Museo Ebraico di Lecce (Lecce Jewish Museum), Lecce

Before the Baroque period, Lecce had a thriving medieval Jewish community. The Jewish Museum (Museo Ebraico) is in the remains of the Old Synagogue on the lower level of the Bullfighting Palace (Palazzo Taurino). The palace is located between the Alley of Soap (Vico della Saponea) and Umberto I Street. It became a palace in 1589 when a merchant from Bergamo, Marco Trono, expanded his house.

The palace was built on the remains of the Church of the Annunciation which had been built on the remains of the neighborhood synagogue. Today, after restorations by owner Bruno Taurino, the palace houses the Jewish Museum. The museum covers Jewish history in Lecce from the 9th century until the expulsion and Pogrom of 1496.

Visitors to the site will see the pools used for ritual bathing and the doorpost that once held the mezuzah, the parchment with verses from Scripture. A 3D outline of the old Jewish quarter of Lecce has been created. It can be juxtaposed with the Baroque city on the surface.

Since its opening, the museum has offered several projects involving historical itineraries, tours, and workshops. The aim is to inculcate a knowledge of Jewish history and traditions in Lecce.