Synagogue of Savoca
| Synagogue of Savoca | |
|---|---|
Sinagoga di Savoca | |
 Exterior of building | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Synagogue of Savoca | |
| Coordinates | 37°57′14″N 15°20′25″E / 37.953851°N 15.340170°E |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | Before 1408 |
The Synagogue of Savoca (Italian: Sinagoga di Savoca) was a Jewish synagogue in Savoca, Italy.[1]
History
[edit]The location of the synagogue was established a few steps from the Church of San Michele and the Curia Plaza, which is now the employment office, on the slopes of the hill by the Pentefur Castle.[2] The year of construction is not precisely known, but it was extant by the year 1408.[3]
It was located in a Catholic-inhabited district, and problems arose due to it being too close to churches and residences of nobles. In August 1470,[4] it was confiscated[5] by Viceroy of Sicily Lope Ximénez de Urrea y de Bardaixi, who ordered that a place of worship for the Jews must be built elsewhere[6] in a more central and "better" part of the city.[7] Complaints alleged that the congregation sung hymns on Shabbat that were loud enough to disturb neighboring residences.[8] The building was sold by the Viceroy to a Christian man, Fulippu Sturiali. Sturiali (Italian: Filippo Sturiale), was ordered to pay the Jewish community 1/4th of the property value and transfer a plot of land that the Jews could then have a synagogue on.[9]
Subsequently, Sturiali transformed the building into a residence,[10] although it is not known where the next synagogue was built.[11] In 1492, Jews were banished from the Kingdom of Sicily and the synagogue location remained a private residence. In the 20th century, it was used as a stable,[3] and fell out of use after a roof collapse.
In modern times, the building has been subject to much research. In 1997, the cistern rain catcher used for ritual washing was discovered. In 2014, a plaque with the Star of David was discovered in the synagogue's ruins.[12] On August 7 of that year, Chief Rabbi of Syracuse Stefano Di Mauro led a visit by a group of experts to the location, and the Shofar was blown. On January 29, 2016, the Superintendant for Cultural Heritage in Messina approved a project for restoration of the building to improve conditions there.
Description and status
[edit]The synagogue building is in poor condition. It is neglected, and has overgrowth of brushwood and alluvium in the cistern. Two stone arches are visible from the front, and a sandstone window is visible from the side in better condition. Cornerstone ashlars conncet the front wall to the western wall.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Franca, Rosalia La (1994). Architettura judaica in Italia: ebraismo, sito, memoria dei luoghi (in Italian). Flaccovio editore. p. 89. ISBN 978-88-7804-099-1.
- ↑ Lombardo 2006, p. 49.
- 1 2 "Ruins of Synagogue of Savoca - Sicily". www.enjoysicilia.it. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
- ↑ Cecil Roth (1946). The History Of The Jews Of Italy. p. 251.
- ↑ Scandaliato, Angela; Mulè, Nuccio (2002). La sinagoga e il bagno rituale degli ebrei di Siracusa (in Italian). Casa Editrice Giuntina. p. 72. ISBN 978-88-8057-158-2.
- ↑ Lagumina, G. Il Viceré Lopo Nimea Durrea Ordina Che Sia Altrove Fabbricata La Sinagoga Della Terra Di Savoca (PDF). Retrieved 2025-12-03.
- ↑ Loewinger, David Samuel; Somogyi, József (1958). Ignace Goldziher Memorial Volume. Globus nyomdai müintézet. p. 26.
- ↑ Baron, Salo Wittmayer (1965). Social and Religious History of the Jews: Late Middle Ages and Era of European Expansion, 1200-1650 - Under Church and Empire. Columbia University Press. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-231-08846-6.
- ↑ Allegra, Alessandro; Giacopello, Pietro (2006). Signum perdiforum iudeorum: gli ebrei a Messina attraverso i secoli (in Italian). Intilla. p. 43.
- ↑ Lombardo 2006, pp. 46–47.
- ↑ Simonsohn, Shlomo (2011-04-11). Between Scylla and Charybdis: The Jews in Sicily. Brill. p. 258. ISBN 978-90-04-20361-7.
- ↑ "SikilyNews.it - Savoca. Quale soluzione per la sinagoga?". Sikily News. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
Sources
[edit]- Lombardo, Santo (2006). La presenza ebraica nella Terra di Savoca e dintorni (in Italian). Comune di Savoca.
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