The Complete Guide to a Kosher Trip to Venice

The word "ghetto" itself was born right here: in 1516, Venice's Jewish community was confined to living on a small island called Ghetto Nuovo, and the name has stuck to every enclosed Jewish quarter in the world ever since. Today, Venice's Ghetto isn't just a historic site — it's an active Jewish community with restaurants, hotels and stunning synagogues. Here's a short guide to planning your visit.

The Jewish Ghetto — five synagogues in a tiny area

Scola Spagnola (the Spanish Synagogue) and Scola Levantina (the Levantine Synagogue), both on Ghetto Vecchio street, are two of the Ghetto's five historic synagogues — each representing a different community that settled there (Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Levantine and Italian). The Jewish Museum of Venice organizes combined tours that grant access to several synagogues not normally open to the public.

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Chabad House and Gam Gam Restaurant

Gam Gam Restaurant, right on a canal in the heart of the old Ghetto, is Venice's central kosher dining address — with outdoor seating right by the water. Chabad of Venice, on the same street, offers prayers and information, alongside the Kosher House Giardino Dei Melograni guesthouse and Volpe Kosher Bakery.

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The Rialto Bridge — best early or late

The 16th-century Rialto Bridge, the first and oldest bridge to cross the Grand Canal, is one of Venice's most recognizable symbols — and therefore also one of its most crowded spots during the day. Practical tip: arrive before 9am or after 7pm, when the light on the Grand Canal is especially soft and you can cross the bridge without being jostled.

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Between the Jewish Ghetto — the birthplace of the word itself — and the Rialto Bridge and Venice's magical canals, this is one of the deepest encounters with Jewish history to be found anywhere in Europe.