Synagogue of Casale Monferrato
Encyclopedia
The Synagogue of Casale Monferrato, which was built in 1595, is particularly known for its exquisite Baroque
interior with walls and ceiling embellished with elaborate painting, carving and gilding. It is located in Vicolo Salmone Olper, an alleyway in the traditionally Jewish quarter of Casale Monferrato
, which in the eighteenth century became the city’s ghetto
. The plain building houses a clandestine synagogue, giving no indication of its purpose as a Jewish house of worship.
As in most early modern European synagogues, the synagogue was entered not directly from the street, but via a courtyard: both for reasons of security and to comply with laws requiring that the sound of Jewish worship not be audible by Christians.
Casale Monferrato is one of the few synagogues that survive in Piedmont, which once had many. Others in, or close to, Monferrato and the Langhe include the Biella Synagogue
, the Vercelli Synagogue
, and those of Asti
, Alessandria
, Vercelli
, Chieri
, Carmagnola
, Cherasco
, Moncalvo
and Trino Vercellese.
The synagogue is listed as a National Monument of Italy.
The Museum of Lights (‘Museo dei Lumi’) occupies an undergound room formerly used for baking Matzot and houses a growing collection of Menorahs created by contemporary Jewish and non-Jewish artists including Elio Carmi, Emanuele Luzzati
, Aldo Mondino
, Marco Porta, Tobia Ravà, Antonio Recalcati and David Gerstein
.
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
interior with walls and ceiling embellished with elaborate painting, carving and gilding. It is located in Vicolo Salmone Olper, an alleyway in the traditionally Jewish quarter of Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato, population 36,058, is a town and comune in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, part of the province of Alessandria. It is situated about 60 km east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrato hills. Beyond the river lies the...
, which in the eighteenth century became the city’s ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
. The plain building houses a clandestine synagogue, giving no indication of its purpose as a Jewish house of worship.
As in most early modern European synagogues, the synagogue was entered not directly from the street, but via a courtyard: both for reasons of security and to comply with laws requiring that the sound of Jewish worship not be audible by Christians.
Casale Monferrato is one of the few synagogues that survive in Piedmont, which once had many. Others in, or close to, Monferrato and the Langhe include the Biella Synagogue
Biella Synagogue
The Biella Synagogue is an early 17th century synagogue in Biella, Italy.The synagogue occupies the top floor of a medieval house at Vicolo del Bellone 3, in the heart of the historic Jewish quarter...
, the Vercelli Synagogue
Vercelli Synagogue
The Vercelli Synagogue is a synagogue in Vercelli, Italy.The synagogue, located at Via Foà 70, was built in 1878. It was designed by Marco Treves, an architect born in Vercelli who also designed the Great Synagogue of Florence....
, and those of Asti
Asti
Asti is a city and comune of about 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River...
, Alessandria
Alessandria
-Monuments:* The Citadel * The church of Santa Maria di Castello * The church of Santa Maria del Carmine * Palazzo Ghilini * Università del Piemonte Orientale-Museums:* The Marengo Battle Museum...
, Vercelli
Vercelli
Vercelli is a city and comune of about 47,000 inhabitants in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, around the year 600 BC.The city is situated on the river Sesia in the plain of the river...
, Chieri
Chieri
Chieri is a town and comune in the province of Turin, Piedmont , located about 11 km southeast of Turin...
, Carmagnola
Carmagnola
Carmagnola is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located 29 km south of Turin. As of July 11, 2007, it had a population of 27,043 and an area of 96.4 km²....
, Cherasco
Cherasco
Cherasco is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km southeast of Turin and about 40 km northeast of Cuneo...
, Moncalvo
Moncalvo
Moncalvo is a city and comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 45 km east of Turin and about 15 km northeast of Asti on the national road SS 547 which links Asti to Casale Monferrato and Vercelli...
and Trino Vercellese.
The synagogue is listed as a National Monument of Italy.
The museums
The Jewish Art and History Museum, also known as the Museum of the Silvers (‘Museo degli Argenti’), was designed by Giulio Bourbon and is located in part in the former women’s gallery of the synagogue. On display are precious silver ceremonial objects and embroidered textiles, as well artefacts related to Jewish festivals and domestic life.The Museum of Lights (‘Museo dei Lumi’) occupies an undergound room formerly used for baking Matzot and houses a growing collection of Menorahs created by contemporary Jewish and non-Jewish artists including Elio Carmi, Emanuele Luzzati
Emanuele Luzzati
Emanuele Luzzati was an Italian painter, production designer, illustrator, film director and animator. He was nominated for Academy Awards for two of his short films, La gazza ladra and Pulcinella .He was born in Genoa and turned to drawing in 1938 when, as a Jew, his academic studies were...
, Aldo Mondino
Aldo Mondino
Aldo Mondino was an Italian sculptor and painter.Was an artist characterized by an ironic approach to art, with which he used to play a lot....
, Marco Porta, Tobia Ravà, Antonio Recalcati and David Gerstein
David Gerstein
David Gerstein is a comics author and editor as well as an animation historian. Gerstein has five books and countless comic book credits to his name. He has written many Disney comics stories. Past employments include Egmont Creative A/S, a Danish comics studio, and Gemstone Publishing...
.