The Jewish community’s presence in Siena is closely linked to the area where the Ghetto once stood, a short distance from Piazza del Campo, and which still houses the Jewish Synagogue and Museum today.
Established by Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1571, the Ghetto remained in use until 1859, forming a fully-fledged city within the city in which Jewish daily life was played out over hundreds of years.
The presence of ancient charitable confraternities and rabbinical schools, which were active up until the 19th century, ensured that Siena’s Jewish community was especially vibrant in the cultural sphere and was able to make a significant contribution to the city’s economic and cultural growth.
A large part of the area was restructured in 1935 but certain sections such as the Temple, the Ghetto Fountain and the Jewish Cemetery have been preserved and are still recognisable today.