The Roman Ghetto was created in 1555 when Pope Paul IV confined the city’s Jews to a dilapidated riverside district. The walls came down in 1870 after Italian unification, but the area’s four blocks between Via Portico d’Ottavia and the Tiber still retain traces of that history. Today the Ghetto is a vibrant quarter known for its unique Giudaico-Romanesque cuisine. Signature dish carciofi alla giudia (deep-fried artichokes) is crisp, golden and utterly addictive. Other favorites include fried baccalà, anchovies with endive and a sweet, dense dessert nicknamed Jewish pizza.
What to explore
- Portico d’Ottavia: Remains of a Roman portico; gateway to the Ghetto.
- Great Synagogue of Rome: Built after emancipation; houses the Jewish Museum.
- Kosher restaurants: Sample centuries-old recipes on our food tour.
Go with respect and an appetite. The neighborhood is small, but its history and food traditions carry real weight.