Venice Jewish Ghetto

The Venice Jewish Ghetto, officially established in 1516 in the Cannaregio district, is often cited as the first legally mandated Jewish ghetto and the origin of the word “ghetto.” For centuries, Jews of different backgrounds were required to live inside its gates, locked at night, leading to unusually tall houses as the community grew upward. Despite restrictions, it became a vibrant center of Hebrew printing, scholarship, and commerce. Today, visitors can see several historic synagogues and the Jewish Museum of Venice, making the neighborhood a powerful place to study Jewish life, resilience, and European antisemitism across time.