Museo ebraico Fausto Levi
Museum and neoclassical synagogue in Soragna that tell the history, traditions and persecutions of the Jewish communities of the former Duchy of Parma.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Around 1980 the Jewish Community of Parma decided to bring together in one museum the furnishings and sacred objects of the eight communities of the Parma area, most of which had disappeared. The seat was chosen in Soragna, in a palazzo used since the early 17th century as a synagogue and centre of the local Jewish community, which occupied the so-called “Casa Grande delli Hebrei”. After a complete restoration of the building, the museum was inaugurated in 1981 and named after Fausto Levi, president of the Community of Parma.
The route is spread over two levels. On the ground floor are the Sala della storia (History Room), which traces the events of the Jewish people and of the communities of the Parma area, also through 18th-century documents; the Sala delle tradizioni (Traditions Room), dedicated to the daily and religious life of a Jewish family; and the Sala della Shoah (Shoah Room), with panels and objects linked to the racial laws and the deportations. On the first floor are the Sala delle sinagoghe scomparse (Room of the Vanished Synagogues) and the synagogue itself.
The synagogue was built in the early 17th century and renovated in the mid-19th century: an inscription commemorates the new inauguration of 1855. The neoclassical decoration is the work of the decorator Giuseppe Levi, probably from Fidenza. In the women's gallery (matroneo) eight ketubbot, decorated marriage contracts from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, are displayed. On request, it is also possible to visit the Jewish cemetery in the locality of Argini di Soragna.
Highlights
- Neoclassical synagogue of 1855 with fresco decorations
- Eight ketubbot (marriage contracts) from the late 18th and 19th centuries in the women's gallery
- History Room on the Jewish communities of the Parma area
- Shoah Room with objects from the concentration camps
- Room of the vanished synagogues
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso museale e sinagoga – Five spaces dedicated to the history, traditions, Shoah and vanished synagogues of the Jewish communities of the Parma area, plus the neoclassical synagogue of 1855.
- Founded
- 1981
- Operated by
- Comunità Ebraica di Parma
- Visitors per year
- approx. 5,000
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
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 museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Weddings / ceremonies
The synagogue can host religious ceremonies such as bar/bat mitzvahs, brit milah and Jewish weddings.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The guided tour lasts about 45 minutes and includes the Sala della storia, the Sala della Shoah, the Sala delle antiche sinagoghe, the synagogue and the Sala delle tradizioni; it is also possible to visit only the synagogue (about 20 minutes). By booking, the guided tour is also available in English and French; information materials for the route are available in English, German and French. Booking is mandatory for groups and school parties of more than 10 people. On request, if conditions allow, the Jewish cemetery of Soragna (locality Argini) can also be visited. |
