Visiting The Jewish Quarter In Venice

Historic city, history quarter. Did you know the word ghetto comes from the Jewish quarter in Venice? True. There's some disagreement over the exact source, something about a foundry nearby or a mis-pronunciation of the Italian soft G in getto. The quarter still stands, Jews still live there and you can tour some of the synagogues that remain in the neighborhood.

The main square, the Campo di Ghetto Nuovo.

The German synagogue.

The Canton synagogue, from about 1532.

Details in the Canton synagogue. The shutters front the upstairs women's section.

The biggest synagogue in the ghetto, Spanish.

Details.

If you're interested in more information on the ghetto and its synagogues, click here.

The Old City, Jerusalem

It might be ancient, but they do keep it up.

Along the outer wall. Neat.

Tree in a courtyard, also neat. It's holy ground. Divine light?

A serious women's get together on the Temple Mount.

Staples of the Old City: Shawarma, Falafel and fresh fruits and vegetables. Hide and seek at a school in the Jewish Quarter.

The reward? Maybe lunch pizza and soda.