My husband, 15 yr old daughter and I will be in Rome 4/18-4/21/08 (the start of Passover)
We would like to attend either a Friday night service or services Sat. morning. How would I find out if they'll let us in and what time they begin and end?
We will also be in Venice on 4/24-4/25 and would like to attend there, as well. Are they orthodox or conservative? Has anyone been?
Any advice? Tips, etc?

The Great Synagogue is an impressive building along the Tiber. I found one website that says holiday and shabbat morning services are at 8:30 a.m. Nothing on evening services.

I went to an evening service there several years ago. I can't remember the time. I just showed up. There is security, and you will be searched. Sadly, a little while before I went, there was a terrorist attack (drive by shooting I believe), and a boy was killed there.

The service was orthodox. I was raised reform, and I didn't care much for it. However, the building is beautiful.

There are tours offered during the day. I took a tour in English. It was then that I found out when the services were.

My (former) boss was in Italy at Rosh Hashana time, he bought his tickets in advance. I think he wired the payment.

If I was going, I'd start with this website, it has 89 Synagogues listed

http://www.jewishitaly.org/

In Venice there is a Chabad chapter and you can reach them through the Chabad website. They would definitely welcome you to their services- that is what Chabad is all about. They are also located in the ghetto. In Rome the Jewish Congregations are all Orthodox - and the services are in an Italian dialect - the Romanim version of Ladino. From my understanding members of the Jewish community can attend any synagogue - one membership is a membership to all synagogues and Rabbis change synagogues, too. The Great Synagogue adjacent to the Ghetto is beautiful. You must spend some time just hanging out in the Ghetto for a taste of Roman Jewish life. I also believe there are also several synagogues in the Quirinale/Espquilino area of Rome. Security is very tight at the Great Synagogue. I go to Rome often and have not had any luck finding any progressive prayer groups - unlike my trip to Prague several years ago where we celebrated Shabbat and Passover with a Reform congregation at the Spanish Synagogue. Very cool. We're heading off for Istanbul for Passover and hoping to attend services there...and security is extremely tight for worship and visiting the Jewish museum. Have a great trip and Passover!

denarlp,

Rome--Do you have plans for Sedarim? You should contact the synagogue/rabbi early--you really cannot count on the goodwill of the locals.

Venice--the only functioning synagogue is chabad as other synagogues in the ghetto areas no longer have active congregants--quite easy to find.

In general, European jewish communities are more centralised (countries and cities having chief rabbinate) and basically orthodox.