Biella Synagogue, Baroque synagogue in Piazzo district, Biella, Italy
Biella Synagogue sits on the upper floor of a medieval building with a rectangular prayer hall featuring wooden benches along the walls and a central reading table. The space is reached through an entrance at Vicolo del Bellone with a stone staircase that also leads to a women's gallery.
The Jewish community founded the synagogue in 1725 following the establishment of the Biella ghetto, mirroring similar developments across the Piedmont region. This founding reflected a broader wave of Jewish community consolidation in northern Italy during the 18th century.
The prayer hall displays an ornate Torah Ark decorated in green and gold on the eastern wall, aligned with Jewish religious practice. This ornamentation reflects how the community blended their religious observances with local artistic craftsmanship.
Access is through a discreet entrance at Vicolo del Bellone leading to a vestibule and stone staircase to the prayer room. Check opening hours and access rules ahead of time since the synagogue is located within a private building and is not freely accessible.
The building houses a 13th-century Torah scroll that is still used during religious services, making it actively functional for worship. This scroll is among the oldest examples still regularly read in active prayer, which makes it noteworthy for researchers and visitors alike.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
