The Synagogue, a testament to Jewish culture in Sabbioneta
Built in 1824 to a design by the architect Carlo Visioli, the Synagogue It is located in the upper part of the building, to comply with the rule that synagogues must have nothing above them except the sky. It retains its original 19th-century furnishings, including wooden pews, a Hanukkah candelabra, and an elegant wrought-iron gate separating the most sacred area, where the Aron, the Holy Cabinet, containing the scrolls of the law, is located. This area is framed by two columns and topped by a tympanum, a triangular architectural structure with a golden inscription in Hebrew characters. Opposite is the matroneum, the space reserved for women. The vaulted ceiling, which resembles a canvas billowing in the wind, is enriched with stucco work created in 1840 by Swiss artist Pietro Bolla. The structure is supported by pillars and four Corinthian-style columns, a reference to Solomon's Temple. Before entering the prayer hall, a small museum room houses important works of Jewish art and culture.
