The Jewish district of Rome or also called the Jewish Ghetto is considered one of the oldest in the world along with the Jewish neighborhood of Venice. It is a historic neighborhood full of history, unfortunately including the segregation past within it and, at the same time, it embraces also a history full of sentimentality and pride. The historical inhabitants of this part of the city, throughout the centuries, strove to keep alive their traditions, culture and religion. All this wasn’t an easy task considering persecutions they have been going through.

In the last century, this neighborhood faced the horrible effects of Italian fascism. In the middle of the Second World War Benito Mussolini ordered massive deportations of Jews to this neighborhood with racial laws, then the German SS entered on 16th October 1943 to deport Jews of this Roman Ghetto to Nazi extermination camps. The names of the deported ones are still remembered thanks to the “stumbling stones” placed in front of their houses.

Today it is a renovated neighborhood with a unique and particular charm. Ghetto is a neighborhood that knew how to renew itself as times change.

It is located a few meters from the Altar of the Homeland in Piazza Venezia. It is a historic neighborhood with artworks that are worth visiting, such as the Fountain of the Turtles (Fontana delle Tartarughe) of Giacomo della Porta or the Great Synagogue of Rome. Also, this Jewish Roman neighborhood is a “must” for those visitors in search of tasty traditional food. In fact, Roman cuisine has been strongly influenced by the Jewish culinary traditions and here in the Ghetto you’ll be able to find some of the best restaurants in Rome.

So now you know that Rome is not only about the Colosseum or the Vatican… there is so much more!!!! Come and find it out!!!!