The Synagogue of Siena

The synagogue was designed in 1786, before the Emancipation and is located on Vicole dell Scotte.
Its simple exterior does not hint to the richness and beauty of its interior. The main prayer hall is nearly rectangular in shape. On its lateral sides are rows of benches and in the centre the podium (Tevah) is positioned. The podium is decorated with nine 10-branched candelabra dated to the XVIII century. In front of the Aron Hakodesh is the women’s section.The windows on the wall behind the podium are outlined with rich decorations. At the centre of the ceiling are the designs of the stone tables of the covenant. One of the items beautifully conserved and worth special attention is Eliyahu’s Throne, a special chair used during the circumcision ceremony, located at the entrance to the main prayer hall. The chair was donated to the community in 1860 by Rabbi Nissim. On its backrest are wooden inlays with biblical quotations relating to circumcision. The visit to the synagogue includes also a visit to a small exhibition in English and Italian that displays documents and photographs depicting various events and aspects related to the Jewish community of through its 700-year existence.

The Jewish community of Sienna

First evidence for the existence of Jews dates to the 14th century. For more than 350 years banking activities carried out by the Jews flourished, despite the establishment of the very successful Italian Monte di Pietà in 1471 (later the Monte dei Paschi).
In 1555, the anti Jewish papal bull was issued. Cosimo de’ Medici imposed it on the Jews in 1571 and specified that they were to reside in a quarter designated only for Jews near Piazza del Campo. The Ghetto was delimited between Via Salicotto and Via San Martino where it crosses Via dell Scotte, Vicolo del Luparello and Vicolo del Realto. The Ghetto functioned until 1859.
In about 1935, reconstruction work began. Some of the original structures of the Ghetto remained as is and are still visible to today’s visitors. The original names of the streets have also remained unchanged.
Opposite the synagogue, one can find the Fonte del Ghetto, as it is still called today by the local people of Sienna, built in the wall in Via degli Archi.
The ancient cemetery in Via Linaiolo is still used today.

Some practical information

Location: Vicolo delle Scotte 14
How to get there:
On foot: 1 minute on foot from Piazza del Campo
Opening hours: Sundays 10:00-17:00 throughout the year
From October-May: Mondays and Thursdays 11:30-14:30
From June-September: Mondays to Thursdays 11:30-14:30
Guided tours in Italian or English every 30 minutes during opening hours.
Tickets: € 4.00 adults; € 3.00 Groups (15 people minimum); € 2.50 Students.
Visits outside opening hours can be made by appointment for which entry fee is € 80.00.
Special tours can be arranged for schools or groups.
from 1st of June 2012 booking and information: prenotazioni.mef@pierrecicodess.it