Synagogue and Jewish Museum of Florence

The Great Synagogue of Florence stands on Via Luigi Carlo Farini, in the Mattonaia neighbourhood. Built in 1882, it is known for its Moorish-inspired design and green dome. Inside, look for the sanctuary’s vivid colours, stained glass, mosaics and ornate ceilings. The Jewish Museum, housed within the building, traces the synagogue’s history and that of the nearby ghetto. The visit also offers a chance to learn about the synagogue’s wartime history and its survival during the Nazi occupation.

Architecture and interior

The Great Synagogue was built in 1882 in Florence’s Mattonaia neighbourhood. Its Moorish-inspired design includes a green copper dome, which sets it apart in the city skyline. The building’s exterior is monumental, while the interior brings together inlaid marble floors, stained-glass windows, mosaics and ornate ceilings.

Inside the sanctuary, look closely at the vivid colours and decorative details. Restored armchairs by the entrance to the mechitza are another detail to notice. The building remains a synagogue, as well as a site open to visitors.

The Jewish Museum and wartime history

The Jewish Museum is housed inside the synagogue and spans two floors. Its displays cover the history of the synagogue and the nearby ghetto, giving context to the Jewish community in Florence and the wider history of Jews in Tuscany and Italy.

During the Second World War, the Nazis used the building to store weapons. In 1944, as the war was ending, they tried to destroy the synagogue, but the building survived. The museum and synagogue together provide a way to explore both the building’s architecture and its place in local Jewish history.