Food Tour -Jewish Ghetto & Trastevere Small group

The Jewish Ghetto of Rome is one of the city's most historic areas, located in the heart of Trastevere, along the Tiber River. It was established in 1555 by Pope Paul IV with the papal bull Cum nimis absurdum, which forced Jews to live in a confined and segregated area, separate from the rest of the population. Initially, the ghetto was very small, surrounded by high walls and with a single controlled entrance. Jews were forced to live there under poor conditions and overcrowding. Access to the area was only allowed during the day, while at night the gate was locked. Over the centuries, the Jewish community of Rome developed its own culture, enriching the city with Jewish traditions, cuisine, and religion. Despite the harsh living conditions and discrimination, the Jews of the Roman ghetto maintained a strong identity, making the area one of the most vibrant in terms of Jewish traditions. The cuisine of the ghetto, in particular, is famous for dishes like "carne alla giudia" (fried meat) and "fried sea bream," which have become symbols of Roman gastronomy. The situation of the ghetto changed after the unification of Italy, when, in 1870, Rome became the capital of the newly formed Italian state. The end of segregation and the demolition of the ghetto walls in 1888 marked the beginning of a new phase for the Jewish community. However, World War II brought the tragedy of the Holocaust: on October 16, 1943, during the German occupation, 1,024 Roman Jews were deported by the Nazis. Today, the Jewish Ghetto is an important tourist and cultural area, with historic landmarks, the Rome Synagogue, and the Jewish Museum, which tell the long and painful history of the Jewish community in the capital.