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Visit the Venetian Ghetto

The historic sites, canals and architecture of central Venice are a hive with tourists year in year out, but just off the beaten path lies the 'ghetto' - a lesser known yet no less charming area of the city that is seeped in a fascinating history with a plethora of sites to explore.

The Ghetto forms part of the Cannaregio sestiere area of the city, which is split into the Ghetto Nuovo ('new' ghetto) and the Ghetto Vecchio ('old' ghetto). It is famous for being the site where Jews were compelled to live under the Venetian Republic, and as such it is still an important centre of Jewish life today. Among some of the oldest in Europe, it houses five synagogues (although only two are still in use), several Jewish shops, a Yeshiva (educational institution) and a Kosher restaurant.

One of the most fascinating things you can do if you're visiting this part of Venice is to take a tour around the historic synagogues. Your best bet is to visit the Museo Ebraico in Cannaregio, who offer a short tour of three of the five remaining synagogues which run every hour at half past the hour. What is interesting about these buildings is their size - they are far smaller than you might imagine and some are on the upper floors, but each is unique and beautiful in its own right.

Whilst you're in the Cannaregio area, make sure you visit one of it many authentic Venice restaurants, offering some of the best cuisine in the city which is not overpriced like many other restaurants in the tourist-packed centre. The central piazza is also a great spot to rest your weary feet after touring the synagogues, boasting a charming wide open space with plenty of greenery and welcoming cafes.

The Museum Ebraico is another building worth exploring for more history on the area, offering visitors with a fascinating insight into Jewish life over the last few centuries in Venice. Various Jewish ritual artefacts are on display here, including spice boxes, Seder plates, silver Hanukkah lamps and torahs, as well as handwritten wedding contracts in Hebrew.

Further sites worth pulling into your itinerary are the various moving memorials dotted around the Ghetto area. Look out for the series of bronze plaques around the campo, along with a poem by Andre Tranc. The image below shows a poignant monument to the Jewish holocaust in the central square.

 

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