The Jews, the Medici, and the ghetto of Florence

An extraordinary opportunity to learn about the history of the Jewish community and the history of Florence

The exhibition “The Jews, the Medici and the Ghetto of Florence” has a double significance, both historical and cultural.

The centuries of the ghetto represent the central chapter in the history of the Jewish presence in Florence, characterized by rules of segregation and at the same time the symbol of a form of official “inclusion” in the civic net of Florence: the ghetto was located opposite the Mercato Vecchio (today Piazza della Repubblica), at that time the core of the city’s exchanges.

The ghetto was an instrument of oppression but also, paradoxically, a place where community life and growth could flourish.

Despite the demolition of the physical memory of the places, understanding this period is necessary to comprehend the dynamics and characteristics of the relationship between the Jewish community and the rest of the city.

The catalogue is enriched by important essays, a hundred of entries describing the works on display, and a final section of diagrams and urban plans of the Ghetto of Florence.