Venetian Ghetto, Historic Jewish quarter in Cannaregio, Venice, Italy
The Venetian Ghetto is a historic Jewish quarter in Cannaregio, made up of two connected sections: Ghetto Nuovo and Ghetto Vecchio. Buildings here stand noticeably taller than other Venetian structures, reaching up to seven stories in some places to make use of the limited space within the enclosed area.
In 1516, this neighborhood was created by decree of Doge Leonardo Loredan as an enclosed residential area for Jewish inhabitants of Venice. It became the first such separated district in Europe and later gave its name to all similar districts elsewhere.
Small Jewish bakeries and restaurants offer kosher food along streets shaped by the different communities who settled here over centuries. Hebrew inscriptions and symbols remain visible on building walls and stones, reminding visitors of the varied traditions practiced by residents.
The Jewish Museum offers guided tours that provide access to synagogues and explain daily life within the community. Most buildings are reached by narrow bridges, and the tight lanes call for comfortable walking shoes.
The name may predate Jewish residence: the area was called Ghetto Nuovo, not Ghetto Vecchio, which suggests the word came from the former copper foundry on the site. Etymologist Anatoly Liberman reviewed the theories in 2009 and found all of them speculative. The carved V on a stone in the quarter is one detail to look for.
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