jewish tour guide rome

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Jews Travel Rome

Jewish Tour Guide in Rome – Take your Trip On Jewish Rome

The Jewish Museum, Synagogues and former ghetto area

Today, the Jewish Quarter is one of the top destinations for any informed traveler; each corner...

Coliseum, Arch of Titus and Michelangelo’s Moses

Discover the majesty of the Eternal City with a visit to the heart of the...

Vatican Museums through a Jewish Lens

The Vatican Museum, established over 500 years ago, it is one of the largest museums...

Jewish Catacombs on the Old Appian Way

Discovered by accident in 1859, the Catacombs of Vigna Randanini, are the only accessible Jewish catacombs...

An Evening Stroll Through Magical Rome

Enjoy an atmospheric evening stroll through Rome’s most famous squares, fountains, and monuments. Walk the...

Learn & Eat… in the Jewish Ghetto!

Food and culture all in one! Taste authentic Judeo-Romanesco food, together with a stroll through...

Kosher Cooking Class with Local Chef

Italian cooking is famed worldwide for it fresh ingredients, simple nature, and delicious taste.Head into...

What is Jews Travel Rome?

We are a group of Licensed native Italian tour guides, members of the Jewish Community of Rome, who love Rome and are excited to introduce you to our beautiful city.Each guide has a deep knowledge on Jewish and Roman history. Our tours are enriched by personal experiences and studies, are suitable for both adults and children and can be customized and adapted to your individual needs.Our guides are at your exclusive disposal and will take you on a private tour through Rome, its history, anecdotes and curiosities, making your tour interesting, exciting, and one-of-a-kind.Tours are available in English, French, Spanish, Hebrew and other languages upon request.We are also happy to offer full and/or multiple day tours.All tours are are by reservation only to allow for individual and customized attention.

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• The Vatican
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• Shabbat in Rome

Trusted Tour Guide. Discover Rome with the first-choice guide of discerning travelers.

Your time in rome is precious; you deserve to enjoy it to the full. leave the organization to a local, and let me take care of everything., explore rome with a guest lecturer at the american university of rome and star of a discovery documentary., mir zainen doh, vu zait ihr titus we are here, where are you.

Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman of Ponevezh

Visit Europe’s oldest ghetto and experience over two thousand years of Roman-Jewish life! See the Great Synagogue, the Jewish Museum and much more!

Discover the Vatican’s Jewish side: From Jewish inscriptions and artefacts to the Talmudic traditions behind Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel!

Jewish and roman history intertwine. explore some of rome’s most famous landmarks – the colosseum, the forum and titus’ arch – all from a jewish perspective., stroll through some of the city’s most charming streets and alleyways, followed by dinner at one of the excellent kosher restaurants in the ghetto.

THE VATICAN

Discover the center of Christianity from a Jewish perspective. We’ll decipher inscriptions and artifacts in the Vatican Museums & discover the Talmudic traditions behind Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel

ANCIENT ROME

Get a true taste of Roman-Jewish life on this unforgettable tour. Explore the Jewish Ghetto, Great Synagogue & Jewish Museum of Rome and fully immerse yourself in our community.

JEWISH ROME COMBO TOUR

(bestseller).

Save time and money through my Jewish Rome Combo tour and explore two of Jewish Rome’s must-see highlights in the space of just four hours. After visiting the Ghetto , Synagogue and Jewish Museum  in the morning (2 hours) , we’ll take a short break for a traditional Ghetto lunch. Then we’ll make our way over to the ancient center where we’ll spend 2 hours discovering the secrets of the Colosseum , Arch of Titus and Roman Forum .

THE JEWISH CATACOMBS

Visit this extraordinary site, closed to the general public. The Jewish catacombs on the Appian Way, with their wealth of Jewish symbols, provide invaluable information about the lives, occupations, and customs

PREPAID SHABBAT WALKING TOUR (Available Daily)

Enjoy a private walking tour of Rome’s historic center, discovering its famous squares and fountains and learning the stories behind them.

ROME ON WHEELS

Discover the Eternal City in style and comfort, saving your energy for Rome’s museums and attractions! Join me as we jump onboard a Golf Cart, stay cool and save energy while exploring the Eternal City.

PHOTOGRAPHER SERVICE

Ensure all your special moments are captured forever by hiring a personal photographer. They can accompany you on your tour or get those special shots around famous monuments – it’s all up to you!

KOSHER COOKING CLASS

Immerse yourself in Kosher Italian cuisine by taking a certified kosher cooking class with an accomplished Roman chef or exploring the historic centre tasting delicious Kosher street food. Or both!

KOSHER TOURS IN ITALY

Seen everything there is to see in the Eternal City? Roman Jews offers tours and day-trips across Italy! Sample fine wines at Tuscany’s Cantina Giuliano, explore the highlights of Venice and its islands, experience a walking tour of Florence and its Synagogue, and discover the picturesque towns and breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast.

General Information

Tour Durations: 2.5 – 3 hours

Tour Availability: Sun – Mon, 10 am., 2 pm. or 5 pm.

Tours are semi-private (max 6 guests). Private tours on request

Rome Jewish Tours

My trending, a unique point of view on rome. reserve your spot now—space is limited, jewish catacomb, colosseum - arch of titus - roman forum, ancient ostia and synagogue, jewish rome: ancient ghetto and synagogue, are also on viator, my customers love me, latest reviews.

Amazing tour of the Ghetto and Synagogue with the amazing Sara Terracina Di Cori . We had a great time, learned so much about the area and even my 7 year old daughter was engaged and participated actively in the tour and conversation. Thank you!

Sara was so knowledgeable about the area – she is an expert in the history and adds a personal depth with her own family experience. She was patient with all of our questions- not all of us had a lot of knowledge about Judaism. Learned so much and the Jewish museum and synagogue were beautiful. A highlight of our trip, I highly recommend this tour.

We had an amazing time with Sara in Rome. She is very professional and passionate. She loves her city and makes the visit of Rome very interesting by sharing some personal stories, like a story-teller. I usually don’t manage to keep listening for hours to tour guides but with her it was so easy and time was passing too fast. Don’t hesitate, I really recommend Sara as tour guide for the visit of Rome.

I was in Rome a few days ago – Had a tour with Sara – She’s the best guide ever – Knows a lot about this city and is very serious and happy to share and show us everything – Highly recommended !!!

Corinne S.G.

Shabbat Strolls tours

Are you looking for prepaid Shabbath walking tours? Enjoy our walking tours on Shabbath, you can enjoy visiting the Jewish quarter and Trastevere, or the beautiful squares of Rome, or also choose to have a glimpse of ancient Jewish Rome in a nice and relaxing atmosphere. 

Get in contact! We have what you need!

You can prepay your tour here and then get in touch with me for meeting point details.

Ciao! My name is Micaela Pavoncello and I am a proud member of the Jewish Community of Rome .

I was born in Rome to a Jewish Roman father (proud to be here since Caesar’s time!) and a Libyan Jewish Sephardic mother. I am married to Angelo and we have three sons, Gabriel, Nathan, and Isaac.

I have lived in Rome my entire life, except for one year I lived in Argentina and another year in Israel. I am in love with my city and that’s the reason why I decided to study Art History at Rome’s university. Traveling has given me the opportunity to meet other Jews, share my story with them, and compare my community with their and other communities. Throughout my time as a guide, while meeting people along my journey, I have come to realize how miraculous the existence of the Jewish Community of Rome really is.

I founded Jewish Roma Walking Tours in 2003 after completing my studies in Art History and a year of research at the central Archive of Rome where I was looking for documents about my family during the ghetto times. I also had a full time job at MACRO, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome, where I was responsible for the exhibitions department and I had the opportunity to meet artists, collectors, curators, and visitors from all over the world.

Taking people on tours of Rome, meeting travelers, and teaching them about the bimillenary existence of the Jews in this city made me understand that most people see Rome only as a city of Christianity.

However…

The Jewish Community of Rome’s history of resilience, culinary traditions, different minhag (musical-liturgical traditions), Jewish-Roman dialect, and continuous presence in the same place, make us the most ancient citizens of Rome and unique contributors to the fabric of the Eternal City. We have been witnesses of the grandeur of the Roman Empire, and to its fall, the beginning of Christianity, the Barbarians, the Inquisition, The Popes, the ghettos, and the final Emancipation. We went through World War Two and the Shoah and still we thrive today.

I am very proud that I have given tours of Rome to so many visitors and special guests.

Guy Ritchie, Richard Lewis, the First Lady of Israel Sarah Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett, Daniel Pipes, Justine Fanarof, and many others. I have shown the ghetto to Rick Steves, and it was unforgettable.

Have a look!

Now i would like to share my story and experiences with you, choose your tour.

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Kosher concierge, private driver, accomodations, kosher restaurants booking, private kosher chef, kosher babysitter, kosher meals/catering, shabbat meals, prepaid shabbat walking tours, contact me and book your tour.

Micaela Pavoncello

E: [email protected] T: +39 3932175898

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Jewish Roma Walking Tours

T: +39 393 217 5898 E:  [email protected]

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ANCIENT ROME

• Ancient Rome Through Jewish Eyes
• The Roman Colosseum
• The Arch of Titus

The history of the Jewish People and the history of Rome are eternally intertwined. We are the ONLY ones in Rome to interweave all the TALMUDIC and MIDRASHIC lore that are clearly such vital parts of the Jewish heritage and history in the Ancient City of Rome. Your Rome For Jews docent will take you through the ancient ruins of the Roman Forums giving you a one-of -a-kind tour, telling you the TRUE stories behind the stones and unlocking SECRETS that even many native-born Romans don’t know – the amazing story of the MOST ANCIENT JEWISH COMMUNITY in the Diaspora will come to life for you. Imagine 23 CENTURIES of amazing stories, told exactly where they happened, in 2 – 3 unforgettable hours. Starting at the place where a GOLDEN MENORAH and other sacred objects, taken from the Second Bet Hamikdash, once stood – to the awe-inspiring story of the infamous ARCH OF TITUS while you stand right in front of it – to the COLOSSEUM built with JEWISH SLAVE labor and paid for with the GOLD from the TEMPLE TREASURY You will certainly find out why this tour is called …

“A LIVING WALK THROUGH JEWISH HISTORY”

Please Note: Entrance fee for the Colosseum is 12 euros per person, including one ticket for your docent.

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Jewish Ghetto, Synagogue and Museum Tour | Private

Where the pinnacle of jewish-roman culture lies within the eternal city, request your tour.

Child (5-12)*

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Why Choose It?

• Walk  through the vivacious Jewish Ghetto with a  local Jewish guide .
• Witness  the Great Synagogue of Rome’s  astounding beauty .
• Explore  the expansive  Jewish-Roman culture  through  timeless art  and  delectable cuisine .

Tour Description

Join a  member of Rome’s Jewish community  for a private tour through the  Jewish Ghetto . Rome’s Jews can count themselves among the city’s most historic inhabitants; their settlement in the city even predated the time of Julius Caesar. Your  private Jewish Ghetto, Synagogues and Museum tour  takes you on a journey through Jewish culture from past to present, nourishing you with the knowledge of its deep and moving history.

Ever resilient in the face of persecution, the historic settlers of the Jewish Ghetto have shaped an area that is now perhaps the most  thriving  and  sought-after neighborhood  in Rome’s historic center. Sandwiched between the Capitoline Hill and the River Tiber, the Ghetto bustles with fresh bakeries and restaurants specializing in Jewish cuisine, as well as the city’s largest synagogue.

Walk through the Jewish Ghetto

Your private Jewish Ghetto and Synagogue tour will walk you through the many attractions of this intimate ancient-medieval neighborhood. Learn the story behind the beautiful  Fontana delle Tartarughe  (Fountain of the Turtles) and ancient  Portico of Octavia  – a monumental complex dedicated to the sister of the first Roman emperor Augustus.

Your local Jewish guide will walk you through the history of Rome’s Jewish from ancient to modern. You may even hear the unique Giudeo-Romanesco dialect being spoken in the streets around you – one of the oldest surviving remnants of this extraordinary culture.

Visit two of the city’s historic synagogues

Having explored the Jewish Ghetto, your private guide will take you to visit the  Ashkenaz and Sephardi synagogues . Sheltered within the breathtakingly beautiful Great Synagogue of the Jewish Ghetto are countless treasures spanning the ages.

Venture inside the iconic Great Synagogue of Rome – the largest in the city. Your local Jewish guide will share the history of the synagogue, established after the unification of Italy, and the changes to Jewish culture and representation throughout the city over the centuries.

Admire the artworks within the Jewish Museum

Art has provided escape and expression throughout all cultures. Explore the masterpieces of Jewish-Roman art in the  Jewish Museum of Rome . Your local Jewish guide will share the history, legends, and insight into the lives of the artists whose works are on display.

Rome is often thought of as the quintessentially Catholic city, but Judaism has been prevalent since the 2nd century BC. Explore the  roots of Jewish culture  with your local Jewish guide and witness the metamorphic life of a Roman Jew from past to present.

• Itinerary: Jewish Ghetto Ashkenaz and Sephardi Synagogues Jewish Museum
• Included: Jewish tour guide Reserved tickets
• Wheelchair accessible: Guests with limited mobility are encouraged to request our private tours.
• Meeting Point: Via Catalana, 5

excellent guides

Our guides are fluent in English and have a contagious passion for the inspiring cultural heritage of our Italian cities. Experts in their fields, they will immerse you in the hidden histories and intriguing lives of history's great protagonists. So much to see, so easy to miss out: with the help of our guides, visit the most absorbing sites and uncover the stories that have changed the world. Don't miss this fascinating journey!

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Jewish Roma Private Walking Tours

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Jewish ghetto, Jewish museum and synagogues with Jewish Roman guide 3 hours

Jewish Ghetto, Synagogues & Museum Tour with Jewish Guide 2 hours

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Jewish Roma Private Walking Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Joy of Rome

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LIVE TOURS › CITY WALKS › Rome JEWISH GHETTO walking Tour

Rome JEWISH GHETTO walking Tour

A private 2 hours walking tour exploring the most typical area of the city centre of rome: the jewish quarter. your guide will be specialized in roman history and show you both sites related to the history of the jewish community and… food.

GOOD TO KNOW

• 10 am and 2.30pm, every day except Friday pm and Saturday am

THIS TOUR INCLUDES:

• Piazza del Campidoglio
• Marcellus Theater and the surrounding archaeological area
• Portico d’Ottavia and the fish market
• Medieval alleys
• Piazza delle Cinque Scole
• Via del Portico D’Ottavia
• Great temple Sinagogue (only outside, tour available at the end of our walk)
• Tiberine Island
• Food TASTING UPON REQUEST
• PRIVATE TOURS ARE AVAILABLE EVERY DAY EXEPT SATURDAY UPON REQUEST 

The Jewish Ghetto walking tour is for whoever wants to truly understand the essence of Rome through the story of the Jewish community.

Our local, licensed, Roman guides will help you experiencing the heart of eternal city, not just see it:. the Jewish Ghetto will have no secrets anymore.

If you are looking for something a little different from the usual monuments or museums and what to learn about the facts that brought to the construction of the walls of the ghetto, this is your tour. Do you want to walk the road less travelled and not just the usual tourist paths? Come with us and take a walk through the most authentic alleys of Rome, those of the Jewish Community.

Come see street artisans, narrow cobbled lanes, medieval towers built over Roman ruins, breathtaking views of the Tiber river – enjoy all these sites, sounds, and flavors of the city on this single tour.

We’ll start from Campidoglio Square and have a stunning view of the Roman Forum to discover the story of the first Jewish slaves brought to Rome by the Emperor Titus and then continue to the place where the community was forced to leave: “the Jewish ghetto” . Pope Paul the IV in 1555 built walls and gates and obliged the jewish romans to leave only in there. All around it, incredible roman remains like the Theatre of Marcellus and the temple of Apollo Sosiano . As we will be inside the district, we’ll discover the structure going throught via del portico di Ottavia and Via della Reginella . We’ll see the stumbling stones and the place where the ancient synagogue used to be, until we’ll reach the new one: The TEMPIO MAGGIORE (The great temple Synagogue) .

This is a full immersion walking tour through an amazing cultural and historical melting pot, where Pagan cults, Christian and Jewish traditions are joined in one of the most original districts of the world.

Do you want to taste kosher food (bakery and cakes) and Roman specialities on the same street? Then don’t miss our Jewish District Guided Tour!

The first Jewish community was established in Rome more than 2000 years ago. From then on Christianity and Judaism have lived side by side, mostly in harmony… but not always: the sad crumbling remains of the walled district known as “Ghetto” (where the Roman Jews were forced to live between 1500s and 1800s) were torn down only in the 19th century. You will go through the history of the community leaded by your guide, discovering how they lived, how many re still there, how the ghetto used to be five hundred years ago and you will also understand how it changed until today. Having been the theater of the persecution until the 16 October 1943, the place is a monument to the memory of the Jewish community in Rome and deserves a in-depth exploration.

Get away from the crowds and discover the most authentic side of our city, book your Jewish District Guided Tour now!

If you wish to add some food tasting on the way, let us know, we know where to find the best “pizza ebraica” and “carcifofi alla giudia”. Want to know what they are? Book the tour and you’ll… EAT! For a food tour in Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto click here .

• The private tour is always available upon request.
• Your guide will be  LICENSED, ROMAN and specialized in ROMAN ART and HISTORY .
• No tickets are needed for this tour.
• A small local food tasting is available upon request (not included in the cost of the tour).

From June to October: an extra fee of 15% will be added on top of the price for every last minute request (starting from 3 days before the date requested for the tour)

We run only private tours.

We don't run small groups.

We can accommodate time/day request according to our guides' and entry tickets availability.

Final and detailed price will be provided after receiving your request from the contact form.

Starting price for a private tour 2,5 hrs for 2 adults: 350 euro + tickets but definitive price is provided *only* upon request. Price can be reduced during low season or increased during holiday, peak dates or last minute request.

For group larger than four, price will be provided upon request.

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Virtual Walk available!

Explore the beauty the ancient jewish ghetto in a private live session. it will be you, your family, your friends and your guide live from the city. from teatro di marcello, through portico di ottavia to the synagogue or “major temple”. breathtaking views, compelling stories, sensational archaeological remains. the eternal city is a great open-air museum and the scenery of jewish ghetto is undoubtedly a hidden gem among the most breathtaking treasures in the world visit the ancient theatre of di marcello (the informal entrance to the ghetto) with the main temples of di bellona e apollo sosiano, the church of sant’angelo in pescheria and the old the fish market. the story of the first jewish slaves brought to the city of emperor titus at the creation of the ghetto by the popes in the sixteenth century until the cruel roundup of the 14th october and the construction of the biggest synagogue. with your personal guide you will see ruins and you will learn everything about the history of the jewish community and their famous traditional cuisine. listen, look, explore and ask as many questions as you want live tours are perfect to try wherever you are. all you need is a connection and a screen to connect with us..

How can we help? Send a message and we will get back to you shortly!

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Jewish Quarter of Rome Tour

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What makes this tour Special

Rome housed the  first Jewish community outside the Holy Land  and has a millennial history of integration and segregation strongly linked with the Papacy

During the  Jewish Quarter of Rome Tour  you will enjoy one of the most picturesque neighborhood in town, lively adorned by excellent restaurants and cozy spots

Cover the longest time span with commentaries ranging  from the Roman era to the Second World War and more

What to Expect

PRIVATE TOUR

Enjoy your tour with your own private tour expert at your party's disposal only

09:30 - 14:00

Meet&Greet at your hotel/accomodation. Transfer to the tour site included

KID FRIENDLY

This tour is suitable for kids of all ages

ENTRANCE TICKETS

No entrance tickets are needed! Enjoy your tour!

GENERIC INFORMATION

There is a moderate amount of walking involved so please wear comfortable shoes!

• Blue badge certified  private tour guide
• Reservation fees
• Meet & greet your private guide at your hotel or accommodation
• One Way Transfer  from your hotel/accommodation to the tour site
• Drop Off back to your hotel after the tour (available upon request)

Sites you’ll visit

• Jewish Ghetto
• Trastevere A quant area of Rome that has seen vast changes over the centuries. This area was home to the original Jewish Synagogue of Rome and also the oldest church of the Eternal City. During 753–509 BC it was home to "Hostile Etruscans" and once overtaken, the area was largely used by local fishermen as they took advantage of the close by Tiber river. This part of Rome was even chosen by Julius Caesar as the location for his luxury Garden Villa!
• Jewish Ghetto One of the biggest and most breathtaking monuments you'll come across while walking in the Jewish Ghetto of Rome is the majestic ruins of Octavia’s Porticus. Constructed two thousand years ago under the order of Augustus, in honor of his sister Octavia, was a monumental marble area surrounded by columns and embellished by two temples dedicated to Juno and Jupiter. The frescos that are still visible today were realized centuries later, showing us how this area was continuously used over the centuries.

Tour description

Start your tour to discover the  Jewish Quarter of Rome  by admiring the breathtaking view from the  Janiculum Hill . Marvel at the impressive  Fontana dell’Acqua Paola , also known as il Fontanone, one of the most beautiful fountains in Rome, dating from the 17th century. Just as ancient explorers, we’ll descend the hill into the heart of  Trastevere . Stroll through suggestive narrow alleys lined with historical workshops, bakeries and typical inns. Your tour guide will be your storyteller, and you will discover that  Rome is not just about gladiators and Christian history – it’s also a city inhabited by the Jewish community and has been influenced by their traditions for over 2,000 years.

Cross the pedestrian bridge of  Ponte Sisto , and reach the Jewish Ghetto (the  Jewish Quarter of Rome ), which is one of the most beautiful areas in the city, full of history and tradition, that has almost entirely remained untouched throughout the centuries. The 1904  Synagogue , the centerpiece of this area, is a magnificent structure with beautiful windows and decorative facade. Walk through narrow cobblestone streets, experiencing several layers of history, learn the history of the Jewish community, while you admire the ancient ruins that surround you.

Full Refund Cancellation Policy

• Dolce Vita policy is applied on all Standard Bookings placed more than 72 hours from the date of the event. We provide all our customers with Refundable Terms up to 72 hours from the date of the event for any reason. To apply for a refund including where your tour is cancelled or changed by Eyes of Rome®, please contact our customer service team at [email protected] .
• Peace of Mind policy is applied on Selected Bookings and on all Bookings placed within 72 hours from the date of the event. We provide all our customers with Refundable Terms so if you are unable to attend your booking due to unforeseen circumstances outside of your control you may be entitled to a refund - please see our full set of Refundable Terms and Conditions here . To apply for a refund, please find the instructions on how to apply in the booking confirmation email you received after payment.

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Trevi Fountain

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The Spanish Steps

Circus Maximus

Amalfi Coast

Pompeii & Amalfi

The Roman Forum

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Jewish Ghetto Tour: Triumph and Tragedy in Rome

Uncover the fascinating story of Rome’s ancient Jewish community in the beautiful Ghetto

Starts from 495 €

(13 Reviews)

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starting time 9.30

duration 3 hours

Tour Overview

Discover the fascinating story of Rome’s ancient Jewish community in the beautiful and historic Roman Ghetto. Rome’s Jewish community is the most ancient in Europe, and the atmospheric Jewish Ghetto is rich with history and tradition on every street. Walk along the lively main street of Via Portico d’Ottavia with its characteristic Kosher shops and bakeries, and sample the unique flavours of Roman Jewish cuisine. Dive into the cobbled backstreets and gaze up at the magnificent Synagogue, and learn about the long and turbulent history of this indomitable community - a story of emigration and persecution but also of triumph over adversity. Along the way we’ll visit picturesque Piazza Mattei with its famous turtle fountain, the imposing Portico d’Ottavia with the remains of the city’s medieval fish market, and even the grand ruins of an ancient Roman theatre – the spectacular Teatro Marcello. The story of the Jewish Ghetto in Rome is a gripping tale: both for its atmospheric beauty and its frequently tragic history, the quarter is one of Rome’s most enduringly fascinating areas – explore it with us!

• Private tour guide
• Entrance to synagogue (lead by an internal synagogue guide)

• Via del Portico d'Ottavia
• Trastevere and the Tiber Island
• Kosher Food in Rome (no consumptions included in price)

Tour Description

Explore the Culture and History of Europe's Oldest Jewish Community

On this private tour of Rome's Jewish Ghetto we'll spend roughly 3 hours touring the oldest Jewish community in Europe, appreciating the legacy of the first Jewish merchants who traversed the Tiber into ancient Rome. We'll discover the remnants of the communities they built, and learn all about the rich heritage of a neighborhood that has been a center of faith and worship since the Middle Ages. Join us as we stroll the streets of the quarter once designated as the only location Jews could live or work in the city - a neighborhood once enclosed by high walls and plagued by the constantly flooding waters of the Tiber river. In this triangular enclave in the heart of the historic center we'll admire one of the Eternal City's most beautiful fountains as well as the ruins of ancient Rome's most spectacular theatre. Most importantly, we'll get to the heart of Rome's Jewish community's center of worship since the early 1900s.

On this private tour we'll walk the narrow streets that wind their way toward the river, exploring the Tiber Island before crossing to the other bank and reaching Trastevere. The original home of Roman Jews from ancient times, here we'll see the ruins of one of the oldest synagogues in Europe. Along the way we'll also stop to enjoy some of the tempting delights at the Kosher bakeries and pizzerias in this historically rich section of Rome.

Rome has had a Jewish population for over 2,000 years. Emigration into the ancient world's greatest metropolis began around 140 BC, when Jews came to the fertile banks of the Tiber river and were absorbed into Roman society as traders, merchants, diplomats and slaves. Jewish traders from Israel first settled in the neighbourhood of Trastevere and by late antiquity over 30,000 Jews lived and worked in the city.

Today, one can see the remains of the ancient Trastevere synagogue that once stood in what remains one of Rome's most characteristic quarters even today. As the Middle Ages rolled around the Jewish community had shifted to the eastern banks of the Tiber. Their fortunes took a tragic turn for the worse in 1555, when the community was confined to a segregated area called the “ghetto” by Pope Paul IV. This was the period of the Counter-Reformation, when Catholicism was becoming more militant and hostility towards religious minorities was on the rise. Almost 5,000 Jews were walled into this tiny flood-prone area of only 7 acres and subjected to harsh restrictions on their civil liberties - curfews, limited work possibilities and the obligation to wear identifying yellow hats or scarves amongst them. The walls were finally torn down in the late 19th Century, but the Jewish Ghetto remains a distinctive area of Rome that is still the centre of the city's Jewish community even today.

The quarter's maze of cobblestoned streets are studded with kosher bakeries and restaurants, and make for one of our most atmospheric private tours in Rome. One of the real jewels of the Ghetto is  Piazza Mattei ,   home to one of the most beautiful fountains in Rome: the Fountain of the Turtles is a 16th-century masterpiece designed by Giacomo della Porta, a landmark of Renaissance sculpture. The turtles were added by none other than the Baroque master Gianlorenzo Bernini in the 17th century.

Nearby Via della Reginella offers a snapshot of what life in the Ghetto was like during the days of confinement. The narrow street is lined with buildings stretching seven stories high- a testament to the tenements Jews were forced to build upwards due to the cramped quarters of the ghetto. Further into the quarter is the piazza between Portico d'Ottavia and Tempo Maggiore, where Jews were rounded up before being deported under Nazi occupation. A plaque commemorates this piazza as the location where over 1,000 Roman Jews were taken to become victims of the Holocaust. Only 16 returned.

Towering over the Tiber from its riverside perch, the Synagogue of Rome is a unique and beautiful testament to the restoration of Rome's Jewish community to their rightful place in the city, completed in 1905. In contrast to the innumerable Baroque monuments of Rome, the synagogue adopts Persian and Babylonian architectural designs and striking eastern artistic adornments. Inside, a museum chronicles the presence of Jews in the Eternal City from the time before Christ through to their persecution under the Fascist regime, culminating in their deportation on Hitler's orders.

The Jewish quarter is also home to one of the oldest standing and best preserved theatres of Ancient Rome. The Teatro Marcello  was originally constructed by Julius Caesar and completed after his death in 11 B.C. by the emperor Augustus. This vast amphitheater, named after his favorite nephew and son-in-law, was one of the greatest theaters of ancient Rome.

Join us on this unique Rome private tour to discover a vitally important but often forgotten chapter of the Eternal City's fascinating history.

meeting point

Tour Reviews

5.0 (13 reviews)

We had a wonderful time going on a tour with Janet to learn about the history of the Jews in Rome. Not only was it informative and interesting and relevant but our guide, Janet, was such a lovely accommodating guide to be with. We learned a lot and managed to see the synagogue and have a tour of the Jewish museum as well. Janet was great dealing with all the stops my kids had to have and we were late to start the tour but she continued with us so that we had the full 3 hours. I highly recommend this tour with this company for anyone wanting a real Jewish history.

Shlom - Jul 27, 2023

The tour guide was very good. Very knowledgeable and we throughly enjoyed the tour with him. Would definitely recommend.

Debra - Nov 13, 2022

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The Jewish Quarter, Rome: A Visitor’s Guide

October 5, 2023

Hidden in the heart of the city, Rome’s Jewish Quarter is one of the best attractions in Rome and also one of its least-known. As the oldest Jewish community in all of Europe, this beautiful, thriving neighborhood is as central to the history of the city as it is to the Jewish faith. Follow us into the Jewish Quarter, Rome, to see how Jews have shaped the Eternal City.

An important note about this neighborhood’s history: This area in Rome where the Jewish community has lived for a long time is traditionally referred to as the “Jewish Ghetto” because of its history. But now, many prefer to call it the “Jewish Quarter” to be more respectful.

The old Jewish Quarter is a mosaic of ancient gems with nuances of the modern day. Photo by Anthony Majanlahti

The Quarter was established in 1555 in the Rione Sant’Angelo, near the Tiber River in the southern part of Campo de’Fiori. Its borders were laid down in a Papal Bull along with various discriminatory laws about what professions Jews could and could not hold. One of the accepted professions, that of selling fish, still lends its name to streets in the area of the old fish market.  Though the neighborhood now commands some of the highest property prices in Rome, the original Jewish Quarter (known simply as the Roman Ghetto) was walled-in and crowded. It was built on low, malarial land subject to regular floods from the Tiber. Life was grim until the walls were torn down in 1888.

Jewish culture grew and thrived in the Roman Quarter, but the neighborhood also witnessed one of the most heart-wrenching episodes of the Nazi occupation during the Second World War. After the German government proclaimed that Rome’s Jews would be spared deportation to the concentration camps if a gold ransom was paid, many in the city, including The Vatican, donated their gold (though there is some debate as to whether or not the Vatican’s offer was refused). Even though the Jewish community raised the required amount, Nazi soldiers entered the neighborhood on October 16th, 1943 and deported between 1,000 and 2,000 people. Only 16 survived.

Over the years the area has grown into a beautiful neighborhood filled with restaurants, churches , and synagogues that combine jewish culture with the grandeur of Roman architecture. The ruins of the enormous ancient Portico, the Portico d’Ottavia, rise from under 20 feet below street level, at once a testament to history as well as the changes time brings.

Table of Contents

What to see

Teatro marcello.

Today, the top portion of the old amphitheater has been divided into multiple apartments. Photo by Herb Neufeld

Named after Marcus Marcellus, Emperor Augustus’s nephew, who died five years before its completion, the Teatro was begun by Julius Caesar and completed by Augustus in 13 BC. It’s also known as the Jewish Coliseum for its resemblance to the original Colosseum . This ancient, open-air theater once held approximately 11,000 to 20,000 spectators, and the seats filled for acting, dancing or singing performances. Located in the Rione of Sant’Angelo, today it still holds different shows throughout the summer. Look up to the top floors to see swanky apartments that command beautiful views of the city center and are occupied by some of the city’s oldest Jewish families. 

The Great Synagogue

The Great Synagogue of Rome, or the Tempio Maggiore di Roma in Italian, is the largest synagogue in all of Rome and possibly all of Italy. This impressive building is pretty new by Roman standards. After people of Jewish faith were granted citizenship during Italian unification in 1870, the original ghetto synagogue was torn down and plans for the Great Synagogue began. The cornerstone was laid in 1901 and the Synagogue was officially completed in 1904, a veritable baby in the Roman skyline.

Jewish Museum of Rome

The Jewish Museum is located in the Great Synagogue. Opened underneath the Great Synagogue in 1960, it displays silverware and textiles, parchments and marble carvings from the collections of the Jewish Community of Rome. It tells the history of the Jews and the Jewish Quarter in Rome. Begin your explorations of the neighborhood here to get some context under your belt. A museum visit also includes entrance to the Great Synagogue.

La Bocca della Verità

Liars better be careful posing for a photo! Photo by Javier de la Rosa

the Mouth of Truth, or Bocca della Verita , is the image of a man’s face carved in marble. Located in the entrance of the Santa Maria in Cosmedin Church since the 17th century, the sculpture is thought to be from the first century. Though we know that it’s not connected to judaism or Rome’s Jewish Quarter, legends of its origins range from being a part of an ancient fountain, to a church, to a manhole cover, but the strangest part of all is its powers as a lie detector. As far back as the Middle Ages, Romans believed that if you told a lie with your hand in the sculpture’s mouth, your hand would be bitten off!

The Fontane delle Tartarughe

The Turtle Fountain is a late Renaissance fountain in the rione Sant’Angelo. Though it might have been called the Dolphin Fountain, as it once had dolphins where the turtles now sit, they were removed because of low water pressure, and the turtles were added to make the fountain seem complete. Originally built as a drinking fountain, the water was sourced from the Acqua Vergine, one of Rome’s first aqueducts – a big deal for sixth century Romans!

…. And maybe even a Church

Somewhat surprisingly all things considered, there are more than 15 churches in the small area that comprises the old Jewish Quarter. Some of the most famous are Chiesa di Santa Maria del Pianto, Chiesa di San Tommaso ai Cenci, Chiesa di Santa Caterina dei Funari, and Chiesa di San Stanislao dei Polacchi.

Note: The Jewish Ghetto in Rome features prominently in our Rome As A Local Tour , which takes travelers to some of Rome’s most incredible under-the-radar attractions, as well as our Local Rome Food Tour: Jewish Quarter & Historic Center . If you are interested by what you read here, check out these tours – we guarantee that you won’t be disappointed

by Gina Mussio

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Beautiful Ester

Masterpieces for a queen.

On display from March 20th to June 24th

The Jewish Museum of Rome is located in the Great Synagogue monumental complex. Walking across the different rooms you can see a reconstruction of Jewish life in Rome since the earliest settlement in the second century before the Common Era.

The Jewish community has been living continuously in Rome for 2,200 years, making it one of the oldest communities outside of Israel. The exhibits on display in the museum date back principally to the ghetto period (1555-1870) and all come from the original ‘Five Synagogues’ building. The rich collection includes liturgical furnishings, manuscripts, incunabula, historical documents, records and marble works. Since 1960, the museum displayed its treasures in a single room, but the study and cataloguing of all the works required a larger display area. The new exhibit was inaugurated in 2005. The museum covers an area of 700 square meters and unfolds through seven rooms with different themes. It offers a reconstruction of the Jewish people life in Rome and shows us how they managed to integrate into the socio-economic structure of the city, while they maintained their own identity.

The Great Synagogue

In 1870, with the breach of Porta Pia, the Italian Army conquered Rome and the city, with all its territory, was absorbed into the Kingdom of Italy: the temporal power of the popes had ended. Later on, Rome was declared as the capital of the Kingdom… Read more…

The Spanish Synagogue

At the end of the nineteenth century, the Jewish Community of Rome wanted to replace the Ghetto’s five ancient synagogues (Cinque Scole) with a monumental one Read more…

The Jewish Quarter

In 1555 Pope Paul IV established the ghetto, choosing one of the most dilapidated and unhealthy neighborhoods in the city, where the Jews were forced to live apart from the rest of the population. Read more…

Events and Exhibitions

Beautiful Ester Ongoing

• Exhibitions

Past Events and Exhibitions

I Sommersi Concluso

European Day of Jewish Culture 2023 Concluso

Rome 1948 – Italian Art Toward Israel Concluso

Musei in Musica Concluso

Mussolini has done so much for women! Concluso

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The subscription to the newsletter of the Jewish Museum of Rome is free and can be deactivated at any time by clicking on the appropriate link within the newsletter itself.

By receiving the Museum newsletter, I will have the opportunity to be always updated on events, exhibitions and anything else happening at the Museum.

Want to be instantly transported to Italy? Grab a pinsa from La Casina.

The eastern market restaurant is run by a roman couple — and dishing out roman pizza not often found in the states.

It’s an age-old American tradition: A couple travels to Italy and returns to gush, constantly, to everyone they know, and everyone they don’t know: Oh, I could have stayed forever.

Angela Andellini and Fabrizio Costantini flipped the script when the Italian couple’s U.S. honeymoon accidentally turned into a scouting trip.

The pair flew to the States from their home in Rome, where they owned and operated a pinsa restaurant, to celebrate their young marriage in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. They fell in love with America — the vistas, the cities, the people. They spent the next several years returning to the United States to tour the country the opposite way it was settled, starting on the West Coast. They visited a new region each year, looking for a place to one day call home.

Luckily for us, they fell especially in love with D.C.

And more specifically, they fell in love with the Eastern Market neighborhood on Capitol Hill.

For years, they kept an eye on the American real estate market — especially in the D.C. area — hoping a space would become available where they could open a pinsa shop. The pandemic struck. Seventh Hill Pizza, a few doors down from the market itself, closed down. Sad for it, but serendipity for the couple: an available space in the area they liked that already contained a built-in pizza oven.

In 2021, after 40 years in Rome, they were finally able to traverse the Atlantic permanently.

Now, anyone who wants to escape to Rome for an hour or so just needs to wander over to Seventh Street SE to La Casina DC.

Which is pretty lucky for me, because I’m one of those Americans who honeymooned in Rome with my wife, Maoria — yes, the one I dragged to a 22-degree Indian picnic earlier this year — and whined endlessly about returning to the States.

But at a cozy table loaded with carbs and spritzes at La Casina, it was as if we’d never left.

It isn’t the music, or the wine list, or the spritzes, or the decor, or the TV playing a video loop of Roman streets and landscapes. It isn’t even the Italian chatter you hear drifting throughout the small restaurant. Though all of that certainly helps.

It’s the pinsa.

Pinsa is a type of Roman pizza, though to the uneducated American eye, it might look more like a flatbread, given its oval shape. The key is the dough — high moisture, low gluten and very little yeast. It resides in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before being stretched into an oblong shape, topped and tossed into the 700-degree oven.

Each bite produces a satisfying crunch before giving way to an almost absurdly light, fluffy, pleasantly chewy bite. Frankly, I’d be happy eating the pinsa base plain, like bread — which is an option, sort of. Le Nuvolette Arrabbiate, a can’t-miss appetizer, is bites of the dough deep fried and served with dipping sauces. Or Le Nuvolette Marinare, which adds anchovies and mozzarella to give the rounds an extra umami punch.

Yes, as you’ll soon learn, the menu items are all listed in Italian (with English descriptions), which made a recent visit feel even more authentic. And frankly, the fact that Maoria, our two friends and I were the only English-speaking guests that night seemed a little over the top. Were all the other customers plants? In fact, La Casina’s appeal to native Italians is a point of pride for Andellini: “You see a lot of Italian people eating together, because they recognize the restaurant is authentic. When you find the Italian people, you’ve found the Italian place.”

As for which pinsa to choose — well, that was a challenge we’ve faced on every visit.

They run the gamut from simple to complex, veggie-licious to meat-forward. The restaurant imports nearly all the ingredients — 95 percent, Costantini says — from Italy, save for fresh ones like the vegetables, which are local.

La Carbonara and La Cacio e Pepe mirror the pastas they’re based upon — the former a luscious mixture of guanciale, egg, olive oil, pecorino Romano and black pepper, and the latter simply a blend of cheese, olive oil and, of course, black pepper.

My personal favorite — at least, so far; there are so many to choose from — is the Ottavo Colle, topped with lardo, pecorino Romano and truffle-infused olive oil and given a colorful pop by thinly sliced rainbow potatoes and fresh rosemary, all orange and purple and green and perfect.

Really, you can’t go wrong. Dig pepperoni? Grab La Milanese. Want thin slices of prosciutto? La Bufalina’s your order. Veggie fan? La Vegetariana includes zucchini, eggplant, potatoes and tomatoes, with the option to add olives and artichokes.

Speaking of artichokes, the Carciofi alla Romana (fried artichokes) appetizer will put you right in the center of Rome’s Jewish Ghetto. And don’t sleep on the suppli, the crunchy, gooey, cheesy fried risotto balls, a famed Roman street food.

You can always go ahead and cross the proverbial Rubicon: In this case, to this reviewer, that means going for the White House, a delightfully rich double layer of pinsa dough stuffed with Gorgonzola, cacio Romano cheese, mozzarella di Bufala, pecorino Romano, sun-dried tomatoes with pink salt and black pepper — and green flecks of rosemary and thyme decorating its crusty hood.

As indicated by the name, the space is small, so reservations might be a good idea — especially if you plan to stop by on the weekend, when throngs of (often hungry) people crowd Seventh Street while browsing records, knickknacks, art and produce at the outdoor farmers market. If artfully crafted cocktails are an important part of a meal for you, be warned: The drink menu is wine-focused, aside from a couple of beers and the occasional aperitivo spritz.

When in La Casina, do as the Romans do: Eat the pinsa as soon as it hits your plate. “In Italy, it’s like a religion,” Costantini says. When the food hits the table, you shut up and eat it hot.

And please don’t ask for substitutions, the couple requests. Each pinsa is a careful, curated dance of flavors. Costantini recalled a customer asking for the cacio e pepe pinsa, hold the pepe. That’s half the dish!

Andellini and Costantini didn’t only design the menu — they make everything on it themselves. No prep line. No line cooks. Just the two of them, working, they say, 16 hours a day to make the dough, to cook the food, to keep the restaurant running.

The neighborhood quickly embraced them. They swiftly attracted a cohort of regulars, and during their first Christmas in the States, a fan brought them a panettone, a cake traditionally eaten during the holidays in Italy.

“We work very, very hard. But when we go home, we are satisfied,” Andellini says. “We can call this project the classic American Dream.”

La Casina DC

327 Seventh Street SE, 202-516-5100. lacasinadc.us .

Hours: 11 to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Nearest Metro: Eastern Market, 361 feet.

Prices: $5.50 to $24.90 for all items on the food menu.