Museo Ebraico di Venezia

About the museum

The Museo Ebraico di Venezia was founded in 1954 by the Jewish Community in the immediate postwar years, on the initiative of some survivors of the Shoah who wanted to create the first Jewish museum in Italy. At first it occupied two rooms adjoining the three oldest synagogues of the Ghetto (German, Canton and Italian), where the ritual silverware and ancient textiles saved from Nazi-Fascist persecution were gathered. It is located in Campo di Ghetto Nuovo, in the district established by the Serenissima in 1516, considered the first ghetto in Europe.

The collections include Venetian ritual silverware, such as the rimmonim and atarot, the ornaments that adorn the Torah scrolls, vestments and textiles of the synagogues, marriage contracts (ketubbot) and rare books. The objects come largely from the five synagogues of the Ghetto and from the study houses that have remained intact since 1516.

A large restoration project is set to double the museum's surface area and to integrate the three 16th-century synagogues into the route; according to the official website, the works are in progress and reopening is expected in the autumn. Meanwhile the Ghetto is visited with guided tours departing at fixed times or with a free app: the route includes the Levantine and Spanish synagogues (on Fridays the Spanish and Italian). The museum is run by the Jewish Community of Venice with Opera Laboratori.

Highlights

• The Venice Ghetto, established in 1516, the first ghetto in Europe
• Guided tour of the Levantine and Spanish synagogues
• Ritual silverware, textiles and rare books of the Venetian synagogues
• Ketubbot and objects of the Jewish festivals
• Restoration under way to double the museum's surface area

Permanent exhibition

• Le sinagoghe del Ghetto – The Ghetto contains five historic synagogues; the guided tour visits the Levantine and Spanish synagogues (on Fridays the Spanish and Italian).

Founded

1954

Operated by

Comunità Ebraica di Venezia

Director

Marcella Ansaldi

Visitors per year

approx. 79,391

Admission & discounts

An advance-sale fee of €2 is added to tickets. The ticket includes a free audio guide via app (Italian, English, French, German, Spanish) or the fixed-time guided tours. Free admission for children under 6, people with disabilities with one companion, and ICOM members. Tickets are bought at the ticket office in Campo del Ghetto Nuovo or online.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The ticket office and the tour meeting point are in Campo di Ghetto Nuovo 2882.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The bookshop of the Ghetto Vecchio (Cannaregio 1227) is temporarily closed; books and gifts are bought at the ticket office.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit