The Eternal City of Rome is full of surprises and hidden gems to explore. If you’re looking for things to do during your stay in Rome that are not very touristy, we highly suggest you visit Rome’s Jewish Ghetto. Located near Piazza Venezia, visiting the Jewish Ghetto is a great way to immerse yourself in an experience that has pretty much everything, starting with cultural value and ending with great food!
Due to its proximity The Jewish Ghetto it’s also a good starting point for a Colosseum and Roman Forum Tour.
Let’s find out something more about the Jewish Ghetto in Rome and why you should consider visiting it!
The history of Rome’s Jewish Ghetto
The Jewish Ghetto in Rome was first built in 1555, under the commission of Pope Paul IV and it’s considered to be the oldest western ghetto in the whole world. Jewish people were unfortunately and unjustly forced to respect a series of rules to avoid getting into trouble. Their residency had to be in the ghetto but they couldn’t own houses. They also couldn’t bring out anything to trade with people outside the ghetto, except for rags and clothes.
They also underwent persecutions from the Nazis, such as the one in October 1943, where over a thousand Jews were captured from their own homes and put in a train to concentration camps. Only 16 people survived.
The Jewish Ghetto in Rome was only liberated in 1849, after the proclamation of the Italian Republic, which forbade segregation.
Must-See attractions: highlights of Rome’s Jewish Ghetto
Nowadays the Jewish Ghetto in Rome has become a place to explore Jewish culture and history in depth. Walking through the streets of the Ghetto, you will be able to see many different tourist attractions, such as the Tempio Maggiore Synagogue, which has become the most popular one. The Tempio Maggiore Synagogue was designed by Osvaldo Armanni and Vincenzo Costa in 1904 and it’s one of the main symbols of the Jewish Ghetto in Rome.
Here’s a list of some other things you should see in the Jewish Ghetto:
- Tiber Island: a small artificial island in the middle of the Tiber;
- The Turtle Fountain: built in the XVI century;
- Teatro Marcello, also known as the Little Colosseum;
- Portico d’Ottavia: this place was used as a market in the Middle Ages;
Savoring Tradition: exploring Jewish Cuisine in the Ghetto
The Jewish Ghetto is filled with great restaurants that will allow you to try some of the most delicious dishes of Jewish cuisine. We suggest you try dishes such as the cod filet, artichokes alla giudia, fish broth and stuffed fish at one of these restaurants:
- TAVERNA DEL GHETTO;
- GIGGETTO AL PORTICO D’OTTAVIA;
- SORA MARGHERITA;
Conclusion
If you want to do something different in Rome, visiting the Jewish Ghetto is a perfect opportunity to fully immerse yourself in Jewish culture and understand a little more about what they had to go through. If you want to get to know more about Italy, make sure to check out our other blogs and book a private tour with us!
