Exploring the Culture, Cuisine, & History of the Jewish Ghetto Rome

One of my favorite areas of Rome is the former Jewish Ghetto. There you will find loads of history…both ancient and modern, as well as great food, lovely scenery, archaeological finds, shopping, and much more. Home to a thriving Jewish community, you can indulge in Jewish delicacies or learn more about their history in Rome. I encourage both.

Jews settled in Rome in the 2^nd century BCE. The area they were forced to live is located near the Tiber River. Here is a history I recorded of the area with a map to show the area in better detail: https://youtu.be/jIBfO1UDfgg?si=oqKCDn_FcaedRfL1

This year, I recorded a bit of a walking tour, so you can see famed areas of the neighborhood and celebrate Jewish cuisine and culture. While there make sure to check out:

• Fried artichokes (carciofi alla giudea)
• Fried cod
• Crostata di ricotta e visciole (ricotta and sour cherry tart)
• Ancient ruins of Portico d’Ottavia, Roman temples, and Teatro Marcello
• Turtle Fountain (Fontana della Tartarughe)
• Shopping on via della Reginella
• Ponte Fabricio (ancient bridge) and Tiberina Island
• Piazza Ottobre 16, 1943

Jewish Ghetto Walking Tour: https://youtu.be/LCCdyirqcpc?si=2_qTxcEH_WWeg00X

I was moved by a new exhibition, L’Inferno Nazista (Nazi hell), that has opened since I was last in Rome. The museum is on the history of October 16, 1943 when about 1250 Jews were loaded onto trucks and taken to concentration campus during WWII. Only about 200 were selected to work (mainly men) and the rest were gassed right away. Only 16 of the Roman Jews who were taken that day made it back to their homes (15 men, 1 woman). Today, one can find bronze cobbles around the city in front of the homes were Holocaust victims lived. They are powerful reminders of the horrors of the past.

Here is a quick video I filmed after I had left: https://youtu.be/V9mLhdGND5A?si=PmCsigZkDBi7DsAO I’ve included some articles about the museum below.

I strongly recommend a tour of the Jewish Ghetto in order to fully appreciate all the culture the area has to offer. Our friends at LivTours offer a “Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere” tour. This is a semi-private experience with only six or fewer people. You can read about it below.

Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere tour: https://livtours.com/tours/jewish-ghetto-trastevere-tour-semi-private-experience?af_code=E1DDN61

“The Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere tour is a fascinating exploration through two of Rome’s most historically rich neighborhoods. Located on either side of the River Tiber, both neighborhoods are rich in architecture, history and beauty. Discover another layer of Rome’s phenomenal history! The Jewish Quarter includes the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere neighborhood which has history that explains another side of Roman life over the past 2,000 years. You will learn the gripping history of the Jewish population in Rome and their impact on the city’s ancient and contemporary life.

You will cross the River Tiber, using the oldest bridge in Rome, to visit the outsides of a medieval synagogue and Christian church and be left daydreaming about the sun-soaked cobblestoned streets and daily life in the Eternal City after this tour.”

The tour includes:

• Santa Maria Basilica
• Tiberine Island
• Trastevere
• Jewish Ghetto
• Outside of the synagogue
• Coffee or gelato

Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere tour: https://livtours.com/tours/jewish-ghetto-trastevere-tour-semi-private-experience?af_code=E1DDN61

If you’ve been hoping to learn to cook in beautiful Italy, this authentic cooking class in Rome’s Jewish Ghetto is right up your alley. You’ll make fresh pasta or gnocchi, use seasonal vegetables, and make a Roman dessert. After the meal, you’ll stroll through the Jewish Ghetto to explore the neighborhood.

I think that the neighborhood of the Jewish Quarter is a “can’t miss” area of Rome. I hope you enjoy roaming around the area and exploring all it has to offer. Buon viaggio.

Articles on Nazi Hell exhibition:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-nazi-raid-jews-rome-ghetto-1943.html#google_vignette

https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/mostra-inferno-nazista-roma-sami-modiano/

Going on a trip? You will love our tour partners at LivTours, Tour Guy, and Viator. Check them out:

LivTours (semi-private/private tours): https://livtours.com?af_code=E1DDN61   

TourGuy (small group/private tours): https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1362329&u=4109975&m=89095&urllink=&afftrack=

Viator (small to medium size groups/private): https://www.viator.com/Italy/d57-ttd?sortType=external&pid=P00161535&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector

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