Try some delicious carciofi alla giudìa - a traditional Jewish-style fried artichoke.
The Jewish Ghetto, also known as the Ghetto of Rome, is a historic district on the banks of the Tiber. There has been a large Jewish community in Rome since the 2nd century BC. Originally the Jews were allowed to settle in the city; after the Roman wars with Judea, however, they began to be treated as second-class citizens. In 1555, by order of the Pope Paul IV’s Papal Bull 'Cum nimis absurdum' - which takes its name from the first line, ‘Since it is absurd and utterly inconvenient that the Jews, who through their own fault were condemned by God to eternal slavery...’ - the area was sectioned off and became a ghetto which was controlled by the Papacy, until its abolition in 1870 with the unification of Italy.
Life here was extremely hard. Jews were heavily taxed, only allowed to work unskilled jobs, forced to attend Catholic sermons on Shabbat, and had to wear yellow pointed hats or veils to mark them out when they ventured outside the ghetto. It was an area of severe poverty and overcrowding, with housing built higher and higher above its narrow streets to accommodate the growing population. The district was also frequently flooded. Having been isolated from the rest of the city for over three centuries, the Jews here developed their own Judeo-Roman dialect, which you can still hear spoken by some locals today.
Today it is a thriving district, and its streets are full of excellent kosher bakeries and restaurants. Much of the area is taken up by the Great Synagogue of Rome, which was built at the start of the 20th century and dwarfs most of Rome’s Christian churches. It incorporates eye-catching and eclectic architectural features as a celebration of Jewish freedom; its distinctive squared aluminium dome is the only one in the city.
Behind the synagogue is the ancient Portico of Octavia, built by the first Emperor Octavian Augustus and dedicated to his sister. From the 16th century, it was used as a fishmarket and formed a gateway to the ghetto. In the Middle Ages half the portico was converted into a bricked archway which linked it to the Church of Sant’ Angelo in Pescheria; this half-and-half structure from two distinct periods is still visible. Just down the pathway from the Portico, you can also see the only remaining section of the ghetto wall.
Italian cuisine is one of the most esteemed and influential in the world, renowned for its rich flavours, and fresh, seasonal ingredients and deeply rooted in cultural traditions. Rome in particular showcases a delectable range of Italy’s most emblematic dishes, with so many pizzerias, trattorias, markets and charming cafés that it can be hard to know where to begin. One excellent option for savouring the best bites the Eternal City has to offer is to treat yourself to a private food tour in a golf cart. Setting off directly from your hotel, you will embark on a fun-filled, delicious and scenic journey through some of Rome’s loveliest neighbourhoods, eating out and about like true Romans do thanks to the expertise of your charming local driver-guide.
On your all-inclusive private food tour, you will:
When in Rome, eat as the Romans do on this fabulous 4-hour food tour, where you will glide through some of the most enchanting, traditional neighbourhoods of Rome in your private golf cart and taste your way through the delicious flavours of the Eternal City. Your culinary adventure will begin bright and early at your central hotel, where your guide will be waiting to whisk you away on a voyage of epicurean discovery where you'll be introduced to a carefully curated selection of the locals’ favourite haunts.
You will kick off with a potent espresso and a crash course in the legendary Italian coffee culture, paired with a typical breakfast pastry like a soft flaky cornetto or a decadent maritozzo con panna. You will then proceed to explore the area around Campo de Fiori, one of the city’s liveliest piazzas and a favourite gathering place for locals and tourists alike. You’ll take in the sights and enticing aromas of one of Rome’s most famous open-air markets and pop into one of Rome’s oldest norcinerie, a specialist butcher shop where you can try cold cuts and locally sourced cheeses.
Later you’ll also have the chance to discover the Jewish Ghetto, a neighbourhood seeped in history, where your guide can explain the profound influence of the Jewish community on Roman gastronomy and visit a cherished traditional bakery to taste some of the distinctive flavours. You will also get acquainted with Roman street food and try 'suppli' –traditional fried rice balls with tomatoes, mozzarella and minced meat - allowing you to enjoy the sun-ripened flavours of Italy in one mouthful. Your experienced tour guide will take you to the best local eateries, where you will not only get the chance to taste many Roman delicacies but also learn about the people behind the magic. There will of course be plenty of opportunities throughout the tour to wash down your marvellous morsels with beer, wine or refreshing Italian soft drinks.
Last but certainly not least, you will stop by a famous gelateria where you can enjoy Italy’s classic frozen treat and learn how it differs from (and many would say improves upon) typical ice cream. By the time your tour comes to an end, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel with a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the traditions and values that have produced such exceptional dishes for generations. This is a great opportunity to experience authentic Italian cuisine at its finest and includes a full meal’s worth of tastings so make sure to come hungry!
Please note: During the Jubilee Year, Rome is expected to experience increased visitor numbers and heightened security measures. While we strive to provide a seamless experience, some attractions may face last-minute closures without prior notice, longer-than-usual wait times, or time restrictions on visits inside certain attractions due to crowd control policies.
In such cases, your guide will expertly adapt the itinerary to ensure the best possible experience, using their local knowledge to navigate any challenges. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to make your visit to Rome unforgettable despite these unique circumstances.
Rome may be known for its inextricable links to Catholicism, but it also has a long and fascinating history with the Jewish community. In fact, the Eternal City is home to the oldest continuous Jewish community in Europe, dating back to at least the 2nd century BCE. Roman Jews have their own dialect and culinary traditions, and they played an essential role in the city's economy, trade and medicine in the Medieval and Renaissance periods. There is evidence of early Jewish merchants operating in Trastevere, which was the city’s main port area at the time, and the community later became concentrated around a compact quarter on the other side of the Tiber, with the Jewish Ghetto being established in the 16th Century. The area remains an important hub to this day, with a wide range of Jewish shops and restaurants along with the Great Synagogue. Taking a guided walking tour with a local expert is a great way to peel back the layers of Jewish history in Rome and learn the stories that shaped the architecture, culture and cuisine past and present.
On this 3-hour walking tour, you will:
Your tour will begin at a famous archaeological site in the heart of the historic centre, where you will get acquainted with your guide and make your way towards the area known as the Jewish Ghetto. This neighbourhood on the banks of the Tiber has been a crucial focal point of Jewish life since its establishment in 1555. As you walk along the Via della Reginella, one of the last surviving streets from the original ghetto, you will soon see how this once-restricted area has flourished into a lively cultural hub.
Your guide will lead you through other charming streets such as Via del Portico d’Ottavia, the main thoroughfare of the present-day Ghetto, where you’ll find Ancient Roman ruins interspersed with modern shops and businesses. Along the way, you’ll hear stories of Jewish residents across the centuries and their contributions to the area, as well as wider Roman society. You’ll admire the Fontana delle Tartarughe, an elegant 16th-century fountain with a mysterious past, and take a delectable detour to one of the Ghetto’s beloved bakeries or cafés to learn more about the distinct flavours of emblematic Jewish-Roman dishes and get the chance to sample one for yourself.
You’ll pay a visit to Piazza delle Cinque Scole, once home to five synagogues standing side by side—a testament to the diverse Jewish traditions that thrived here before taking some time to admire the Great Synagogue of Rome from the outside, with its striking Art Nouveau dome. Your guide will show you exquisite architectural details, a mix of Neo-Renaissance and Moorish styles, and illustrate how the place of worship and adjoining museum have become a symbol of Jewish resilience and integration.
After a brief pause at a lesser-known archaeological site that many visitors miss, you will cross the river to Tiber Island, which has served as a refuge for the Jewish community for centuries. Your guide will reveal how this tiny island has been associated with Jewish people from the very inception of their time in Rome and would become an important centre for healing and a place of both medical and spiritual sanctuary.
Last but certainly not least, your guide will take you over to Trastevere, where the very earliest testaments to Jewish society in Rome can be found. You’ll pass by the site of one of the first Roman synagogues and learn about what life was like for Jews in the city long before the Ghetto was established. As you stroll the picturesque streets, you will find out how the neighbourhood evolved into one of the city’s most beloved food and cultural districts, with deep ties to Jewish culinary traditions. By the time your tour comes to an end, you will be left with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the past, present and future of the Jewish community in Rome.
Please note: During the Jubilee Year, Rome is expected to experience increased visitor numbers and heightened security measures. While we strive to provide a seamless experience, some attractions may face last-minute closures without prior notice, longer-than-usual wait times, or time restrictions on visits inside certain attractions due to crowd control policies.
In such cases, your guide will expertly adapt the itinerary to ensure the best possible experience, using their local knowledge to navigate any challenges. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to make your visit to Rome unforgettable despite these unique circumstances.
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