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Jewish Heritage Tour In Split

Jewish Heritage Tour In Split Packages
The Jewish Community in Split was one of the few that virtually continuously existed for two thousand years. Jews arrived in Dalmatia with the Roman army and settled in Salona. About their community in Salona, . .
Country: Croatia
City: Split
Duration: 8 Hour(s) - 0 Minute(s)
Tour Category: Half Day Tour

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Package Itinerary

The Jewish Community in Split was one of the few that virtually continuously existed for two thousand years. Jews arrived in Dalmatia with the Roman army and settled in Salona. About their community in Salona, we have the remains of the Jewish cemetery dating from the 3rd century.

Following the invasion of Slavs and Avars as well the fall of Salona in 641 years, Salona Jews, along with other fellow citizens, fled to the islands or take refuge in the firmly established Diocletian's Palace. Split from the Imperial Palace also turned into the city, and the Jews settled mainly in the southeastern part of the palace, where in the early Middle Ages may have had the first synagogue, as indicated by the menorah engraved in the walls of the courtyard in the substructure of the Palace. But by the 14th century, there is no written mention of the presence of Jews in the Palace.

It is assumed that a little later was built a synagogue close to where today Ethnographic Museum.

After the great fire of 1507 in the southern part of the Palace, Jews moved to the northwest part of the palace. In the early 16th century the number of Jews in Split increased rapidly thanks to immigrants from Spain and Portugal.

The increasing population necessitated the construction of the cemetery, of which the first record dates back to 1573, making it one of the oldest in Europe. Today it is preserved about 650 tombstones.

At that time the synagogue was built where it still remains, whose present appearance dates from the interior of 1728. It is one of only two synagogues in Croatia that survived the Holocaust, but also the third oldest active synagogue in Europe.

At that time the Venetian Senate approved that the Split Jews don’t have the privileges and permission to trade, wholesale and retail. Thanks to the Jew Danijel Rodrigo, who is responsible for the construction of Split Lazaretto, the town became an important commercial center. The number of Jews in Split grows, without major hostilities with the Christians. Most of the Jews dealt with banking and trade, and they had their own school.

After the Pope's edict of 1775 and the provisions of the Venetian Republic from 1777 to 1778 Split was established as a ghetto. He had three doors, but there were no walls around the ghetto. Even today there are no traces of the walls, as well as special features on Jewish homes, only on Rodrigo Street on one door you can see hand-etched engraving with a roll to protect the house, mezuzah. Afterward, it was recorder numerous incidents and attacks on the ghetto by Christians.

The ghetto was abolished after the establishment of Napoleon's government and issued Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Jews become completely equal. Everything changed after the fall of Napoleon in 1813 and the arrival of the Austrian authorities, when the Jews were denied involvement in some public services and prohibited them owning real estate. However, during the 19th century, prominent Jews contributed to the development of the economy and industry in Split.

Among them, the most pointed Vid Morpurgo who founded the first factory of alcoholic beverages under the name Stock today operates in Trieste, has made a great contribution to the cultural life of Split, and in 1860 founded the first bookstore that still exists today, as the third oldest in Europe, which still operates in the same place.

On the eve of World War II in Split 284 members of the Jewish community in the war killed 150 members, most after the capitulation of Italy and Split entering the NDH under German control. During the Italian occupation, the Jews lost their rights but had not been sent to concentration camps. However, in 1942 a group of fascists on the main square burned holy books and furniture out of the synagogue, which was followed by retaliation against antifascists. In Split, found refuge and many Jews from Bosnia and other parts of the Croatian.

After the arrival of the Germans, many Jews fled or went to the partisans, and about 120 people were taken to the camps. The fortress Gripe opened a collection center, where the Split physicians Dr. Silobrčić and others. Poklepović rescued children and hid them in the hospital, which have been declared Righteous among the Nations.

Today Split Jewish Community has about 100 members who are completely integrated into the life of the city.

Itinerary:

- Pick up and transfer to Salona

- Tour of Salona

- Departure to the Jewish cemetery in Split

- Tour of Diocletian's Palace and city center

- Synagogue

- Ethnographic Museum

- Fortress Gripe

- Lunch

Price Includes:

Transfer

Certified guides

Entry tickets

Lunch

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