The
Ghetto was instituted by the Venetian Republic
in 1516 as a compulsory place of residence for
Jews. The word itself, ghetto, seems to have originated
in Venice: the term derives from the contortion
of the work geto (‘to throw’ as a
synonym for ‘to cast’), referring
to the foundries that were located here in early
times.
Within the Ghetto stand the Synagogues, also called
Scole - distinguished by their cupolas - and the
Jewish Museum, which is accessed through Ghetto
Nuovo; it is a small but very rich museum with
many exemplars of the goldsmith’s and textile
arts dating from between the 16th and 19th century,
evidence of the Jewish traditions.
The campo or square is also interesting for the
height of its buildings that are some of the highest
in the city. |
