The Ghetto of Venice, called the Ghetto Nuovo, was instituted in 1516 by the Venetian Republic in the Cannaregio district. It's considered to be the first ghetto in the world and also the best kept. The word geto comes from the Venetian dialect and means "foundry" (originally there were two iron foundries here where metals were fused). At one time, Venetian Jews were confined to a walled area and obliged to wear red or yellow marks sewn onto their clothing and distinctive-looking hats. The walls that once enclosed and confined the Ghetto were torn down long ago, but much remains of the past.
There are five synagogues in Venice, each built during the 16th century and each representing a radically different aesthetic and cultural difference among the groups of Jews who built them. The oldest is the German Synagogue (Sinagoghe Grande Tedesca), restored after the end of World War II with funds from Germany. Others are the Spanish Synagogue (Sinagoghe Spagnola), the oldest continuously functioning synagogue in Europe; the Italian Synagogue (Sinagoghe Italiana); the Levantine-Oriental Synagogue (Sinagoghe Levantina, aka the Turkish Synagogue); and the Canton Synagogue (Sinagoghe del Canton).
The best way to visit the synagogues is to take one of the guided tours departing from the Museo Comunità Ebraica, Campo di Ghetto Nuovo 2902B (tel. 041-715359). It contains a small but worthy collection of artifacts pertaining to the Jewish community of Venice and costs 8€ for adults. From June to September, the museum is open Sunday to Friday 10am to 7pm (Oct-May to 5pm). However, the museum is by no means the focal point of your experience: More worthwhile are the walking tours that begin and end here, costing 10€, with free entrance to the museum. The 50-minute tours incorporate a brisk commentary and a stroll through the neighborhood, including visits to the interiors of three of the five synagogues (the ones that you visit depend on various factors). From June to September, the tours depart hourly Sunday to Friday 10:30am to 5:30pm (Oct-May to 3:30pm).
