Kosher tavern in Rome’s Jewish Ghetto. Creative Commons photo by butforthesky.com via Flickr.

The Jewish ghetto in Rome is, today, simply one of the colorful and historic neighborhoods in an enormous city. But of course it gets its name from a less happy time when Jews in Rome were corralled behind the walls that used to circle this neighborhood. Although many of the buildings that once stood here are now gone, it’s still worth visiting the former Jewish ghetto – if for no other reason than to sample some of the famous Roman Jewish cuisine.

The Roman Jewish ghetto, which is next to the Tiber River across Tiber Island from the Trastevere neighborhood, was established in 1555 and all the Jews in the city were required to live inside its borders. The gates in the ghetto walls were only open during the day – the residents were locked in at night. Jews were no longer allowed to own property, had to pay annual taxes to the city in order to live in the ghetto (despite being offered no alternatives), and even had to pay for the construction of the wall that surrounded the ghetto. Christian churches inside the walls were torn down when the ghetto was built, and the synagogue that was built was demolished along with most of the rest of the ghetto in 1888, 18 years after Italy became a unified country.

Today, the Synagogue of Rome, built in 1904, stands on the same spot as the synagogue that once served the residents of the Jewish ghetto. Only a small piece of the wall that used to circle the ghetto remains, which you can see built into a courtyard wall near the Piazza delle Cinque Scole. The main sights in the Roman Jewish ghetto are the synagogue and Jewish Museum (both closed on Saturday), the Portico d’Ottavia (one of the former gates of ancient Rome), and the street called Via del Portico d’Ottavia. This road offers a look at the only ghetto buildings that remain standing, as well as the shops and restaurants of the modern Roman Jewish community.

Rome’s Jewish ghetto is increasingly thought of as a foodie destination in the city, and during the spring it’s the best place to get Rome’s famous fried artichokes (a traditional Roman Jewish dish). It’s a less-touristy part of the city, too, since it doesn’t contain the big Rome attractions on everyone’s must-see list, so it can be a lovely neighborhood to explore when you need a break from the crowds.

Learn more about the flavor of this area with a food walking tour of the Jewish ghetto.

- Jessica Spiegel

Rome’s Jewish Ghetto from Viator Rome

Colosseum at night

Many cities around the world have after-hours ghost tours you can take, but few have the history – and mystery – of Rome at night. This is a city where ancient ghost stories live alongside more modern ones, and attractions crowded with tourists during daylight hours take on an entirely different atmosphere in the dark.

Among Rome’s most popular attractions, the Colosseum is – perhaps unsurprisingly – considered one of the most haunted. Given how many people died here in gory gladiator “games,” it may not be a mystery why there are reports of hearing the sounds of sword fights or animals growling. An ancient graveyard near the church of Santa Maria del Popolo was once said to be haunted by the ghost of the Roman Emperor Nero. A woman called Beatrice Cenci is said to appear every year on the night of September 10th on the Sant’Angelo bridge, where she and her family were executed in 1599. Another Roman ghost is said to speed across the Sisto Bridge in a black horse-drawn carriage late at night. And of course some sights are spooky no matter what time of day they’re visited – including the Roman Catacombs, Cappuchin Crypt, and Vatican Necropolis.

Whether you believe any of Rome’s ghost stories or not, seeing the city at night – with a good guide to tell interesting stories along the way – is a fun way to explore another side of the Italian capital. There are several Rome ghost tours to choose from, including some that let you skip the otherwise long lines that can form in front of the city’s top attractions. And don’t miss a stop in Rome’s odd “Museum of Purgatory,” a room in the Sacro Cuore del Suffragio church featuring supposed examples of messages from “the other side.”

- Jessica Spiegel

Ghost Tours in Rome from Viator Rome

Michelanelgo’s ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

While many of the most famous sights in Rome center around the ancient city, there are also lots of places that are important Christian religious sites. Some are key points on religious pilgrimages, and they all have historic importance regardless of one’s faith.

Historically, seven churches in Rome are considered its “Pilgrim Churches,” and those seeking indulgences from the church were required to visit most (if not all) of them. The seven basilicas are St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Lorenzo Outside the Walls, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Divine Love. The last of these churches was only added in 2000, replacing St. Sebastian Outside the Walls, which many Christians still include as a pilgrimage church.

Other notable Christian religious sites in Rome include the Mamertine Prison, where both St. Peter and St. Paul are said to have been imprisoned before being executed; the Arch of Titus near the Roman Forum, showing the looting of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem; the Arch of Constantine, which shows the battle that led to Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity; and the Roman Catacombs, where many early adopters of the Christian faith were buried. You can also see the small chapel along the Appian Way where St. Peter is said to have seen the spirit of the risen Christ.

There are, of course, many other places of religious significance among the famous things to do in Rome, and in a city with this many churches it’s nearly impossible to see them all in a short visit. You can book a tour of Rome’s Christian sites to see the highlights (and learn their importance from an expert guide), or simply make a point of stopping in every church you pass along your wanderings.

- Jessica Spiegel

Christian Religious Sites in Rome from Viator Rome

Basilica of St. John Lateran. Creative Commons photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen via Wikimedia Commons.

There are many holidays on the calendar in Italy, some of which are celebrated in certain cities more than others. The Feast of Saint John (or San Giovanni, in Italian) is celebrated primarily in the cities of Florence, Genoa, Turin, and Cesena – but in Rome there’s also a grand celebration.

The Feast of Saint John is on June 24th, which marks the date of his birth. The celebrations in Rome take place in front of the San Giovanni in Laterano cathedral, and actually begin the night before on what’s called Saint John’s Eve. There are both religious and secular festivities, with a candlelight procession to the church, a fireworks display, musical performances, dancing, and an actual feast with traditional Roman dishes such as snails and suckling pig. Another pilgrimage site during the Feast of Saint John is the church of San Silvestro in Capite, which is where the head of St. John the Baptist is said to be kept.

While a saint’s feast day usually marks his or her death, St. John the Baptist’s feast day is the date of his birth. The date of June 24th also happens to be on or near Midsummer, so the celebrations of the Feast of Saint John meld in history with older, pagan celebrations of Midsummer. In Florence, Genoa, and Turin, Saint John is the city’s patron saint – which is why this day is so important in those places, and why those feasts sometimes last for several days.

Other things to do in Rome in June include the Festa della Repubblica on June 2, Saints Peter and Paul Day on June 29, and Corpus Domini. The latter usually takes place in mid-June (it’s 60 days after Easter, the date of which changes each year), and is celebrated with a mass at San Giovanni in Laterano and a procession to Santa Maria Maggiore.

- Jessica Spiegel

Feast of Saint John (San Giovanni) from Viator Rome

Rome’s Rose Garden. Creative Commons photo by Rome Cabs via Flickr.

Rome is a city of museums, ancient monuments, churches, and piazzas. But it’s not all a concrete and stone jungle out there – Rome also has some gorgeous green spaces worth exploring, especially if you need a break from the city. One lovely garden to visit is the Rome Rose Garden.

The Rome Rose Garden – also called the Roseto Comunale in Italian – was created in 1931 by a countess from Pennsylvania who lived in Rome. She started the garden with 300 rose plants that had been cultivated in her own garden outside the city. The site for the Rose Garden is on the Aventine Hill, and it now spreads over 2.5 acres and contains more than 1,000 roses from 20 countries around the world.

Until the early 17th century, there was a Jewish cemetery on the site where the Rome Rose Garden is now, and you can still see a plaque dedicated to the cemetery on a wall in the Rose Garden. It wasn’t until the 1950s, however, that the city redesigned the gardens (after getting the approval of Rome’s Jewish community) to their present look. In a nod to the land’s former purpose, some of the pathways through the gardens form the shape of a Menorah.

Rome’s Rose Garden is open to the public, and free to visit. It’s generally open from 8am until 6:30pm daily, and sometimes during the summer there are special events. Other nearby things to do in Rome include visiting the Circus Maximus, the Basilica di Santa Sabina, and the famous keyhole through which you can see the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.

- Jessica Spiegel

Visiting Rome’s Rose Garden from Viator Rome

Can you guess what Rome’s Mouth of Truth used to be?

Chances are good that you know some things about Rome. It’s a famous city, and it’s been written about by countless people over the years. But it’s also a good bet there are some things about the city that would surprise you.

For even more surprising factoids, check out this Vatican City trivia, too.

There were older civilizations on this spot before Ancient Rome.

It’s easy to forget that there’s something more ancient than Ancient Rome, but it’s true. Before the Romans arrived, this area was occupied by the Etruscan people, who dominated much of central Italy. The Etruscans didn’t leave the kinds of records of their lives that the Romans did, and the records they did leave were primarily in well-hidden tombs – so little is known about them.

Rome’s nickname is the “Eternal City.”

Today, it’s easy to think that the nickname “Eternal City” refers to Rome’s 3,000-year history – but even the Ancient Romans called their city “Eternal.” They did so believing that the Roman Empire would exist forever, no matter what else happened in the world.

Legend says Rome was founded by twins, who were nursed by a wolf.

According to the legend about Rome’s founding, the twin sons of the god Mars – Romulus and Remus – were kidnapped and left for dead. Instead, they were discovered and nursed by a she-wolf. When they grew up, they each began settlements in present-day Rome (on two of the city’s seven hills), and Romulus’ settlement prospered. This became the city of Rome. (The story gets even worse for Remus, who was killed by Romulus in an argument.) You’ll see statues of babies being suckled by a wolf in different parts of Rome.

Rome celebrates its birthday on April 21.

Romans honor the birth of their city – when Romulus is supposed to have built his settlement on the Palatine Hill – on April 21st, 753 BCE. This means Rome is already more than 2,760 years old.

Rome surrounds the smallest independent nation on earth.

Vatican City is the world’s smallest independent country, and it’s entirely surrounded by Rome. The land that’s technically the Vatican amounts to only 0.17 square miles. You won’t pass through border security going in and out of Vatican City from Rome, however, and don’t bother bringing your passport – there’s no Vatican passport stamp.

Rome is very hilly.

Rome is famously built on seven hills, but even if you’ve heard that fact it can be jarring to find yourself winded when you’re walking around the city sightseeing – especially when so many of the main things to do in Rome seem to be at the top of different hills. If you’re running out of steam, pick up a good Rome city map from a newsstand – one that includes the public transportation lines on it – and get acquainted with the Rome’s bus, tram, and Metro system. You’ll still end up hoofing up and down some of the hills, but your energy will last longer.

Instead of ROMA, you’ll see SPQR all over the place.

The acronym SPQR is for a Latin phrase that means “The Senate and People of Rome.” In Ancient Roman times, this represented the government of the whole Roman Empire. Today, it’s used as part of the official symbol of the city government. So rather than seeing ROMA stamped on things, you’ll see SPQR on everything from coins to buildings to manhole covers.

The entire historic center of Rome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 1980, UNESCO added the “Historic Centre of Rome” to its list of World Heritage Sites – and it extended the ring circling the center in 1990. Included in this designation are most of the top Rome attractions – the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Mausoleum of Augustus, the Mausoleum of Hadrian, the Pantheon, Trajan’s Column, the Column of Marcus Aurelius, Santa Maria Maggiore, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and even the entirety of Vatican City.

There are more than 900 churches in Rome.

Rome is a city of many famous churches, and plenty of not-so-famous ones besides. With more than 900 churches throughout the city – not even including the ones in Vatican City – that amounts to slightly less than two churches for every square mile.

The coins collected from the Trevi Fountain go to charity.

All those coins that get thrown into the Trevi Fountain by visitors wishing to ensure a return visit to Rome don’t go to waste. They’re collected daily by officials and the money is donated to an Italian charity called “Caritas.” Some reports say over €3,000 is collected each day.

The Spanish Steps are named for a nearby embassy.

The Spanish Steps are on many a must-see list in Rome, but just by looking at them you might be hard-pressed to figure out what exactly makes them “Spanish.” The name comes not from the church at the top (for which the staircase was built), but rather for the Spanish Embassy to the Vatican, which is situated nearby.

Rome is home to one of the world’s biggest film studios.

Italy’s version of Hollywood is in Rome, at the enormous Cinecittà film studio. Founded in 1937 by Mussolini, it’s one of the largest movie studios in the world. Fellini made many of his movies at Cinecittà, including “La Dolce Vita,” and other films made there include “Gangs of New York,” “The Life Aquatic,” “The Passion of the Christ,” and – appropriately – the HBO production “Rome.”

The famous “Mouth of Truth” was probably an ancient manhole cover.

The “Mouth of Truth,” which supposedly will chop off the hand of anyone who tells a lie, features prominently in the movie “Roman Holiday.” It’s a popular stop for many tourists, whether you believe the myth or not, but the origins of the disc-shaped stone face aren’t clear. According to some historians today, it was probably the equivalent of a manhole cover in Ancient Rome.

- Jessica Spiegel

13 Things You Didn’t Know About Rome from Viator Rome

View over the Tiber River toward St. Peter’s Basilica

Let’s be honest – one day in Rome is not enough. Even if you accept that you won’t see everything or do everything that’s on your list, one day is still only going to give you the smallest taste of one of the world’s most fascinating cities. If one day is all you have, however, then that’s absolutely better than not seeing Rome at all.

Here’s how to spend one day in Rome to make sure you’re spending your time wisely.

Book Guided Tours

Easily the best way to efficiently cover Rome’s must-see attractions in a limited amount of time is to book a guided tour. You can choose a general tour that covers the entire city, or you can piece together a series of more focused tours to see the things you’re most interested in. Sometimes tours will include transportation, but in a city like Rome where traffic can be problematic, you’re almost better off opting for a tour that’s all on foot, on bikes/Segways, or that utilizes public transportation. Time saved by taking a tour can still be wasted if you sit in traffic trying to get from the Colosseum to the Vatican. Also, look for tours that offer “skip-the-line” service, as it means they’ve booked your entry tickets for you.

Do Your Research in Advance

If you’re not planning to take any walking tours in Rome, then do some advance research on the opening times of the sights you want to see. This way, with open hours and a good map of Rome in front of you, you can make a plan for the order in which you’ll visit things. There’s no point in trekking across the city just to realize you’ve got to backtrack later on in the day. Also be sure to research whether you can buy tickets ahead of time online, as this will save you huge chunks of time you might otherwise spend waiting in ticket lines.

Take Public Transportation

Walking is usually the best way to get around Rome, but don’t overlook the city’s public transportation – especially to cover great distances. If you’re trying to get from the train station to the Vatican, for instance, you’ll save time hopping on the Metro rather than walking. The best Rome maps that include public transit lines are typically only available once you’re in Rome, from newsstands, but if you’re just going to stick to the Metro then there are only two subway lines to worry about.

What to See/Do in One Day in Rome

Of course, your itinerary will depend on your particular interests, but here are some of the major things to do in Rome that most people would consider must-see stops during a one-day visit.

• Colosseum – Perhaps Rome’s most iconic sight, the Colosseum is definitely a must. You can get tickets in advance; combo-tickets including the Palatine Hill are best purchased at the Palatine Hill, where the line is usually shorter.
• Roman Forum – This is the center of the former Roman Empire, and although the Roman Forum is largely big pieces of broken rocks now, a good guide can help you piece it all back together in your head.
• Pantheon – The Pantheon has been in continuous use since it was built in 27 BCE, which means it’s not rubble like the Roman Forum. It’s also free to enter.
• Trevi Fountain – Toss a coin over your shoulder to ensure a return trip to Rome, but don’t try diving for any of those coins yourself. Jumping into the fountain (as in “La Dolce Vita”) just might get you arrested.
• Piazza Navona – You can see that this oblong piazza was once a Roman circus, in the long oval shape of the pavement and the surrounding buildings.
• Spanish Steps – The Spanish Steps is one of the grandest outdoor staircases you’ll ever see, and is enormously popular for people-watching when the weather is nice.
• Trastevere – A stroll through this neighborhood on the Vatican side of the river gives you an idea of what all of Rome used to look like. It’s charming by day, and hopping with night life after dark.
• Vatican City – In an ideal world, Vatican City would take at least a half-day of your Rome visit. With only a day for the whole city, however, you may need to content yourself with a stop at St. Peter’s Basilica and save the enormous Vatican Museums for another trip.

- Jessica Spiegel

How to Spend One Day in Rome from Viator Rome

Rome is hot in summer! Stay hydrated at the city’s public water fountains.

Summer in Rome means, for the most part, higher prices, higher temperatures, and larger crowds. The tourist high season in Rome doesn’t actually correspond to just the three months of summer – the high season now lasts from May through September, and even experiences a bit of a dip in August. But despite the drawbacks of a summer trip to Rome, it’s generally the easiest time for people to travel (especially those with kids), and remains the most popular time of year to visit Italy.

The weather in Rome during the summer is typically extremely hot, and the high temperatures often begin as early as May. Rome also has a tendency to be humid, so you’ll need to take extra precautions when you plan your sightseeing days. Carry a water bottle that you can refill at one of Rome’s public drinking fountains, wear sunscreen and a hat to help shield you from the hot sun, and schedule your day so that you’re not outdoors during the hottest part of the day. In other words, visit the Roman Forum and Colosseum, where there’s very little shade, in the morning – not at 2pm.

Italians have superstitions about air conditioning, but most modern hotels have been equipped with in-room A/C. If you’re visiting Rome in the summer, be sure to check with any hotels you’re considering to find out whether they have A/C in the rooms. The good news is that attractions like museums and churches are often cooler inside even without air conditioning thanks to their thick stone walls.

August is unlike the other months of summer in Rome. This is when most Italians take their month-long vacations to the mountains or beaches, so cities like Rome get much quieter – the crowds you see in August are likely to be tourists, not locals. Some shops and restaurants may close, as their owners head out of town, but a year-round city like Rome doesn’t shut down completely.

The main summer events in Rome are the Festa della Repubblica on June 2nd, a national holiday that is the unofficial start to summer and includes a military parade and outdoor concert in central Rome, and Ferragosto on August 15, a national holiday in Italy that celebrates the ascent of the Virgin Mary to heaven.

- Jessica Spiegel

Visiting Rome in Summer from Viator Rome

Colosseum at night

Rome is a city that certainly likes to have a good time. That famous Italian penchant for “la dolce vita” – the sweet life – applies to just about every facet of life, no matter the time of day. Romans like to let their hair down in the evenings, but don’t make the mistake of thinking “nightlife” always means “raucous party.”

The dinner hour in Rome (and most of Italy) is late, typically starting around 9pm or later, so the real nightlife scene gets started even later. For many Romans – of all ages – nightlife can consist of taking a stroll through the neighborhood after dinner, sometimes stopping for drinks or chats with friends, sometimes while licking a cone of gelato. This “passeggiata” is common throughout Italy, but it’s not the same thing as an outdoor or street party. It’s social, friendly, and relatively low-key.

Find out how to eat like a Roman

Of course, Rome has plenty of nightclubs where you can go dance the night away if you’re looking for more of a party scene. Don’t plan to hit the clubs until after midnight, when things really get going, and don’t be surprised if night clubs aren’t nearly as interesting during the week. Weekends (often including Sunday night) are when Rome stays up late to play. There are many clubs in the historic center of Rome, particularly around the Campo de’ Fiori, Trastevere, and Testaccio neighborhoods.

In recent years, city officials have made efforts to keep the streets and public squares from becoming outdoor party destinations – a problem that increases in the high tourist season when the bulk of the young revelers are foreigners. Italians also rarely drink to excess – if you see people who are falling-down drunk, it’s almost a certainty that they’re foreign visitors. This is the reason for laws that prohibit eating and drinking in public squares. So even if you’re staying up all night to dance, drink, and party, remember that there are plenty of locals keeping very different hours – party in the clubs, but keep it down on the way back to your hotel.

Take a night tour of Rome to see a different side of the city

- Jessica Spiegel

Nightlife in Rome from Viator Rome

Crowded Rome metro. Creative commons photo by LWY via Flickr.

Most of us have relatively trouble-free holidays – there are blisters, wrong turns, and hand-gesture conversations, but that’s usually about all that goes wrong. Tourists are, however, extremely appealing targets for pickpockets and petty thieves. We’re in unfamiliar locations, we’re carrying expensive cameras and lots of cash, and we’re distracted by monuments. This is especially true in heavily touristed cities like Rome. You may not be able to safeguard against every theft possibility, but here are some things you can do both before you leave home and when you’re traveling to make your chances of being a victim of pickpocketing slim.

That chic shoulder bag is easy for a thief to grab as he continues running down the street, or rides off on a scooter. Cross-body bags are a smarter option, as they don’t make the getaway easy. Sure, it’s convenient for you if your bag is open so you can quickly grab your camera – but that also means a thief can quickly grab your camera (and wallet, passport, etc.). Bags that have fasten-able openings are a better idea. And if you’re walking through a busy market or you’re on a crowded bus, please don’t leave your backpack on your back, where you can’t see who might be casually unzipping (and emptying) it.

Guys, leaving your wallet in your back pocket is an invitation to pickpockets. Carry only what cash you think you’ll need that day (or that outing, if you plan to go back to the hotel midday) in something small – like a money clip – in your front pocket, along with one credit card. Ladies, the same rule applies to what you should be carrying in your wallet (even if you’ve got it in your purse). All the rest of the cash you have, along with other credit cards, should be in the hotel safe (if you’re in a nicer hotel that has in-room safes) or in a money belt you wear underneath your clothing.

Be aware of your surroundings. As mentioned, especially crowded areas are often a pickpocketer’s haven. This doesn’t mean you should avoid crowds, only that you should be even more alert to your surroundings when you’re crammed onto the bus or subway, or in a busy market, or the like. For instance – these are not the places to go digging through your bag for something, exposing your valuables, or to stop and try to read a map.

When you go to a restaurant, try to avoid hanging your bag over the back of your chair or dropping it at your feet. This is especially true if you’re at an outdoor cafe where a thief can make a quick run for it. Nowadays you can find things called “purse hooks” sold in shops and online – they’re small enough to tuck into your purse or backpack, they hold quite a bit of weight (even a daypack), and they keep your bag where you can see it. It’s a small investment, but it could save you quite a bit of hassle and frustration.

Make photocopies of both sides of your credit cards, as well as the signature page of your passport, and keep these in a different place in your luggage than you keep the actual cards and documents. This makes it easier to cancel cards and get a temporary passport if something does get stolen. It’s a good idea to inquire with your home insurance company before you leave home what coverage (if any) they offer for thefts while traveling, and what documentation they would need if you wanted to file a claim later. You can also look into the kind of travel insurance that covers property.

- Jessica Spiegel

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How to Avoid Being Pickpocketed in Rome from Viator Rome