The document discusses the history of Jewish communities in Calabria, Italy from ancient times to World War II. It describes archaeological evidence that shows Jewish settlements existed in places like Reggio Calabria, Bova Marina, and Ferramonti during the Roman Empire and Middle Ages. The oldest synagogue in Europe after Ostia Antica was found at Bova Marina dating to the 4th century AD. Jews played an important role in trade and business for centuries until they were expelled from Calabria in 1541 and interned in Ferramonti concentration camp during WWII before being liberated. Archaeological findings provide insights into the mixed cultures that coexisted in the region.

2.  According to a legend, which
attests the presence of an
ancient Jewish community in our
region, Reggio was founded
by Aschenez, great-grandson of
Noah.
 The first work in Hebrew was
printed in Reggio. At one of the
first print-works of the history
based on the Giudecca of
Reggio, in fact, the first version of
the Hebrew Bible was
born February 5, 1475 .
 The oldest synagogue in Europe,
after that of Ostia Antica, is
in Bova Marina with its
rich mosaics of the fourth century
AD

3.  In the Middle
Ages were many Jews who
settled in Calabria, but they were
finally driven out in 1541.
 The Jews were not only present in
Reggio. There were giudecche
in Bova, San Lorenzo,
Motta San
Giovanni, Bagnara (1502-
1503), Pentidattilo,Sant‘ Eufemia
and in other towns of the
province.
 After the final expulsion, the
Jews disappeared but
returned temporarily in the sad
circumstances in Ferramonti inter
nal camp during the Second World
War.

4.  In Calabria there is the
largest concentration camp of
Italy, with a surface of 16 hectares,
located in the municipality
of Ferramonti of Tarsia, a town 35
kilometers from Cosenza.
Here thousands of Jews, stateless
persons, foreigners, whose only
crime was belonging to a hostile
nation or race or political beliefs
were interned during World War II
 Fortunately this was not an
extermination camp, but an
internment and gathering
camp, which was built
like a concentration camp but,
ironically, represented a sort
of salvation for those who were
imprisoned. Ferramonti was the first
camp liberated by Allied troops.

5.  During the modernization of
the national road along
the valley of the river San
Pasquale, the remains of an
ancient synagogue dated between
the fourth and sixth century
AD. came to light, accidentally, in
1986.
 The site is in Bova Marina, a
small village on the Ionian
coast. It must be said that all the
synagogues stood near the
shore of the sea and Bova was no
exception, as well as the largest
synagogue in Italy, in
Ostia, because the sea was
the place through which the
trade took place and just
along the coast Jewish
settlements were born and
developed .

6.  The building was formed by two
square rooms, the first was a
vestibule. In the other room a
mosaic floor is still
preserved. The floor is dated
back to the 4th century AD.
There are 16 squares delimited
by a double braid, in the midst
of which we see Solomon's knot,
the menorah, the shofar ...
cedar, palm leaf.
 Near this floor a clay vessel with
thousands of coins was found.
They were certainly offered
by devotees. Upstream of the
Synagogue there are some
tombs that testify the presence
of two civilizations represented
by the Jewish synagogue and the
Roman ancient walls.

7. The local Jewish community certainly held a prominent
role with regard to the trade in the area along the lines of
the Mediterranean sea and land. This is demonstrated
by the several ceramic findings that prove the origin of
amphorae from the whole basin of Mare Nostrum
The area contains numerous traces that testify to the mix
of different cultures that developed in
Calabria. These archaeological investigations have made
it possible, in fact, to appreciate how this site of Magna
Grecia, during the Roman Empire, has developed the co-
existence between the local population
and observant of Jewish faith

8. In Castrovillari, the
ancient Via Giudecca, reminds
us the presence of a
large Jewish
community resident here at
least since the Swabian
time. Here the Jews were
merchants and artisans, and
they were very powerful, both
economically
and politically. The Jews left
the city in 1512.
Meanwhile, off
Calabria, the Giudecche were
turned into ghettos, from
which no Jew could get away.

9.  Historical sources show that in the
area of ​​Brancaleone, Bruzzano and
Ferruzzano around the year 1500,
some Jewish communities lived. In
particular, in Bruzzano and
Brancaleone, there were some real
giudecche. We suppose that their
"landing" on the Calabrian coast
took place in order to avoid the
persecutions of which they were
victims in the Middle East. The Jews
were dedicated to small business,
agriculture, processing of precious
and wear.
 The place where Jews lived was
called "Judeca", and was located in
the back and low in the country. "

10. The term Giudecca identified the old Jewish
quarter of the city of Reggio Calabria. Many
and varied are the sources and archaeological
finds which testify to the existence of a Jewish
community in the city.
The ancient Giudecca stood near and outside
the city walls to the north of the city, where
now there is the area between the street
Biagio Camagna , the Corso Garibaldi and the
Via Fata Morgana . La Giudecca , being outside
the city walls , was connected with the
mainland through the "Gateway Anzana ."
The Jews had developed industries ,were
established in the city of Giudecca , had a
synagogue and a school , worked , dyed silk,
and had a print shop. In 1475 the commentary
on the Pentateuch Isaacide Solomon was
printed , through the work of the printer
Abraham, Isaac Garton . The Jews
distinguished themselves in another activity ,
rearing of silkworms and ,in conjunction with
this , there was the import of the mulberry tree
. Their silk was so excellent, with the changing
hues of indigo and pink , which was in demand
throughout the European continent and
beyond.Via giudecca

11. Many of them were from Spain, especially at a time when, with the
edict of March 31, 1492, Fernando and Isabella had expelled all
Jews from the domains of the crowns of Aragon
and Castile. Arrived in Reggio, they developed a feverish activity
aimed at raising flood defenses, modernizing and upgrading the
towers of the walls to oppose the ferocity of the barbarians and
their weapons, working with Reggini in fortifying the city. It was
during this period that the first printing were created, so
the Jewish publishing became more and more popular with the
transcription of the most important texts of Scripture.

12. It was in this context that the
Republic of Genoa and
Lucca conspired openly at the
Spanish authority against the
Jews, having an outlet for silk
from
Reggio, created problems to
their interests, until in
agreement, with
the Viceroy De Cardona,
obtained from the King a
decree of expulsion from all
over Calabria. They were
forced, therefore, due to
the severe penalties against
infringers, to go away,
and come out on July 25, 1511.

13. It came to light in a workshop in Reggio Calabria in
1475, at exactly twenty years from that one printed
by Gutenberg. A precious rarity preserved at the
Biblioteca Palatina in Parma.