Jewish Walking tour of Pitigliano
HISTORY . The first Jewish family moved to Pitigliano from the papal state since 16 th century attracted by the tolerance policy of the noble Orsini family, extraordinary in that time, compared with the rest of Italy. The flourishing community built a synagogue, a school, banks, a cemetery and many shops. At the beginning of 1600 the territory passed under the control of the Medici family of Florence, which created a ghetto in the area of the Temple. For more than one century the families had restrictions in the freedom of working and they lost many privileges, but the relationship between Jews and catholic was ever friendly and their life was never miserable as in other Italian ghettos. Under the liberal Lorena family, new grand Dukes of Tuscany, the situation change favorably for the Jews, and the ghetto was closed. In the 1800 the Jewish population reached the 10% of the citizens and Pitigliano became known as the Little Jerusalem. During the years, especially after the Second World War, when the Jews were effectively helped by the non –Jewish, the community was dissolved, and many people moved to other main towns. In the 1960 the Synagogue collapsed and was restored only in 1995.
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Walking tour of Pitigliano and GhettoAfter the restoration of the synagogue and the ghetto, the new museum of Pitigliano offers to the tourists, Jewish or not, the possibility to discover this amazing unique place. The rooms of the ghetto were excavated underground , in the soft tufa rock, reusing medieval and etruscan basements and caves , where they opened windows .
The visit includes the ritual bath, the oven for unleaded bread, the textile dye work, the wine cellar and the kosher butcher, in addition to the synagogue. |
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Walking tour of Sorano and GhettoSorano, few kilometers from Pitigliano, has a Jewish district created after the end of tolerance Orsini family period. The ghetto is sets in the oldest part of the beautiful village and there were two halls which were used as synagogue. Sorano is considered one of the most charming italian village and has an amazing city planning on terraces, from the big fortress at the top of the hill , to the oldest medieval fantastic houses, part abandoned .
All around the village etruscan roads and tombs are carved in volcanic stone along the slope of the rocky hill untill the river. The natural enviroment is terrific and very wild !!! watch my video on Sorano |
Santa FioraSanta Fiora, on the lush Amiata Mountain, is a charming village with a remarkable medieval city plan sets on different levels. The town was a small independent county ruled since the 15th century by the Sforza family that grated privileges to a Jewish community which lived and flourished until end of 18th century thanks to the richness of water springs. Santa Fiora is listed as "One of the most charming italian village"
watch my video on Santa Fiora |
Choose your Jewish tour in Pitigliano and surroundings
meeting point via san Michele FEE 160 euros |
FEE 170 euros |
FEE 200 euros :
FEE 200 euros |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpBRiJlssOk ) + full walking tour of Sorano from the castle, through the ghetto and down to the river, sets in lush vegetation with rocky tombs and etruscan road FEE 320 euros |
Food and wine suggestions
In Pitigliano there are not kosher restaurants, but the local Wine cooperative CANTINA DI PITIGLIANO produces kosher wines.
I suggest to visit even this charming kosher winery/ restaurant in Chianti TERRE DI SETA
In Pitigliano I like these restaurants which serve excellent local food and wine HOSTARIA DA CECCOTTINO - AIA DEL TUFO agriturismo
I suggest to visit even this charming kosher winery/ restaurant in Chianti TERRE DI SETA
In Pitigliano I like these restaurants which serve excellent local food and wine HOSTARIA DA CECCOTTINO - AIA DEL TUFO agriturismo