Dennis van de Water
Dennis van de Water

Kosher and Jewish Life in Florence

TJT’s guide for kosher and Jewish travelers in Florence. Information about kosher restaurants, cafes, shops, bakeries or delis, kosher near me location based (GPS) search, & Jewish points of interest, such as shuls, mikvahs, kosher and observant friendly hotels and Jewish community centers in Florence, Italy.

6

Kosher Eateries
10

Kosher & JOFY* Hotels
1

Jewish Communities
5

Kosher & JOFY* Vacation Rentals
1

Mikvahs
3

Synagogues

*JOFY - Jewish Observant Friendly, not necesessarily kosher.

About Florence

Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region and birthplace of the Renaissance, is home to masterpieces of art and architecture. One of its most iconic sites is the Florence Cathedral, with its terra-cotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and bell tower designed by Giotto. The Galleria dell'Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David,” while the Uffizi Gallery exhibits preeminent works such as Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.” It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 381,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1,510,000 in the metropolitan area. The Historic Centre of Florence attracts millions of tourists each year. Florence is believed to have the greatest concentration of art (in proportion to its size) in the world. Thus, cultural tourism is particularly strong, with world-renowned museums such as the Uffizi selling over 1.6 million tickets a year. Florence has approximately 35,000 hotel beds and 13,000 other accommodation facilities.

Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in Florence

The history of the Jews in Florence can be traced over seven hundred years. The Jews of Florence have one of the oldest continuous Jewish communities in Europe. The historic Jewish community in Florence is one of the largest and one of the most influential Jewish communities in Italy. The Jewish community in Florence also serves the smaller neighboring Jewish communities in Pisa, Livorno, and Siena. Today, the population of the Jewish community of Florence is over 2400, and there are now two Orthodox synagogues for the city. In addition to the orthodox synagogues, there is also a small progressive Jewish community in Florence, called Shir Hadash. The Great Synagogue of Florence (Tempio Maggiore) is considered by many historians and architects as a building masterpiece. The synagogue was opened in 1881. It's Moorish motif and design was based on the Byzantine cathedral of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Today, the synagogue is still open and regularly provides services to the Jewish community under the Sephardic rite of prayer. Other than Chabad, who provide meals, there is a restaurant called Ruths and some kosher shops.

Check out our blog post, Enjoy the Jewish Beauty of Florence, by expert Italian tour guide, to help you plan your kosher vacation to Florence. Exclusive to TJT!

Weather In Florence

30 Mar

Shabbat Candlelighting Times for Loading...

Florence

Please note:

Shabbat times on this page are based on the common Candle lighting formulas - in most locations it is 18 minutes before sunset. If you have any comments or questions regarding Shabbat Times on this page, please contact us

What Is *JOFY?

JOFY, or "Jewish Observant Friendly" Establishments are lodging establishments offering special services for Jewish Observant guests such as Shabbat meals, accommodation on lower floors and regular keys for the rooms. It can also be a NON KOSHER establishment located in walking distance from the local Shul, community or kosher restaurants area.

Please note - *JOFY does NOT mean that KOSHER food is served on the premises!

Are you a kosher establishment, restaurant, or tour operator looking to reach a wider audience? List your business for free