The medieval neighbours of Rome:
Jewish ghetto and Trastevere

Largo Argentina (our starting point) is where Caesar was murdered, and Piazza Mattei, in the Jewish quarter, is famous for the turtles’ fountain. In 1555, the Pope Sixtus V caused 4000 Jewish people to live in this area of the city. It was a tiny, crowded and unhealthy scrap of land between the Tiber River and the fish market. There are still narrow lanes with evidence of past and contemporary Jewish culture, even though the ghetto was almost demolished at the end of the 1800's. The Jewish culture still has its heart in this part of Rome. Crossing the Tiber Island to Trastevere, (an ancient Latin word meaning across the Tiber,) it is so fascinating to see the churches. The little S.Benedetto has the shortest bell tower in Rome. The Basilicas of S.Cecilia and S.Maria in Trastevere have wonderful mosaics.

Half day tour.


tour jewish ghetto of rome

english guides tiber island
city tour trastevere rome