The Great Synagogue of Florence is one of the most beautiful in Europe.  It was begun in 1872 after David Levi donated the money to build a synagogue "worthy of Florence" and the actual construction lasted eight years - from 1874 to 1882.

As the Synagogue was intended to serve the local Sephardi community of Florence, the design includes many architectural motifs that were borrowed from the Moorish architecture of Spain.  Although the design integrates the architectural traditions of the Islamic and Italian worlds, the general impression is one of a mostly Moorish style structure.  The overall form is the cruciform plan of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia which was emulated by so many mosques.

In 1944 when the Germans and Italian Fascists were retreating, they tried to destroy the synagogue.  The plot failed but the building was damaged.  After WW2 it was renovated and restored.  During the flooding of 1966, the building and the interior was again damaged.  It was later restored from contributions in Italy and abroad.

=<><><>=