Vitale Jehiel of Matassia

Vitale Jehiel of Matassia was a banker and a member of the family of bankers, financiers, and international merchants considered among the best-known Jewish families in Italy.

Vitale was a son of Matassia di Sabato of Rome who settled in San Miniato, a small town in Tuscany, where he opened a local bank in 1393. In the 15th century many Jews settled in Pisa and started banking. Among them was also Vitale who established his activities in 1406, and took a new family name, “Da Pisa”. Vitale have expanded business activities throughout Tuscany, and opened other lending banks in San Gimignano, Prato, Colle di Val d'Elsa, and Arezzo.

Soon the family emerged built a reputation of skillful bankers and patrons of arts. His family had a close ties with the Medici family, and held a prominent position among the Jewish moneylenders in Italy for the next century and half. Thanks to their engagement, Jewish exiles from Spain arrived to Pisa in 1492.