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Great Synagogue of Florence

Coordinates: 43°46′22″N 11°15′59″E / 43.77278°N 11.26639°E / 43.77278; 11.26639
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For similarly named synagogues, see Great Synagogue.
This article is about the synagogue. For the museum, see Jewish Museum of Florence.
Great Synagogue of Florence
Italian: Tempio Maggiore Israelitico di Firenze
The synagogue in 2008
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
RiteNusach Sefard
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
StatusActive
Location
LocationVia Luigi Carlo Farini 4, Florence, Tuscany
CountryItaly
Great Synagogue of Florence is located in Tuscany
Great Synagogue of Florence
Location of the synagogue in Tuscany
Geographic coordinates43°46′22″N 11°15′59″E / 43.77278°N 11.26639°E / 43.77278; 11.26639
Architecture
Architect(s)
  • Mariano Falcini
  • Vincente Micheli
  • Marco Treves
TypeSynagogue architecture
StyleItalian and Moorish Revival
Date established1848 (as a congregation)
Groundbreaking1874
Completed1882
Specifications
Dome(s)Three
MaterialsBrick
Website
jewishtuscany.it
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The Great Synagogue of Florence (Italian: Tempio Maggiore Israelitico di Firenze) is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, that is located at Via Luigi Carlo Farini 4, in Florence, in Tuscany, Italy. Designed in the Italian and Moorish Revival styles, the synagogue was completed in 1882.[1]

The synagogue is one of the largest in south-central Europe and was one of the most important synagogues built in Europe in the age of the Jewish emancipation, reached by the Jewish communities living in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1848.

The Jewish Museum of Florence is located inside the synagogue.

History

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In 1848 in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Jewish community were given the status of free citizens. They thought of building a new synagogue to symbolize this change. But only later, could they raise the funds to build such a structure. David Levi, a president of the Jewish community, bequeathed his estate after his death in 1870 to build a new synagogue. The 'Israelitic Temple' was built between 1874 and 1882.

During World War II, Nazis occupied the synagogue, using it as a storehouse. In August 1944 retreating German troops worked with Italian Fascists to lay explosives to destroy the synagogue. However, Italian resistance fighters defused most of the explosives and only a limited amount of damage was done. The synagogue was fully restored after the war. Like many other buildings, it suffered damage after the flood of the River Arno in 1966, but another restoration was undertaken to correct the damage.[2]

The Jewish community in Florence comprises approximately 1,400 people. It has a long history, dating from the medieval era. In addition, a nearby Jewish community in the Oltrarno area, south of the Arno river, dates to the Roman era. Jews had a community in Rome since before the Common Era. The first synagogue in Florence was most likely built in the 13th century.[citation needed]

The Great Synagogue of Florence has been widely admired and is a major tourist attraction. It is possible to visit the synagogue on every day, except on Saturdays.

Architecture

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The architects were Mariano Falcini [it], Professor Vincenzo Micheli [it], and Marco Treves, who was Jewish. Their design integrated the Italian architectural tradition with the Moorish style used for the decoration. The Moorish Revival style was considered appropriate for a synagogue because it was never used for churches. In the case of the new Synagogue of Florence, it was built in the Sefardic style and served to remind Jews of the origins of Sefardic Jewry in Berber Moorish Spain.

Layers of travertine and granite alternate in the masonry, creating a striped effect. Old photographs show bold red and beige stripes, but the bold colors of the stone have faded over time, leaving a more mottled effect.[3]

The overall plan of the synagogue is quadrangular. The central dome raised on pendentives is reminiscent of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which was built as a Byzantine Empire church, and many mosques were inspired by it. The corner towers are topped with horseshoe-arched towers, which have onion domes in the Moorish Revival style. Three horseshoe arches form the main entrance, above which rise tiers of ajimez windows, with their paired horseshoe arches sharing a single column.[3] The natural copper roof was oxidized to green so that it would stand out in the Florentine skyline.

Inside the building "every square inch is covered with colored designs," in Moorish Revival patterns.[3] The interior mosaics and frescoes are by Giovanni Panti. Giacomo del Medico designed the great arch.[4]

Replicas

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  • The 1922 Beth Am Synagogue (formerly Chizuk Amuno), (Baltimore, Maryland) is of similar scale and character, using a number of design elements from the Great Synagogue.
  • The 1894 Second Luxembourg Synagogue was built as a replica of the Great Synagogue.
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Great Synagogue in Florence (Tempio Maggiore)". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Tempio Maggiore, The Great Synagogue of Florence, Italy". The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Meek, H. A. (1995). The Synagogue. London: Phaidon. p. 198.
  4. ^ "Synagogue of Florence, The: Via Farini 4, Florence, Tuscany, Italy". Glass Steel and Stone. Archived from the original on 31 March 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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Media related to Synagogue of Florence at Wikimedia Commons

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