Ferrara's Jewish ghetto, centred on Via Mazzini and the narrow lanes around it, is one of the best-preserved in Italy. Three synagogues still stand in the ghetto, including the German Synagogue and the Fano Synagogue — now part of the Jewish Museum of Ferrara, which tells the history of the community from its medieval origins to the deportations of the Second World War.
The streets of the ghetto retain their intimate scale: narrow, slightly medieval, lined with Renaissance palaces whose ground floors once housed workshops and traders. The museum is excellent, with a thoughtful presentation of objects, documents, and personal histories. Via Mazzini itself is one of the liveliest streets in the city, with cafés, shops, and the constant flow of Ferrarese cyclists. On Friday evenings the ghetto has a particular quietness worth experiencing.