Jewish Ghetto of Venice
A part of Venice’s history that is rather shameful. The Jewish or Hebrew ghetto of Venice was the first ghetto for Jews in Europe and was the place where the word first originated.
"Venice Jewish Ghetto" 
This once run down and remote area in the Cannaregio Sestiere was where Venice’s Jewish population were forced to live from the 16th century until the late 18th century when Napoleon lifted the restrictions on their movements. The ghetto was guarded, living conditions were cramped and uncomfortable, yet despite this the Jewish population grew to a peak of around 7000 before declining to only 500 after World War 11 and the Holocaust. Now enjoying something of a revival, the Jewish Venice Association is attempting to encourage Jews to return. They now have a Jewish school in the area – the first Jewish school in Venice in over fifty years and there is even a kosher restaurant and five absolutely amazing old Synagogues. Not a very touristy district of Venice, apart from the many Jews from the USA in particular who make the journey to see an important part of European Jewish history. The overriding impression here is of cramped buildings – because the area was small the inhabitants were forced to live one on top the other. It is an interesting area to stroll around and the sense of community still seems to be tangible. Visit the Jewish Museum for a better understanding of what life must have been like here in previous centuries. The Synagogue tours that the museum undertakes are also of great interest, both from an architectural and a historical point of view.
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