Reviving the ornate synagogues of Venice in the world’s first ghetto

A new project is restoring three 16th-century synagogues in the historic city responsible for inventing the word “ghetto”

Italian city 12 years ago, he was stunned to see flaking layers of paint, benches infiltrated by woodworms, and damaged plaster and stucco decorations.

Now an $11 million project is reviving three of the ghetto’s synagogues: the German Synagogue, the Canton Synagogue and the Italian Synagogue, all built in the 16th century.

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Inside the Effort to Restore Synagogues in Venice’s 500-Year-Old Jewish Ghetto (Smithsonian)

Restoring the Schola Canton (World Monuments Fund)

Photo: Restoration of the Canton Synagogue, Venice (World Monuments Fund)