Scuola Italiana (Italian Synagogue), Venice

Erected in 1575, the Italian Synagogue stands as the last testament to the synagogues constructed during the reign of the Venetian Republic. Its distinctive features are immediately recognizable from the exterior, featuring five grand arched windows and a small Baroque dome perched above the apse. Upon the wall, a crest proudly proclaims the presence of the "Holy Italian Community in the year 1575" while a small tablet serves as a poignant reminder of the Temple's destruction.

To access the synagogue, one must pass through a modest portal and ascend narrow stairs, a deliberate design to conceal its sacred purpose. Once inside, a smaller and less ornate space reveals itself, reflecting the humble economic circumstances of the community adhering to the Italian rite. Worship conducted in Italian and Hebrew according to the Italkim tradition filled this sanctuary, which accommodated a mere 25 worshippers.

The interior is a slightly elongated rectangular shape, its Holy Ark ("aron kodesh") adorned with delicate wooden ornaments, culminating in a weighty pinnacle. A notable feature is the 18th-century bimah pulpit, gracefully projecting from a polygonal apse. Meanwhile, the stairs showcase elegant banisters embellished with a crossed arch motif, a hallmark of 18th-century Venetian furniture. Gilded inscriptions on the walls commemorate renovations and generous donations, with the earliest recorded in 1740. Beneath the teva (pulpit), one can read the words, "the tower of the House of our Lord was renovated in 5549 (1789)". Further remodeling efforts are documented to have taken place in 1842.

In honor of Save Venice's 50th Anniversary in 2021, extensive conservation projects are currently underway at the Italian Synagogue, safeguarding its cultural and historical significance for future generations.

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Sight Name: Scuola Italiana (Italian Synagogue)
Sight Location: Venice, Italy (See walking tours in Venice)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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