New for Us
In all of ours trip here to Venice, we had never taken the tour of the Jewish Ghetto. The first one of the day is at 10:30, so we decided to try to make it and if we didn’t we’d just chill out and wait for the next one. And that’s exactly what happened. We were on the line when the clock ticked 10:30 and off they went. One of the reasons we missed it was because they have real security–put your bags through a scanner and get “wanded” before you go inside. But we got our tickets for the 11:30 tour and went just around the corner for coffee at a Majer (Venetian Starbucks) nearby. Also, near this lovely little space:
We sat in the campo for a while. For some strange reason, I am fascinated with the garbage people. They use these old fashioned brooms with a shovel for a dust pan and put it all into a heavy duty plastic bag. The ultimate old and new.
The tour: Our guide was an odd person who seemed totally bored by the experience–checking her nails and scratching her scalp while reciting her script. But when a question was asked, she brightened ever so slightly. Jews were forced into this small area in the early 1500’s and had to build the buildings higher to accommodate the population. There are four existing synagogues, Turkish, German, Spanish and Italian.
The small wooden structure is the small synagogue
We saw inside all but the Turkish. The oldest one is very small. You can see where the women had to sit as to “not distract” the men. All of it was interesting, but there was not the beauty we are accustomed to in the wealthy churches.
Inside the larger one
Turkish from the outside.
Walking home I saw this little altar with fresh flowers. Maybe. because it was All Saints Day
After the tour, by way of Strada Nuova (where they are selling hot chestnuts), we came home for lunch, reading and rest.
Before dinner we took another walk–all the way on the Fondamenta Nove to our right, passed the hospital, turning into Castello just at the Coop. Then we walked home by way of Campo Giovanni e Paolo. I saw this large photo. What could this be for???
I cooked some polenta and some mushrooms for dinner with our left over chicken. It was another great day.
I have done the ghetto tour at least 4 times, but not for years. Except for one visit, it was always the same woman who seemed as you described. I wonder if it could b the same one. The exception was an absolutely adorable, charming man. I would have hiked up and down all those stairs every day to hear him talk. We thought the restored synagogues were magnificent. I guess it depends on what you are accustomed to seeing. When you get home maybe we can exchange more notes on the tour.