About Rome
- Rome’s Carnival: From Ancient to Modern Times
16 February, 2023 - Rome's Budding Street Art Scene
25 January, 2023 - The Life and Reign of Emperor Claudius
19 January, 2023
Why Choose It?
- Explore Rome off the beaten path for a perspective few tourists get to see.
- Discover the Jews' enduring history in Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto.
- Immerse yourself in the history of the city with guidance from our local
Tour Description
Your private off the beaten path walking tour takes you through the atmospheric quarters of the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere, visiting fascinating ancient and medieval sites along the way. It offers a chance to get away from the crowds and discover a different Rome, starting in the cobbled medieval neighborhood of Trastevere.
This private tour visits some of the Eternal City’s most alluring neighborhoods, letting you in on the secrets and stories that still resonate from their walls. Your walk through Rome will bring new insight to the history and struggles of Jewish culture and life in the Eternal City.
Meander through Rome with a step off the beaten path
Wandering down the winding, cobbled streets of Trastevere feels like a step back in time. Though it’s now a bustling bohemian neighborhood full of quirky shops and worldly restaurants, it maintains an organic aesthetic that has gone unchanged for centuries. The unpruned Holly Oaks that engulf entire street corners bring a romance to caffès that thrive beneath. Even the crawling Flinders Rose along the walls of Lungotevere combine natural beauty with the towering marble walls that line the river.
Traverse the streets of Trastevere with your expert local guide. Listen to the history of Trastevere, where Jewish culture and society intertwined with Rome’s. The neighborhood was once considered outside the city limits of Rome, and inhabited by fishermen and Jews who needed to cross a bridge—the oldest in Rome—to get into the city center.
Cross the Ponte Fabricio, the oldest bridge in Rome
Between the west and east banks of the Tiber lies the tiny Tiberina Island. Legend holds that the body of a tyrant, who was loathed by the people of Rome, was tossed into the river and serves as the foundation for this island. Originally, prisoners and the sick were condemned to its shores. However, it slowly converted into a land of healing and has harbored a hospital since 1584—the Fatebenefratelli Hospital.
A doctor working at this hospital during World War II is said to have “invented” a deadly, highly contagious illness to keep Nazi officers away and protect Jews seeking refuge inside the hospital’s fortress-like walls.
Experience part of the ancient world and follow your guide across the Ponte Cestio, the bridge connecting Tiber Island to Trastevere on the river’s west bank. It was built in the 1st century BC but dismantled and restored in the 19th century. Continue past Tiber Island and onto the Eternal City’s oldest bridge, the Ponte Fabricio. This impressive landmark is still in its original state and was built just before the previous Ponte Cestio. Cross over into the mainland where you’ll reach the Jewish Ghetto.
Peruse the Jewish Ghetto
At the edge of the east bank of the Tiber lies the Jewish Ghetto. Today, the Jewish Ghetto is a picturesque neighborhood rightfully attached to Rome’s historic center. The area is home to some of the only Jewish restaurants and bakeries in the city. Stop in and taste some of Rome’s unique Jewish cuisines, like Carciofi alla Giudia, or classic challah.
The Jewish Ghetto hasn’t always been so calm and pleasant. Your expert tour guide will bring the neighborhood’s unsettling history to life. Down its narrow streets, you can feel the familiarity through proximity the inhabitants must have felt before the walls were torn down in 1888. See the Great Synagogue of Rome, still in use today and one of the only synagogues in the city. It also houses the Jewish Museum, and rightfully so.
This tiny neighborhood is bursting with Jewish culture and history. Your expert guide tells you historic tales, folklore, and legends as you walk down its narrow streets to Campo de ‘Fiori.
Walk inside the popular market of Campo de‘ Fiori
Campo de’ Fiori is another bustling area, much like Trastevere but less trendy. It’s overflowing with performers, market stalls selling anything from handmade leather to local olive oil, and full of locals and tourists alike. But don’t let its friendly atmosphere get shadowed by the billowing storm clouds of this neighborhood’s dark history. It was once the site for executions, publicly displayed.
Let your expert guide fill you in on the details of Campo de ‘Fiori’s transformation, and try a few pieces of local produce or wine along the way to Largo Argentina.
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Itinerary:Trastevere AreaJewish GhettoCampo de' Fiori
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Included:Expert professional tour guide
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Wheelchair accessible:Yes. (Itinerary may differ).
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Meeting Point:Hotel Lobby
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!
Terrific Trastevere Food Tour with Luca! Luca took my wife and myself on a wonderful food tour through Trastevere. The things we saw and ate and learned were excellent. The best part was Luca's friendly nature.... read more
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A must do experience This cooking class was a highlight of our trip. We got to meet a young chef, Sara. She had us decide what to cook. Then we walked through... read more
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Best Food Tour We Took! My fiance and I capped off our first full day in Rome with this lovely food tour. Luca was friendly, excited, and knowledgeable. We got to try a ton of... read more
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Worth every penny. What an evening! This was without a doubt the highlight of my trip. A great evening with plenty of incredible local food and drink and a really good way to meet and... read more
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Delicious food from fabulous foody Luca Boccia was PHENOMENAL!
His knowledge of Italian cuisine was exceptional, especially welcomed because it included more than just the well known dishes. He was funny and friendly, making our... read more -
A Must Do Tour of Sistine Chapel Amazing! This was my third time to the Vatican but this time I took my adult/teen children and wife and we used a tour guide. It was a... read more
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Amazing evening activity in Rome Excellent night with Sara on her birthday!
We drank wine, ate amazing food and capped it with gelato!! -
Amazing walking food tour w Luca B My wife and I had an amazing walking food tour through the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere. Luca B was extremely informative and accommodating. Would absolutely recommend to anyone!
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Best tour ever. Martha was our guide. She is the best. They way she explained all , answered our questions give us all the information in every place all was wonderful. It was... read more
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Great Food Stroll with Luca We did the Trastevere Food Stroll with Luca B and he was great! Brought us to great authentic locations and provided his expert advice! We would highly recommend this tour... read more
