Description
This Jewish heritage walking tour of Palermo follows the Giudecca, the old Jewish quarter, home between the 9th and 15th centuries to a community among the largest in Sicily. A licensed local guide leads the way, and the pace leaves room for questions and photos.
The walk goes through narrow lanes where the past is easy to miss. Several churches here once served as places of worship for the community, and the guide points out what remains.
- Former synagogues, now churches
- The exact location of the ancient mikveh, a ritual bath cut into the rock and closed off in the 15th century; it remains shut, so you learn where it lies rather than going in
- Carvings with Hebrew lettering, next to Arab-Norman touches on old walls
Along the way you hear about the merchants, scholars and artisans who shaped Palermo under Arab and Norman rule, and how Jewish scholars supported its economy, medicine and arts through years of tolerance and of tragedy. The tour also draws on a 1488 letter by Obadiah of Bertinoro, who praised Palermo's synagogue above any other.
The tour lasts about two hours in English and runs in small groups. Admission tickets, food and drinks, and an audio guide are not included. It suits travellers who enjoy history and want to see a side of Palermo most visitors never see.