The ancient Jewish ghetto of Bologna, in the heart of the medieval centre, has retained its original shape. The maze of narrow streets and suspended passages, covered bridges and small windows tells the story of an entire community forced by the Papal State to live in circumscribed parts of Italian cities from 1556 onwards.
The Jews of Bologna lived here until 1569, when they were expelled for the first time, and then from 1586, when they were allowed to return to the city, until 1593, year of their final expulsion.
The main thoroughfare of the Ghetto is via dell’Inferno whose name probably derives from being a dark and poorly frequented street. Here a network of small streets converge: via de’ Giudei (formerly via San Marco, later via delle due Torri), via Canonica (once via Canonica San Donato), vicolo di San Giobbe, vicolo Mandria, via del Carro and via Valdonica.
As the site of the ancient synagogue, built in the mid 1800s, number 16 is the most important religious building in the ghetto, it has been returned to the city after a radical restoration (1955) to repair the serious damage suffered during the war.
The ghetto originally had several entrances, all of which were under constant guard, opened in the morning and locked at sunset: on via de’ Giudei, at the intersection of via del Carro and via Zamboni, and in via Oberdan at the arch that overlooks vicolo Mandria. The only gate recognizable today is the arch of Palazzo Manzoli-Malvasia that connects the 18th century Church of San Donato to 13th century Palazzo Manzoli (later Malvasia), of which only a few door arches remain.
The ghetto is one of the most interesting and evocative areas of the entire city, bordered by the buildings that once belonged to wealthy merchants and bankers and filled with artisan workshops.
Learn more about the history of the Jewish community in Bologna at the Jewish Museum, inaugurated on May 9, 1999, to preserve, study, raise awareness and showcase the rich Jewish cultural heritage deeply rooted in the city and throughout Emilia-Romagna.
Emilia-Romagna Film Commission
Viale Aldo Moro 38 — 40127 Bologna
Phone: +39 051 5278753
Email: filmcom@regione.emilia-romagna.it