Siracusa

Sicily, Italy 🇮🇹

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Ritual bath at Casa Bianca

Siracusa , Sicily

The ancient mikveh in Syracuse, Sicily, located on the island of Ortigia, is a well-preserved Jewish ritual bath dating to the Byzantine period, around the 6th century CE. It was rediscovered in 1989 after being hidden during the 1492 expulsion of Jews from Spanish-controlled Sicily. Fed by a natural spring from the local aquifer, this subterranean complex features immersion pools for purification rituals and remains accessible for guided visits, serving as a significant testament to the ancient Jewish community of Syracuse. The mikveh was built in Syracuse during the Byzantine era and was used for nearly a thousand years by the Jewish community, which was one of the earliest in Sicily. Located in the historic Jewish quarter of Ortigia, the mikveh is carved into the limestone bedrock, with a staircase leading down to the main immersion pools. The ancient mikveh is open for guided tours, providing a unique glimpse into the rich Jewish heritage of Syracuse and the daily lives of its ancient inhabitants. This mikveh serves as an important site for cultural and interreligious discovery, recognized as a treasure of European Jewish heritage

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