Wander through the legacy of Europe’s largest Jewish community exploring the sites preserved through pride and solidarity in pursuit of religious freedom
SITES:
Jewish Ghetto, Fontana delle Tartarughe, Portico of Octavia, Teatro Marcello, Great Synagogue of Rome, Isola Tiberina and Ponte dei Quattro Capi, neighborhood of Trastevere, Santa Maria della Trastevere
COSTS:
€200 (For a group of 1-5 people)
€20 each additional person
Includes a 25% Discount: Find Out Why Here!
ENTRANCE FEES:
None
LENGTH:
3-hours
DAYS AVAILABLE:
Daily
TIMES AVAILABLE:
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Directly off the eastern banks of the Tiber River, in an area notorious for its consistent floods, a society forced together by religious and cultural deduction created what would become the largest community of Jewish inhabitants across Europe. Ordered by the Papal bull, Cum nimis absurdum of 1555, Roman Jews were required to limit all of their commerce and inhabitation into a 7-acre space known today as the “Jewish Ghetto”. Segregated from the turbulent Christian society of the era, the construction of a wall, with only three entrance gates was welcomed by the Jews as a promise of safety from violence and mobs. Unable to leave the borders, this small neighborhood thrived through poverty, disease and repression. While these stipulations do give rise to anti-Sematic sentiments, those who has studied the area come to find a community who has preserved the fundamental cultural characteristic that make the Roman Jewish society admirable. Starting from beneath the bell tower at Largo Argentina, this tour will take you through the winding cobblestoned streets of the ghetto where Rome’s modern Jewish community still flourishes and into the medieval passages of the Trastevere neighborhood. Your first stop will bring you to the waters of the Fontana della Tartarughe (Turtle Fountain) a small but impressive fountain erected by Renaissance architect, Giacomo della Porta in the small Piazza Mattei. Then you will move through the absolute heart of the ghetto where bakeries still offer their kosher goods and historic merchants still offer their services. With visits to the Portico di Octavia and the Teatro Marcello, two ancient symbols decaying in the heart of the ghetto, an understanding of the evolution of this neighborhood will be explored. From these two ancient monuments you will visit the Great Synagogue of Rome, standing with pride at the banks of the Tiber River. The distinct architecture of the Synagogue stands out in a city known for its eclectic architecture. Then you will move across the oldest bridge standing in Rome today, the Ponte dei Quattro Capi, spanning the waters of the Tiber River and leading to the Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island) a known haven for those suffering from sickness and poverty. With these sanctimonious associations as far back as the 2nd century BCE, the Isola Tiberina Island suggests an often mysterious but continuously engaging history. From here you will wander into Rome’s most eclectic and medieval portion of the city, Trastevere. The beauty of Trastevere, a neighborhood that has retained its medieval foundations with its small narrow streets, brick and stone buildings, will greet you as you cross over onto the west side of the Tiber River. Here you will learn about the rich and complex history of the area- from early Rome’s notorious rivals, the Etruscans through the Middle Ages when the area was occupied predominantly by Easterners- particularly those from Jerusalem and Syria. After navigating the streets of Trastevere, (once rumored to be purposely difficult to navigate in order to flee authorities) you will end your tour at one of the oldest church in Rome- the Basilica of Santa Maria della Trastevere where under her arched portico the often painful to hear but rewarding history of the Roman Jews will give a rich tribute to their plight.
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Additional Information and Booking:
Your guide is happy to meet you in the lobby of your hotel to begin this tour (if located in city center).
RomAmor Tours will make all necessary reservations on your behalf when you confirm your tour with us.
Dress Code:
Please wear comfortable shoes as this walk covers areas of uneven cobblestone and bring a water bottle during the summer months.
Photography is allowed throughout all areas of this tour.
If you have questions regarding this tour, please inquire.
info@romamortours.com
