Sicily

JOURNEY TO THE ANCIENT AND BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF SICILY

The Jewish community of Sicily likely dates back to the Second Temple period. A large Jewish community lived in Sicily at peace with their neighbors until the Spanish Inquisition when Jews were expelled from all Spanish territories, which then included Sicily. Most of the exiled Sicilian Jews settled in Venice, Salonika, and other cities in Italy. The Jews that remained were converted and called neofiti, a designation similar to the Spanish conversos.

Today, two ritual baths are all that remain of Sicily’s historic Jewish community. Despite the destruction of Sicily’s former community, in recent years, the Jews of Sicily have experienced something of a resurgence. Over the past decade, synagogues have been founded in Syracuse and Palermo and the first bar mitzvah since the Spanish Inquisition was performed on the island in 2017. Embark on a journey from the ancient past to the exciting and growing community of the present with our guide on the beautiful island of Sicily!

Tour options available in Paerlmo, Catania, Siracusa, Taormina, Messina and Agira. Please contact us for more information.

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SYNAGOGUES