Jewish Ghetto and Via dell'Inferno

Why is it significant?

Step into the evocative and shadowy labyrinth of the Jewish Ghetto of Bologna, entering via the narrow cobblestones of Via dell'Inferno.

Key Facts

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Step into the evocative and shadowy labyrinth of the Jewish Ghetto of Bologna, entering via the narrow cobblestones of Via dell'Inferno. Established in 1556 following the restrictive papal bull Cum nimis absurdum issued by Pope Paul IV, this densely packed district became the compulsory, gated quarter where hundreds of Jewish families were forced to reside until their final expulsion from the Papal States in 1593 by Pope Clement VIII. Looking upward between the towering, narrow houses, you can still see the picturesque covered overhead bridges, known as cavalcavia, which were built across the alleys to allow residents to move between adjacent buildings after the neighborhood gates were padlocked shut by papal guards at dusk. The quarter retains its unmistakable medieval layout, preserving centuries of poignant community resilience and cultural perseverance amidst adversity. The quiet alleys offer a deeply moving historical atmosphere.

Look at the historic commemorative plaque at number 16 Via dell'Inferno: this exact site housed the sixteenth-century synagogue, the spiritual and communal center of Bolognese Jewish life, celebrated across northern Italy for its distinguished Talmudic scholars, medical doctors, and master printers of Hebrew books. Although the synagogue was suppressed following the 1593 decree, its spiritual legacy remains chiseled into the living memory of Bologna.

The curious street name Via dell'Inferno, or Hell Street, did not have a demonic origin: it was named for the intense heat, clanging hammers, and thick black smoke produced by medieval blacksmiths and coppersmiths who operated workshops here prior to the ghetto's establishment.

Notice the uneven rooflines overhead: families desperately expanded living quarters by adding precarious wooden cantilevered floors, creating an architectural tapestry of survival under severe space restrictions.

Walk east along Via Zamboni to conclude your walk before the Portico of San Giacomo Maggiore at the Oratory of Santa Cecilia.