Jewish Ghetto
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It was not until 1516 that Jews were allowed to live permanently in Venice, providing they agreed to reside in a strictly segregated section of the city. The area chosen was a small island in the district of Cannaregio, which was originally accessed by two bridges. The island had once been the site of an iron foundry and, according to G. Boerio's classic Venetian dictionary, geto is 'the shape made in the mould when casting metal.'
In 1541 the Ghetto was enlarged. The new area was known, somewhat confusingly, as the Gheto Vechio (Old Ghetto), for it was the site of an even older foundry ('geto del rame' or copper foundry). In 1633 the Ghetto was again enlarged to include the area known as the Ghetto Novissimo. However, in spite of these expansions, living space remained severely limited. Some estimates put the number of inhabitants as high as 5,000 and their only source of water were four wells; Jews were prohibited from using all the other wells in the city. The work they were allowed to do was restricted to the sale second-hand clothes, money-lending and medicine. There are five synagogues in the ghetto and tours of three of them are organised by the Jewish Museum of Venice. |
Jewish Ghetto
Campo di Ghetto Novo
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