titian's Assumption at the Frari900 m awayChurch, 45 to 75 minutes, ticket
- 8See Tintoretto's great cycle at the Scuola Grande di San Rocco1.0 km awayMuseum, 1 to 1.5 hours, ticket at the door
Artists to see near the Ghetto
The museums nearest to here, and the most famous artists on show in each.
Ca' Pesaro, 600 m away
Basilica dei Frari, 900 m away
Where to eat near the Ghetto
The nearest of the famous tables this site lists in Venice. Distances are in a straight line.
- Pasticceria Dal Mas4.3Pastry shop, Lista di Spagna450 m away
- Osteria Ca' d'Oro alla Vedova4.1Osteria, Strada Nova750 m away
- Trattoria Antiche Carampane4.4Trattoria, Rialto800 m away
- Cantina Do Spade4.4Bacaro, Rialto850 m away
Hotels near the Ghetto
The five-star hotels closest to it, of those this site lists in Venice. Distances are in a straight line.
- Aman Venice4.8Five-star hotel, Grand Canal1.0 km away
- The Gritti Palace4.6Five-star hotel, Grand Canal1.6 km away
- The St. Regis Venice4.6Five-star hotel, Grand Canal1.7 km away
- Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel4.5Five-star hotel, Riva degli Schiavoni1.8 km away