Restored in 1997 with funding from Mrs. Marina Stern and Ms. Alberta Eiseman in memory of Xenia Friedenberg and in 2004 with funding from the Boston Chapter of Save Venice Inc.

A section of the Jewish Cemetery on the island of the Lido is dedicated to nearly one hundred of the most important displaced tombstones from the Old Cemetery, forming a “New Lapidarium” commemorating the history of both graveyards. In 1997 five tombstones were restored in memory of Xenia Friedenberg, and in 2004 the Boston Chapter adopted the conservation of ten tombstones and two ornate sarcophagi. The tombstones bear honorific and commemorative inscriptions, as well as coats of arms on occasion. The sarcophagi are decorated with garlands, all’antica masks, and geometric motifs, and are interesting features of the cemeteries: according to Jewish law, bodies must lie below the surface; thus, although dramatically marking the burial spots, the sarcophagi are empty.

The works were restored by conservators from the Lares restoration firm, with the guidance of project director Maurizia de Min of the Superintendency of Monuments of Venice.

For select projects, conservation dossiers in Italian containing limited textual and photographic documentation may be available for consultation by appointment at the Venice office of Save Venice and the Rosand Library & Study Center. For inquiries, please contact us at venice@savevenice.org.

Unidentified artisans
Tombstones and Sarcophagi of the Jewish Cemetery on the Lido
Sixteenth and seventeenth centuries