The History of Rome’s Jewish Quarter: Museum, Synagogue and Neighborhood Tour

Explore the history of Rome’s Jewish community with a local expert

$413 and up

Private

N/A

Small group

Tour Details

About the Tour

Category: Jewish Heritage
Duration: 2.5 hours
Location: Rome

Photos & Highlights

Private tour of the Great Synagogue and Women's Gallery
Discover Jewish Rome with a local member of the Jewish community
Synagogue and Jewish Museum, Jewish Ghetto Neighborhood, and Upper Balcony of the Grand Synagogue

Tour Description

Together with a member of the Jewish Community of Rome, on this 2.5-hour tour, we will explore the Jewish Museum of Rome, the great synagogue, and the Jewish quarter neighborhood, the site of the former Jewish Ghetto. During our time together, we will learn the history of one of the oldest Jewish communities in Europe, whose origins in Italy date back to Roman times. Alone in the Great Synagogue, we will have the chance to ascend to the Matroneo or Women’s Gallery, for a private tour. Later, we will stroll in the surrounding neighborhood. At the end of our time together, we will understand how Roman Jewish traditions and worship compare to those of Ashkenazi and Sephardic origins, and how the community has evolved and changed since its origins in antiquity.

Sites Visited

Jewish Museum of Rome
The Great Synagogue
The Spanish Synagogue
Jewish Quarter

Included

2.5 hours with a Jewish expert
Tickets for the Jewish Museum of Rome

Itinerary Details

Our tour begins at the Jewish Museum of Rome, founded to house an extensive collection of objects primarily from 1500 - 1870 but with rooms dedicated to all eras of Jewish life in Rome - from Ancient Roman inscriptions to artifacts related to the Shoah in Italy. Our guide, an official guide of the Museum and a member of the Jewish community of Rome, will share the history of the collections and also her own insights as a member of the modern-day community.

After exploring the seven rooms of the museum together, the tour continues to the Spanish Synagogue, originally housed in the Cinque Scole complex nearby (no longer standing) and used for Spanish rites since 1492 when Jews expelled from Spain arrived in Rome. The small intimate space contrasts with the monumental Great Synagogue was built and then finally inaugurated in 1904 on the site of the former 1500’s Ghetto, reclaiming the urban space for the Jewish community and symbolizing the religious freedom afforded by a newly unified Italy. We will learn the history of both Synagogues and about worship rituals held there. Context clients have the opportunity to climb up to the Women’s Gallery above the main hall and see the space from above, as the female members of the community still do today. From this special vantage point, only available for our groups, our expert guide will further explore the history of the building and its role in contemporary worship and culture in Rome.

As we leave the Synagogue and Museum complex, we will take a stroll through the neighborhood - referred to colloquially as the "Ghetto" in reference to the historical relevance of the location - the second oldest Jewish quarter in the world after Venice, once a place where Jews were exiled and now a vibrant urban area full of Kosher restaurants, Jewish owned businesses and traditional bakeries which give the area it’s unique character today. We will visit Portico D’Ottavia, an ancient Roman temple site turned medieval fish market and now fascinating glimpse into ancient architectural form and urban planning. Our time together ends in the Jewish Quarter area where we will say goodbye to our guide and can continue to explore the shops and restaurants of the area on our own.

FAQ

Are tickets to the Jewish Museum of Rome included?
Yes, full-priced or reduced-price tickets will be added to your cart at check out.

Can we visit the Archives of the Jewish Community?
Yes, we can design a Custom Tour to include the archives and a tour of primary source materials such as prayer books of exiled Spanish Jews from the 1400s and lists of Jewish citizens of Rome from the 1930's pre-WW2 period. Call us to find out more.

Are there any other Jewish sites in Rome?
Yes, we can design Custom Tours which explore the history of Judaism in Rome at places like the Jewish Catacombs or the Ardeatine Caves or a tour of Jewish sites in Trastevere. Our guides are scholars in Roman Jewish history and can design something to meet your interests. Please contact us to find out how we can customize your time in Rome.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Brenda Lee

Brenda is a Latina and a proud Veteran of the United States Army Reserves. She holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Italy. She has earned a Bachelor’s degree in the History of Art and Architecture from DePaul University, as well as a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the School of The Art Institute of Chicago. She has her certification in Jewish Leadership and continues higher education at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. Brenda is also a CPTA member and DCASE volunteer in the City of Chicago. She is also a licensed and accredited tour guide in the Jewish Museum of Rome and the Vatican Museums.

Yael

Yael is a native Roman and is a member of the Jewish Community of Rome and an official guide at the Jewish Museum. She studied History at Roma Tre University in Rome where she focused on international relations. At the Jewish Museum, she has participated in the creation of several exhibitions and catalogs about the Holocaust. She is passionate about the history and identity of her Community and has been leading tours at the Museum and the Jewish quarter since 2009.

Michelle

Michelle is a member of the Jewish Community of Rome and is an official guide at the Jewish Museum of Rome. She studied Education Sciences at Roma Tre University where she focused on the relationship between literature and art, with a focus on museum education. She also studied Hebrew and Jewish studies focused especially on literature. She is passionate about sharing the Museum's collection with visitors from all over the world.