Sinagoga di Pitigliano, 16th century synagogue in Pitigliano, Italy.
The Sinagoga di Pitigliano is a 16th-century building reached through a large arched entrance that opens into an interior courtyard. Inside, wooden furnishings include a central reading pulpit and a sacred wooden shrine, with a women's balcony above featuring decorative golden grating.
A weaver named Leone di Sabato commissioned the building in 1598, marking an important moment for the Jewish community. The structure suffered roof damage in 1757 and underwent major repairs that restored much of what visitors see today.
The building was a gathering place where the local Jewish community held services and marked important celebrations together. The wooden furnishings from different periods inside show how worship practices continued across generations in this space.
You enter through the main portal that displays Hebrew inscriptions, and it helps to know that visiting hours change with the seasons. Checking the current schedule before you go ensures you do not arrive when the building is closed.
The women's balcony retains its original gilded wooden grating decorated with plant patterns, a rare example of authentic period decoration. This ornamental feature is among the few original components that have survived unchanged from the building's earliest centuries.
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