Jewish History Tour in Bologna
Bologna, Italy
Rating: 
Trip Type: Jewish Tours
Duration: 2 hours 18 minutes
A very dynamic and knowledgeable Jewish population of bankers, merchants and book printers could be found in Bologna from the 14th to the 16th century, that disappeared from 1593 till the end of the 18th c. After the tragic Racial Laws and the 2nd World War, the Community has returned to an active live. In 1999 a Museum was opened. Enjoy a tour that lets you discover the historic Jewish ghetto of Bologna and The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara by David Israel Kertzer, soon a film production by Steven Spielberg.
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A very dynamic and knowledgeable Jewish population of bankers, merchants and book printers could be found in Bologna from the 14th to the 16th century, that disappeared from 1593 till the end of the 18th c. After the tragic Racial Laws and the 2nd World War, the Community has returned to an active live. In 1999 a Museum was opened. Enjoy a tour that lets you discover the historic Jewish ghetto of Bologna and The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara by David Israel Kertzer, soon a film production by Steven Spielberg.
The medieval heart of the city will lead you to the narrow streets that make up the layout of Bologna's 16th century ghetto a maze of alleys, covered bridges and small Windows tells the story of a whole community forced to live in a limited area of the town by order ot the Papal State, starting from 1556.
The medieval heart of the city will lead you to the narrow streets that make up the layout of Bologna's 16th century ghetto a maze of alleys, covered bridges and small Windows tells the story of a whole community forced to live in a limited area of the town by order ot the Papal State, starting from 1556.
In Bologna, Jews lived in the ghetto until 1569, when they were expelled for the first time. In 1586, they were allowed to come back to town and lived here again until 1593, year of their final expulsion: 900 people left Bologna and no Jewish community was allowed into town for more than two centuries. Entrances to the Jewish quarter were opened in the morning, sealed at dusk and constantly watched: one entrance was at the beginning of via de' Giudei, a second one at the intersection between via del Carro and via Zamboni, a third one in via Oberdan, where an arch looks onto vicolo Mandria.
The area is undoubtedly one of the most charming areas in town enlivened with artisan workshops and encircled by palaces which belonged to rich Jewish merchants and bankers. The main spots of this walking tour will be San Petronio Church, San Sepolcro Church, the ghetto and the Jewish museum (please note that if you want to book this tour on Saturday, the museum will be closed).
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