Jewish Ghetto, Venice

Culture & history tours

Make your trip to Venice more comfortable with the Venice City Pass. Gain access to all of the city's prominent churches, museums, monuments, and more. Choose from multiple-day passes, with the option to add public transportation tickets. Visit the Byzantine monuments of St. Mark's Square and venture inside the former palace of the dukes, Doge's Palace. Get access to all 16 churches of the Chorus Circuit such as Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio, Chiesa di Santo Stefano, and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Make your way to the Museo Correr, Archaeological Museum, Biblioteca Marciana, Ca' Rezzonico, Ca' Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art, Glass Museum on Murano Island, Natural History Museum, Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo, Carlo Goldoni's House, Lace Museum on Burano Island, and Museo Fortuny. List of museums:Doge's PalaceMuseo CorrerArchaeological MuseumBiblioteca MarcianaCa' RezzonicoCa' PesaroNatural History MuseumMocenigo PalaceCarlo Goldoni HouseLace Museum on Burano IslandGlass Museum on Murano IslandMuseo Fortuny The 16 Churches of the Chorus Circuit include: Santa Maria del GiglioSan StaeSanto StefanoSant'AlviseSanta Maria FormosSan Pietro di CastelloSanta Maria dei MiracoliSantissimo RedentoreS.Giovanni ElemosinarioSanta Maria del Rosario (Gesuati)San PoloSan SebastianoSan Giacomo dall'OrioSan GiobbeSanta Maria del Carmelo (Carmini)S.Giovanni Battista in Bragora

Admire the San Marco Civic Museums, such as the Doge’s Palace, Correr Museum, National Archaeological Museum, Biblioteca Marciana, and more with your Venice museum pass. Glimpse into the past as you explore the treasures and cultural traditions across various museums and historic churches. Museums of St. Mark's Square (available with the Venice Museum Pass and Venice Museum Pass Plus): • Doge's Palace • Correr Museum • National Archaeological Museum • Biblioteca Marciana If you select the Venice Museum Pass Plus option you will also enjoy entry to the following civic museums: • Ca' Rezzonico • Carlo Goldoni's House • Mocenigo Palace • Ca' Pesaro (Modern Art Gallery and Oriental Art Gallery) • Glass Museum (Murano) • Lace Museum (Burano) • Natural History Museum Both options include the following historic churches in the Chorus Pass: • Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio • Chiesa di Santo Stefano • Chiesa Santa Maria Formosa • Santa Maria dei Miracoli • San Giovanni Elemosinario • Ca’ San Polo • San Giacomo dell'Orio • San Stae • Sant'Alvise • San Pietro di Castello • San Redentore • Santa Maria di Rosario • San Sebastiano • San Giobbe • Santa Maria Del Carmelo - I Carmini • San Giovanni Battista in Bragora

Get to know the historic Jewish Quarter in Venice on a tour of the area with a local guide. Walk its beautiful streets and trace the history of the Old and New Ghettos, see its five synagogues, and visit the Levantine Synagogue and the Spanish Synagogue. Start the tour in the town square of Campo di Ghetto Nuovo. Walk a route through the Old Ghetto and New Ghetto as you learn about the history of Jewish life which animated the area for centuries. Admire the neighborhood's original buildings and hear about local traditions. Visit the Levantine Synagogue and the Spanish Synagogue, where you'll see the study rooms, the Midrashim, and the synagogue's ancient oven.

Take a leisurely stroll in a small group to see landmarks to deepen your understanding of Venice's Jewish history. Choose to enhance your experience by joining the Synagogues tour organized by the Jewish Museum. Begin your Jewish Ghetto tour in the Cannaregio district, a fascinating residential area in the city's northern part. Walk past artisan workshops, galleries, shops, and delis, best explored at a relaxed pace. Next, cross the bridge into Campo del Ghetto Nuovo (New Ghetto Square), which was founded as a fortified island in 1516. Learn about the confinement of Venetian Jews to the island and how it became densely populated. Then, learn from your guide as they point out to one of the most significant highlights of the tour: a series of bas-reliefs in the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo – a sight that most visitors to Venice never see. Next, discover how Napoleon's decision to tear down the gates of the Jewish Ghetto gave Jews the right to live anywhere in Venice. Visit a hub of Jewish culture with bakeries, restaurants, and handicraft stores. Finally, in the second half of the tour, you can choose to include the Synagogues tour. Although the Museum itself is under restoration and closed for visits, you can still visit the Levantine Synagogue and the Spanish Synagogues with their dedicated guides.

Discover the Venetian Ghetto on a walking tour with a local guide and uncover the rich culinary culture of this part of Venice. Sample local cicchetti and learn about the Jewish community as you explore. Meet your guide in the heart of the Jewish Ghetto and learn about its origins as a segregated Jewish quarter during the time of the Venetian Republic. Wander down narrow streets and hear fascinating stories about the resilience of the Jewish community and its contributions to Venetian society. Visit significant landmarks such as the ancient synagogues of the Ghetto, each with its own distinctive architectural style and historical importance, and gain a deeper understanding of the Jewish community's legacy and the challenges they faced throughout history. Sample traditional cicchetti, Venetian small plates, at some of the best local spots along the way and get the opportunity to try mouthwatering street food favorites like sarde in saor (sweet and sour sardines) and creamy baccalà mantecato (whipped codfish). Leave your tour with a deeper understanding of the flavors and traditions of the Venetian Ghetto and a true appreciation of the true essence of this enchanting neighborhood.

Admire the architecture of Venice’s historic Jewish Ghetto, one of the city’s timeless districts. Rich in culture and tradition, the district was the backdrop for scenes in A Merchant of Venice, a film starring Al Pacino. On this 4-hour excursion into the Cannaregio district, you’ll also see a number of canals, Gothic churches, a variety bridges, and other atmospheric sights. On this journey through time you’ll visit 6 restaurants for authentic tastes of Venice, including the famous Italian gelato! Venetians were the first coffee drinkers in Italy. Stop at an old coffee roaster to sample the locals’ favorite. Your leisurely walk will take you along the romantic walkways knows as fondamenta. See the Rabbi’s House and historic synagogues, and taste traditional Jewish-Venetian dishes such as sarde in saor and artichoke bottoms, accompanied by fine Kosher wine. Crossing the Rialto Bridge, the oldest of Venice’s 400 bridges, you’ll head for a true taste of Venice, eating where the locals and the gondoliers love to eat. Try superb risotto and pasta like you’ll find nowhere else! Visit an old bakery and sample the famous zaeti, buranelli, and other specialty biscuits and cakes. This exclusive food and art adventure continues into the evening. As you sip a glass of sparkling wine you’ll encounter another Venice, with its churches and palazzos mirrored in the shimmering waters of the canals.

Meet your guide at 5:00 PM at the kfc restaurant (St Lucia train station) to begin your 1.5-hour walking tour of Venice's iconic cityscape. Stroll through the Jewish Ghetto and continue on to the Strada Nova to Rialto. If the whole group agrees, you can also take the ferry gondola from Campo Santa Sofia (paying in situ 2,00€ per person) to get to the famous Rialto Market.   Go over the beautiful Rialto Bridge and arrive in St. Mark's Square, the world-renowned heart of Venice. From there, you can choose to stay and explore the surrounding area, or get back to the train station on a free motorboat transfer from Riva degli Schiavoni via the breathtaking Giudecca Canal.

Venice has no other transportation other than by water, not even bicycles. Walking through its narrow streets along the canals is the only way to get to know the city. Get a whole new experience that you can't get anywhere else on earth. Find the main sights in Venice's labyrinthine streets with the help of the self-guided tour app. A handy map will show you the route of your walk, and audio commentary will act as your personal tour guide. You're sure to see: - The Bridge of Sighs and Doge's Palace - St. Mark's Cathedral and the picturesque square in front of it - The Rialto Bridge and the nearby shopping district - The Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, where you can see Titian's paintings and tomb - The Grand Canal and the white-washed Ca d'Oro Palace - The world's oldest Jewish ghetto and its high-rises - Many photogenic nooks and crannies The tour includes 25 points and is designed for two hours of walking at a moderate pace. You’re free to pause the audio guide at any point to relax in a café or buy souvenirs. You can turn down any pretty alley and return to the route, skip something that isn’t interesting or listen to the recording again. The walk through the historic center of Venice ends in the Cannaregio district. Once finished, you can continue exploring the city, take a gondola ride or visit one of the neighboring islands: San Michele, Murano, or Burano.

Your local guide will take you to see beautiful palace facades, houses of past Arab merchants, the Campo dei Mori, and beautiful views of the northern lagoon. Cannaregio was once home to one of Venice’s most famous painters, Tintoretto. Enjoy stories of his life and peers and see the place of his burial, the Madonna Dell’Orto Church. The church, often referred to as Tintoretto’s church, holds a spectacular collection of his masterpieces, and is truly a must for all Tintoretto fans. Walking from here, your guide will accompany you to the famous Jewish Ghetto. Dating back to the early 14th century, there is much to discover on this island within an island. In 1516, the Senate approved the proposal that all Jews should be moved to a closed area within the city. By crossing over one of the three bridges to enter this area, you can step back in time and learn about this complicated history.  Your guide is an expert on Jewish history and you'll be able to learn how the local community lived throughout the ages and how they live today. Enjoy the kosher shops, restaurants, library and synagogues where services take place today to serve Jewish Venetians.  At the conclusion of this walking tour, it will be possible for you to visit the Jewish Museum and synagogues separately, where individual entrance fees are required. After taking this tour, you may also like to consider visiting the old Jewish Cemetry on the Lido of Venice. Goethe, Byron, and Shelly were all fascinated by the melancholy beauty of this cemetery, abandoned in the 18th century.

Explore the rich tapestry of history in Venice as you step back in time to discover the birthplace of Europe's oldest ghetto. Walk by the city's first Jewish households, dating back to the early 1000s, and discover the unique background of such a solemn place. Learn about its rapid growth and economic success of the Jewish community in the 15th century, gaining official recognition in various professions, including money-lending. Uncover the intrigue and controversy surrounding this exponential growth, leading to their isolation in the "New Ghetto." Face history and gain knowledge of this location through a short audio guided tour in the heart of Venice. For all those wishing to explore more in detail the rich heritage of the Jewish Ghetto we suggest to enter the Jewish Ghetto Museum located along the tour itinerary (remember to check opening times in advance). - Mind that the Jewish Synagogues are accessible only by purchasing the Museum's ticket. Entrance is recommended to enjoy our itinerary to the fullest, but it is not mandatory!