Synagogue of Bologna

Synagogue of Bologna
Sinagoga di Bologna
Synagogue interior in 2008
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
RegionEmilia-Romagna
1928
1954 (rebuilt)
Location
LocationVia De' Gombruti 9, Bologna
CountryItaly
Interactive map of Synagogue of Bologna
Architecture
Demolished1943

The current and modern Synagogue of Bologna (Italian: Sinagoga di Bologna) was built in 1928 in Bologna, Italy, and was rebuilt in 1954 after its destruction in the Second World War. It overlooks Via Mario Finzi 4, and its entrance is on Via De' Gombruti 9.[1] It is currently in use by the city's local Jewish community.

Congregational history and earlier synagogues

In the Jewish ghetto of Bologna, in the shadow of the Two Towers, between 1586 and 1593, the Jewish community met in a syngogue. That original synagogue in the city only remains as the building on Via dell'Inferno 16, which is mixed us in the modern day. Congregations date before the formal synagogue, at least back to 1559, when Bishop Eustachio Locatelli, designated inquisitor, confiscated their books.[2][3] There has been a Jewish presence in the city since at least the 4th century AD.[4]

At the end of the 18th century, the community re-established itself following a temporary dispersion a cause de the Caeca et Obdurata. A small oratory was founded by Angelo Carpi from Cento in 1829 in his home around Piazza Malpighi.[5] In 1868, a room was rented in the building on Via De' Gombruti 7, which was also in the boundaries of the original ghetto.

Founding of the synagogue

From 1874 to 1877, a new, larger prayer space was inaugurated in the wing of the current location, which is on Via Mario Finzi.[5] At the beginning of the 20th century, an overhaul was carried out to build a larger, more formal space, and it was inaugurated as such on November 4, 1928. The project, led by Attilio Muggia, was designed as an elegant square-shaped room divided between three naves, with cross-vaults leading to an elliptical skylight. The walls were adorned with designs of the Art Nouveau style.[6]

Modern history and design

The synagogue was destroyed in 1943 during the Allied bombings of WWII.[5] It was rebuilt in the same location in September 1954,[7] designed by Guido Muggia, the son of Attilio, who wanted to give a modern take on his father's original design.[8] Restoration work was carried out in 2008 and 2009. Rubble was removed from the basement, which led to the discovery of the remains of an ancient Roman domus from the Imperial period.[9] Bishop Carlo Caffarra commemorating the conclusion of the restoration.[10]

The interior remained the same. The Torah ark section, bordered by a marble balustrade, is illuminated by a large window with polychrome stained glass. The women's section overlooks the entrance and the two aisles to the side.[6] All the furnishings are modern. On the facade, there is a large rose window with the Star of David. A plaque next to the door on the outside commemorates the 84[8] Bolognese victims of the Holocaust with the verse of Lamentations 1:18.[11]

In 2014, the synagogue commemorated its 60th anniversary with a performance by the Orchestra from the Conservatory of Bologna.[12]

In January 2025, following the death of an Egyptian student during a police chase, the synagogue was subject to vandalism and rioting. Slogans were graffittied onto the building and explosives and other incindiary devices were thrown at it.[13] The violence was denounced by city mayor Matteo Lepore, who expressed solidarity with the Jews in the city.[14] Jonathan Peled, ambassador to Italy, dennounced the attack as antisemitic.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Tigay, Alan M. (1994-02-01). The Jewish Traveler: Hadassah Magazine's Guide to the World's Jewish Communities and Sights. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. p. 179. ISBN 978-1-4616-3150-7.
  2. ↑ Perani, Mauro (2002). La cultura ebraica a Bologna tra Medioevo e Rinascimento: atti del convegno internazionale, Bologna, 9 aprile 2000 (in Italian). Casa Editrice Giuntina. p. 91. ISBN 978-88-8057-161-2.
  3. ↑ italo-germanico, Istituto storico (1999). Annali dell'Istituto storico italo-germanico in Trento (in Italian). Mulino. p. 166. ISBN 978-88-15-07742-4.
  4. ↑ "Bologna Synagogue – Synagogues360". synagogues-360.anumuseum.org.il. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  5. 1 2 3 Emilia-Romagna, Istituto per i beni artistici, culturali, naturali della Regione (1987). Cultura ebraica in Emilia-Romagna (in Italian). Luisè editore. p. 70. ISBN 978-88-85050-12-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. 1 2 "Sinagoghe di Bologna – Visit Jewish Italy" (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  7. ↑ "La ricostruzione del Tempio di Bologna (dopo la seconda guerra mondiale) - Comunità Ebraica di Bologna". www.comunitaebraicabologna.it. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  8. 1 2 "Sinagoga". Museo Ebraico di Bologna (in Italian). 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  9. ↑ "La sinagoga di Bologna: Vicende e prospettive di un luogo e di una presenza ebraica - Bibliotheca Sefarad" (in European Spanish). 2022-11-30. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  10. ↑ "Cerimonia di inaugurazione della Sinagoga di Bologna restaurata". www.bibbiaparola.org. 2005-09-15. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
  11. ↑ Riguzzi, Valeria (2018-04-27). Piròn and old Bologna. Mnamon. ISBN 978-88-6949-258-7.
  12. ↑ "Comunità Ebraica di Bologna - Comunità Ebraica di Bologna". www.comunitaebraicabologna.it. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  13. ↑ Valente, Giorgia (2025-01-12). "Bologna Jewish Leader To TML, After Synagogue Attack: Beyond Words, Concrete Actions Are Necessary". The Media Line. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  14. ↑ Genn, James (2025-01-12). "Antisemitic damage and destruction at Bologna synagogue". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  15. ↑ "Demonstrators deface Italian synagogue during protests over police chase death". The Jewish Chronicle. 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
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