SINAGOGA DI CASALE MONFERRATO

The Sinagoga (Synagogue), built in the ghetto on Vicolo Salomone Olper in 1595, is a monument of great historical and artistic interest to the Piemonte Jewish Community which also carried a good deal weight in the life of Casale Monferrato. From the exterior, the building does not appear particularly art-worthy, but inside, the wealth and variety of wooden ornaments and stucco works is surprising. The Arco Santo (Holy Arch) - where the law is preserved in precious rolls – is bordered at the ends by two large stucco works representing the cities of Jerusalem and Hebron. The construction of the sculpted and gilded wooden pulpit dates back to the 18th century and the enlargement of the matronaeum (women’s gallery) dates to the following century. A heavenly arch is painted on the Synagogue’s vault where, in gilded Hebrew characters, it is written: “This is Heaven’s Gate”. A permanent exhibit with works of great worth and artistic merit along with very important historical documents has been installed in the matronaeum on the first and second floor of the Synagogue.