Jewish Quarter & Rome Highlights

Reveal the fascinating history and landmarks of Rome’s Jewish population through the centuries on this enlightening tour. Upon arrival in the Eternal City, you’ll enjoy a panoramic drive past the Baths of Caracalla’s ruins, Capitoline Hill, Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum. During your guided walking tour of the Jewish Quarter, stroll along lively Via Portico d’Ottavia, built in 146 BC and to this day the center of Jewish life in Rome. See the Jewish Ghetto, where the anti-Semitic Pope Paul IV decreed in 1555 that Jews must live, and learn that this tiny district, the smallest in Rome, was isolated for more than three centuries behind towering walls.

Visit the palatial Tempio Maggiore di Roma, built in 1904 and the city’s main synagogue, and the captivating Museo d’Arte Ebraica, a small museum detailing Roman Jewish life and ritual. Relish a typical Roman lunch with wine and drive along the Tiber River to Viale Washington, a Baroque area where you’ll have time on your own to shop, explore or sip a cappuccino in a cozy café. As a final treat, pass by opulent Saint Peter’s Basilica and ponder the diverging history of the city’s Christians and Jews.

• Wear conservative, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Dress appropriately for a religious venue; shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Men must wear long pants and will be given an appropriate paper head covering.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.