Italian Jewish Art and Culture in Northern Italy

(Eight Days, Seven Nights)

First Day (Friday)

Arrival in Milan. Transfer to hotel . Brief walking tour of  principal sights of  Milan with special guide. Welcome reception at private home of  Carol and David Ross, owners of Sophisticated Italy. 

Second day (Saturday)

Free time.  

Third day(Sunday)

Transfer to Asti  in  private bus with our special guide to see the Ghetto, its synagogue and the Jewish Museum.  From Campo del Palio we walk  along Corso G.Ferraris and Via Lamarmora,  arriving in Via Martiri Israelitici where important historical records have been preserved in the Jewish cemetery. Lunch in a typical trattoria followed by a visit to Casale Monferrato to visit the German rite synagogue which was  built in 1595.  This  Temple, in sumptuous Piedmontese baroque style, was restored at the end of the 1960s and was shortly afterwards  declared a national monument. In the same building there is a museum which contains precious religious texts. Visit the  large new cemetery with its various monumental tombs. Return to Milan. Evening free.

Fourth day (Monday)

After breakfast, depart for Mantua  Arrival and visit of   the ghetto where  four hundred years ago  six synagogues were operative.Visit of the Norsa Torrazzo Italian rite synagogue which has now been rebuilt  in Via Govi,  also a  national monument and  the Palazzo Ducale which hosts important Jewish documents from 1522 to 1810.   After lunch in a typical Mantovan trattoria, transfer to Sabbioneta to visit the  Via della Stamperia named after the Jewish printing guild.  It contains Salomone Forti’s workshop and a  prayer room. Visit of  the 16th century synagogue  with  its stuccoed ceiling giving the effect of a wind-filled sail.  Transfer to Verona, check-in to hotel .

Fifth Day (Tuesday)

After breakfast, transfer to Ferrara to see the Jewish Community building.  This is the city where the novel  The Garden of the Finzini Contini  takes place.  On the first floor we find the secretariat of the community, the Rabbi’s apartment and the Scuola Farnese, still operative and the Scuola Tedesca (German synagogue) which is      still used for Jewish holidays. There are also rooms that were occupied by the medieval  Rabbinical court and the Scuola Italiana (Italian Synagogue) .  Today these rooms are used for the Jewish Community’s cultural events. Lunch at Ferrarese restaurant and time to walk the beautiful streets of Ferrara including a visit to the Palazzo dei Diamanti.  Transfer to  Venice. Check-in hotel. Evening free. 

Sixth Day (Wednesday)

After breakfast, depart for a walking tour of the old  Ghetto,visiting the Spanish and Levantine synagogues, the Jewish Historical Museum,  and the German and Italian synagogues in the New Ghetto. Lunch on own with afternoon free to wander through Venice. Evening free.

Seventh Day (Thursday)

After breakfast, transfer to the Lido to visit the ancient Jewish Cemetery. Afternoon free.  Evening farewell gala dinner.

Eight Day (Friday)

Transfer to Venice Airport for return flight to US..

Itinerary includes:

·       7 nights accommodation.

·       meet and greet at airport on arrival.

·       private transfers with private driver and bus.

·       entrance fees in museums as per program

·       English speaking guide specialized in Italian Jewish art and culture.

·       Minimum: 14 pax