The pandemic has curtailed much tourism — but there’s a lot going on on the local level in the coming week.
Here are some of the upcoming Jewish heritage tourism events.
If you find yourself in any of these locations — take advantage!
Registration is required for most tours, and the number of participants is generally limited. COVID hygiene measures are in place, with face masks mandatory for some of the tours. Click the location (or event) to find more details regarding registration, etc.
Bologna, Italy – August 4
Nighttime guided tour around locations connected to local Jewish heritage, as well as stories of Jews in Bologna and elsewhere. The tour is conducted by Vincenza Maugeri, director of the Bologna Jewish Museum. It is organized by the museum and will be held in Italian. Time: 9 PM. Cost: €7. Reservation required.
Florence, Italy – August 4, 6 and 9
Guided tour to the Florence synagogue and Jewish Museum. Reservation required at: [email protected]. Time: 4.30 PM. Duration: 1 hour.
Warsaw, Poland – August 5
Walking tour around the Muranów district in the traces of its most famous residents. The tour is organized by the POLIN – The Museum of the History of Polish Jews. It accompanies the museum’s current temporary exhibition on Muranów, the former downtown Jewish quarter and site of the WW2 Jewish ghetto. Time: 4 PM. Duration: 2 hours. Cost: 20/15/1 zloty.
Florence, Italy — August 6, 19:00
Inaugural session of the annual summer “Balagan cafe” weekly mini-festivals of concerts, kosher food, and other events. This year, guests must reserve, via the web site. The main event on August 6 is a concert by the Arezzo Multiethnic Orchestra of Jewish and Roma music.
Pesaro, Italy – August 6
During all summer, the synagogue will be open to visitors every Thursday from 5 PM to 8 PM.
Stockholm, Sweden – August 6 and 9
Guided tour around the city’s Jewish heritage sites. Until September, this tour takes place every Thursday and Sunday at 2 PM. Duration: 1 hour. Cost: 140/120 Swedish crowns. Reservation required.
Papá, Hungary – August 5
Guided tour at the Old and New Jewish cemeteries of Papá. The tour is organized by the Jewish Cultural Association of Papá and its county. Time: 5 PM.
Carpentras, France – August 6
A guided tour in French of the synagogue and the former Jewish quarter. Reservation required, wearing a mask is compulsory. Cost: €10. Time: 9.30 AM. Duration: 90 minutes.
Pfaffenhofen, France – August 6
Guided tour to the city’s synagogue, built in 1791. Organized by the Val De Moder municipality. Compulsory wearing the mask and keep social distance. Cost: €3.5. Time: 4 PM.
Szombathely, Hungary – August 6
Guided tour to the city’s Jewish cemetery organized by the Berzsenyi Dániel Civic Library. Registration needed. Maximum 30 people. Time: 4.30 PM. Duration: 1.5 hour.
Belfort, France – August 7
Guided tour at the city’s Jewish cemetery organized by the Jewish community and the local tourism office. Reservation in advance needed. Time: 3 PM.
Mutzig, France – August 8
A guided tour of the synagogue in Mutzig, built in 1787 and the oldest in Alsace, which is generally closed the visitors. The tour also includes the nearby church of St. Maurice.
Warsaw, Poland – August 9
Walking tour around the Muranów district in the traces of its most famous Jewish writers and publishers. The tour is organized by the POLIN – The Museum of the History of Polish Jews. It accompanies the museum’s current temporary exhibition on Muranów, the former downtown Jewish quarter and site of the WW2 Jewish ghetto. Time: 2.30 PM. Duration: 2 hours. Cost: 20/15/1 zloty.
Winnweiler, Germany – August 9
After the its closure due to the pandemic, the Jewish Museum of the Northern Palatinate re-opens to the public with two guided tours focused on the history of the Jews in the region, and on “what is kosher”. Both tours last between 45 and 60 minutes, and cost €2 each.
Pisa, Italy – August 9
Guided tour of the Pisa synagogue, its history, architecture and rituals. Cost: €8. The tour lasts an hour, and starts at 4, 5 and 6 PM. Reservation at: [email protected].