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The Jewish Story of Florence, Italy

A unique Florence is one narrated by the places of the Florence Jewish Community. Thanks to the synagogue, the museum and the monumental cemetery, you can discover a privileged lens to look deep into the great history of the capital city of Tuscany.

florence synagogue and the surrounding city at sunrise — The Great Synagogue of Florence

A town of little importance during the early Middle Ages, Florence became more firmly established during the course of the 11th century. During the 12th century, it began to grow at such a rate that it clashed with the other Tuscany city-states. In the 14th century, these conflicts took the form of political rivalry between the Guelph and Ghibelline factions, and when the Guelph government of Florence chose to support the House of Anjou it was able to overwhelm its rivals and maintain lasting power. Florence reached the height of its glory in the 15th century, under Cosimo il Vecchio and Lorenzoil Magnifico, who was the main patron of the extraordinary cultural phenomenon known as the Rinascimento (the Italian Renaissance), which made Italy the cradle of new European art.

The Jewish Story of Rome, Italy

The center of Italy’s cultural and political life, Rome has one of the greatest concentrations of artistic treasures and historic monuments of the world. The Roman Jewish community is the oldest of the Diaspora: its ancient origins, its rich historical and artistic heritage, and monuments that have survived to the present day make the community of Rome a unique example not only in Italy but in the whole Diaspora.

Credit: www.visitJewishItaly.it

This long continuous presence has left traces stratified with those of the other inhabitants with whom through good and bad the Jews have lived for over two millennia. Thus many ancient Roman monuments bear signs or memories for their presence. One great example is the Arch of Titus, in the Roman Forum, with scenes showing the deportation of Jews from Palestine, including prisoners carrying a seven-branched candelabrum to Rome after the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. A constant factor in the Jewish history of Rome was papal policy. For centuries it meant persecution and discrimination.

There are several places of Jewish interest and the most important is surely the Ghetto, the specific area bounded by the Isola Tiberina section of the Tiber, the Ponte Fabricio (Ponte Quattro Capi), Via del Portico d’Ottavia and Piazza delle Cinque Scole. This was the area designated as Rome’s Ghetto by Pope Paul IV in the bull ‘Cum nimis absurdum’ of July 14th, 1555. It is today the center of Jewish life, with the most important synagogue and a Jewish school, kosher restaurants and shops. This area is very surprising since Jews were already living here in Roman times.

The Jewish Story of Strasbourg, France

If you love heritage, culture and the art of living, there’s no doubt that you’ll fall in love with Strasbourg! Strasbourg is the capital of Alsace located at the border with Germany, the largest city of the Grand East region of Eastern France, and the official seat of the European Parliament.

Today around 16,000 Jews reside in Strasbourg but their history is similar to the rest of France and Europe with several expulsions, accusations, forced-baptisms and deaths. Alsace became part of France in 1648, but Jews still did not have civil rights until after the French Revolution. After the revolution, Jews were able to move into larger cities and Strasbourg’s Jewish population grew from 100 to over 1,000 by the early 1800’s.

The construction of synagogues was no longer banned and around 176 new synagogues were built all over Alsace between 1791 and 1914. Today’s Jewish community in Strasbourg is predominantly Ashkenazi, which differs from other communities in France. The Jews live in the regions around the main synagogue, near Parc des Contades. The current synagogue was built in 1958 to replace the previous synagogue that was destroyed by the Germans during World War II.

There are several Jewish historic and cultural sites to see in Strasbourg including Strasbourg’s Cathedral of Notre Dame, where two statues of women stand to represent both Christianity and Judaism. The Jewish-themed statue has her head bowed and she is blindfolded because she cannot see the truth of Christianity.

Credit: Rama, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/fr/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons

The Museum of the Oeuvre Notre Dame contains art from the eleventh through seventeenth centuries and also showcases Jewish tombstones from the twelfth through fourteenth centuries in the museum’s courtyard. These tombstones originally stood at the Place de la Republique cemetery.

The Rue des Juifs (Jew street) is one of the oldests streets in the city (over 1,600 years old) and is the heart of the old Jewish quarter. Along this road one can see the site of the twelfth century synagogue; the Jewish bakery, the Mikvah, the butcher shop, and the Jewish cemetery at the Place de la Republique.

Park Inn Baku

Our Park Inn by Radisson in Baku is in a great location for seeing all that the Azerbaijan capital city has to offer, due to its location in the city center. Our restaurant Glory will delight your taste buds with exquisite Azerbaijani and foreign cuisines. A well equipped 24-hour business center, 5 contemporary meeting rooms, and an impressive ballroom with a wide lobby are all available at the hotel.

Hilton Baku

This seafront hotel in the heart of the city features a rotating rooftop bar, pool, and 24-hour gym. The hotel’s spacious rooms have fantastic views of Baku and the Caspian Sea. Spa treatments, a swimming pool, a Turkish hammam, and a sauna are just some of the relaxing options available at Hilton Baku.

Gadaşova Elnara

Elnara was born in the Khachmaz region and moved to Israel with her family while studying in 4’th grade. After a few years, she moved back to Azerbaijan. Here she started her career as a guide, developing her tours for students in northern regions. Later she moved to Red Settlement in Guba city, where she shares her passion and knowledge of Jewish Heritage with visitors.

Yusufova Regina

Regina was born and raised in Red Settlement, located in Guba. She works as a guide in the Red Settlement, where she shares her knowledge with the visitors.

Classic Jewish Tour of Georgia

8 days tour: Classic cultural tour involves four main regions of the South, West North and East Georgia – you will visit Caucasus mountains and lowlands, rocks and caves, taste Georgian wines and discover the country’s peculiar culture. The trip is designed for travelers’ who like to enjoy the professional guided and chauffeured traveling. Our experienced team will make your trip enjoyable, knowledgeable, comfortable and pleasant.

Tbilisi Free Walking Tour

Tbilisi Free Walking Tours – Main sights of beautiful Old Tbilisi within 2.5 – 3.0 hours. From Freedom Square through old city walls to the lovely Marionette Theater, cozy pedestrian streets of old town and more. Our Tour in Tbilisi takes place every day (rain, shine or snow). Just come to our meeting point at Pushkin Park on Freedom Square in front of the Tourist information Center and look for the local guide with badge or sign FREE TOURS.
Right now we have 3 different free tours: Main Tour in old Tbilisi, Backstreets of Tbilisi, Hidden Tbilisi Tour. Also we offer specific paid tours, Tour for Photographers, Food Tour and Wine Experience in Tbilisi

Georgia Jewish Heritage Tour

Discover the fascinating 2,000+ year history of Georgia’s Jewish community as you visit several major Jewish settlements and their beautiful synagogues on this 9-day Jewish tour of Georgia. Learn about the origins and history of Jews in the country, how Jewish people have practiced their faith and culture here over many years, and how the community endured during the years of Soviet repression. Get to know Georgia’s small, but vibrant, community of Jews today – meet the locals and find out about their lifestyle and institutions, taste traditional Georgian-Jewish dishes, and hear the unique Judeo-Georgian language. In addition, explore some of Georgia’s other historical and tourism highlights.

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