Saving Siena’s Historic Synagogue

Florence’s Jewish community has successfully raised hundreds of thousands of euros to restore an 18th-century synagogue in Siena after it was damaged by a 3.5 magnitude earthquake in February 2023. The synagogue, designed by Giuseppe del Rosso and known for its Neo-Classical and Rococo interior, has been a functional museum and occasional place of worship. The earthquake rendered parts of the building unstable, necessitating urgent repairs estimated to cost €368,000.
A significant fundraising campaign launched in September 2022 has garnered 90% of the needed funds by early May, with contributions from the Fondazione Cassa Risparmio Firenze, Opera Laboratori, and smaller donors. The synagogue’s inclusion on the “7 Most Endangered” monuments list by Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute spurred additional donations.
Restoration work began in May 2023, focusing on stabilizing the vault and repairing the roof. The wider issue of preserving Jewish heritage in Italy remains critical, with many sites at risk due to a dwindling Jewish population and lack of consistent funding. Efforts by organizations like the Jewish Cultural Heritage Foundation in Italy (FBCEI) continue to catalog and seek restoration for these historic sites, including synagogues and cemeteries. The Italian culture ministry is considering reactivating a budget for Jewish heritage conservation, although individual communities still bear much of the financial burden.