Italy

 Jewish Heritage Tours to Italy – Treasures of Northern Italy

When travelers think of Jewish Heritage Tours to Italy, typical places come to mind: Florence, Rome, Naples, and perhaps Capri. For the sophisticated Jewish traveler, however, Northern Italy, which has been neglected until now, is an untapped treasury of Jewish history and culture. Driving through the Piedmont and Emilia-Romana regions, from the snow-capped Alps to the beaches of the Adriatic, enjoy a part of Italy that boasts not only centuries of Jewish heritage but a gorgeous array of natural pleasures. From the aged cheeses of Parmigiano-Reggiano to the balsamic vinegar of Modena and the sparkling wines of Asti (where Jewish life dates to the 10^th century), Northern Italy is a feast for the senses and the Jewish soul.

These Jewish Heritage Tours to Italy will take you to Turin, Piedmont (Saluzzo, Carmagnola, Casale Monferrato, Alessandria), Mont Blanc, Parma, Ferrara, Padua (its university was the first in Europe to allow Jews to study medicine), and Venice. You will see splendid gold-leafed synagogues, former Talmudic centers, ancient ghettos, and collections of Judaica. The tour will end in Venice, where the very word “ghetto” originated.

DAY 1 WEDNESDAY ARRIVAL IN TURIN

Welcome to Italy! After meeting at Turin Airport, transfer to Turin, the capital of Italy’s beautiful Piedmont region. It is so culturally rich with monuments and galleries that it is known as “the Paris of Northern Italy.” This city is also famous for the original Fiat car factory (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) and was the host city for the Winter Olympics in 2006. Turin also boast of a rich Jewish Heritage and is an appropriate starting point for these Jewish Heritage tours to Italy.  Check-in at the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Grand Sitea Hotel.

DAY 2 THURSDAY TURIN

With its location at the foot of the majestic, snow-capped Alps and boasting a rich array of architecture, it is no surprise that Turin has a fascinating history. It is also the Center of Piedmont’s Jewish community, working to preserve services for the Jewish population. Begin by walking through the former Ghetto to the JCC, easily found with its Moorish-style towers atop the Great synagogue. The building was damaged during WWII and has since been carefully restored. Tour the Jewish Center, its small but significant Museum, and two synagogues. In the afternoon, continue via Vittorio Veneto to the Mole Antonelliana (“Mole” means monumental building; “Antonelliana” refers to the architect Alessandro Antonelli). Originally conceived as a synagogue, this magnificent structure, the city’s iconic symbol, is one of Turin’s best-known landmarks. Later, visit the grave of Primo Levi at the Jewish cemetery. Cap the day with a walk in the historic part of the city. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Grand Sitea Hotel.

DAY 3 FRIDAY TURIN – CARMAGNOLA – SALUZZO – TURIN

This morning, continue a historical journey in the Piedmont region, where Jewish communities once thrived. Only a few spots continue to have a Jewish presence, but you will see this history expressed through synagogues, ghettos, and elaborate cemeteries. After a short drive, visit the elegant Baroque Carmagnola Synagogue on the second floor of an 18th-century house. This shul and the Casale Monferrato Synagogue are proud examples of Piedmont’s Jewish legacy. Continue south to the small town of Saluzzo, where the smallest Ghetto in Piedmont once existed. It consisted of a tiny block, but with people living close together, it was home to a hidden synagogue in the courtyard. Visit the Ghetto, the synagogue, and its curated collection of Fascist antisemitic posters from the Holocaust. Return to Turin in the early afternoon and enjoy leisurely exploring the city on your own. Why not visit to the unusual National Museum of Cars, showcasing the history of automobiles –including famous Italian brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini? Grand Sitea Hotel.

DAY 4 SATURDAY TURIN – MONT BLANC – TURIN

Enjoy a peaceful Shabbat in Turin or join an excursion to the Highest Mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc (the Italians call it Monti Bianco.) Depart Turin in the morning and drive towards the mountain region. Upon arrival in Courmayeur, board the Skyway Cable Car and soar to the highest point in Italy — the Helbronner Station, with vistas of towering snowcapped mountains. Here, at an elevation of more than 11,000 feet, you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of Mont Blanc and its majestic, snow-capped environs. Later, descend to the bus waiting at Courmayeur and drive back to Turin in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Grand Sitea Hotel.

DAY 5 SUNDAY TURIN – CASALE MONFERRATO – ALESSANDRIA – PARMA

This morning, depart for Casale Monferrato to visit the ornate, breathtakingly lavish 16th-century synagogue gleaming with gold leaf. The synagogue is among the most remarkable synagogues in Italy. Before leaving the Piedmont region, visit the newly restored synagogue in Alessandria. While most synagogues in Piedmont don’t have a recognizable façade, the Synagogue in Alessandria boasts a dominant one. Inside, you will see the wholly restored synagogue. Later, drive towards the Emilia-Romagna region, famous for its many agricultural products. No one is more famous than Parmigiano-Reggiano makers, known for Italy’s beloved cheese. (To be known as Parmigiano-Reggiano, a cheese must come from this region and be aged for three years.). Here, visit a producer who also makes Kosher cheeses, which you are offered to taste. After the visit to Bertinelli, continue to the hotel in Parma city. Grand Hotel de Ville.

DAY 6 MONDAY PARMA – MODENA – FERRARA – PADUA

A morning drive brings you to Ferrara, a magnificent Renaissance city built by the Estense family dynasty. After a walk in the well-preserved Ghetto of Ferrara, visit the Italian Judaism and Shoa Museum, which covers Jewish history in Italy from the Roman Empire until today. Continue to Padua. Since 1100, this has been a vital Jewish city. Indeed, during the Middle Ages, Padua was an important center for Talmudic studies. Many famous rabbis lived here, and the Yeshiva attracted students from all over Europe. In addition, Padua was the only university city in Europe to admit Jewish students to the study of medicine. The tour in Padua includes visiting Padua’s Jewish Heritage Museum and Synagogue in the Padua Ghetto. Later, check-in at the hotel. Padua Hilton Garden Inn.

DAY 7 TUESDAY PADUA – VENICE

After breakfast, embark on a short drive to Venice Island. Here, continue by boat along the canals of Venice to the Cannaregio area and the hotel. The Jewish presence has been here since the 14th century. Enjoy a walking tour in the Ghetto Vecchio –- where the Italian word “ghetto” was first used. In the 16th century, Jews were confined to this area, which was walled and gated. This area is still central to Jewish life in the city and is frequented by tourists worldwide. Visit the Jewish Museum, composed of different synagogues. Check-in at the hotel in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Ca Bonfadini Historic Experience Hotel or the Radisson Collection Palazzo Nani.

DAY 8 WEDNESDAY VENICE

Enjoy a walking tour of the Island of Venice this morning, including Ponte del Rialto, the oldest bridge spanning the Grand Canal. Continue to the famous Piazza San Marco, with its cafes, pigeons, enormous Basilica, and Doge’s Palace (a masterpiece of Venetian architecture) and the Ponte dei Sospiri (the Bridge of Sighs, immortalized by Romantic poet Lord Byron) and the Ponte del Rialto, the oldest bridge, spanning the Grand Canal. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in this dreamlike, water-colored city. Perhaps a gondola ride or a trip to nearby Murano to see the glorious glassworks? Dinner. Ca Bonfadini Historic Experience Hotel or the Radisson Collection Palazzo Nani.

DAY 9 THURSDAY VENICE – HOME FLIGHTS

In the morning, transfer by boat to Venice Airport and check in for the flights back to the USA.