The unfinished synagogue – which was designed by Carlo Visioli in early XIX century – is in the former ghetto; it was used as a carpentry for many years. While the interior has a dome and a loggia for women, the outside looks like a civil building.

Before, the ancient synagogue were on the second floor of an adjoining house. The upper part of the main hall was decked with an early XVII century fresco by Battista Ruberti or Camillo Motta, depicting a column of putti. Today five detached parts of this fresco are at Mu.Vi. – id est the Viadana museum -, after having been restored recently.

In late 1943, during the persecution of the Jews, the new synagogue furniture and the community jewels were entrusted to Giacomo Delfini, who buried them in his Corte Puttina cellar. After the war, the furniture went to Mantua, while the jewels went back to the local community.

Later, Guglielmo Fanetti and Igino Marcheselli bought the buildings where the two synagogues were. The unfinished synagogue is still the property of Marcheselli’s descendants.

During 2004 edition of Festival  Lodoviciano – id est the festival dedicated to musician Lodovico da Viadana (1560-1627) -, the synagogue was finally opened again for visits. But it is no more a place of worship.