The Jewish Ghetto in Rome

Tempio Maggiore
Tempio Maggiore
Visiting the Ghetto in Rome today means enjoying an experience that covers the five senses, and makes you discover history, culture, and cuisine.

The first traces of the Jewish Ghetto in Rome date back to 1555, when Pope Paul IV signed the withdrawal of rights of Jewish citizens, secluding them in a restricted area between the Tiber and Piazza Venezia.  Besides the Great Synagogue – also known as Tempio Maggiore – which houses the Jewish Museum and the Spanish Synagogue, the main monuments in the area include the ruins of the Portico of Octavia, the nearby Theatre of Marcellus (a tiny version of the Colosseum), and the Turtle Fountain, a small architectural jewel in marble and bronze dating back to 1581.

The Ghetto is also the ideal destination for those wishing to savour the best of the Kosher cuisine of the Italian capital, which features a vast array of restaurants, pastry shops and cafés serving Jewish-Roman specialities. Thanks to the relevant number of Jews in the Italian capital, Jewish cuisine shares a strong bond with the Roman food tradition, being some of the kosher ingredients and specialities a part of it.

Some of the Jewish-Roman dishes are: “carciofi alla giudia”, “stracotto di manzo”, “concia di zucchine” and “aliciotti con l’indivia”, which can be found in most Roman restaurants and in the various Kosher eateries, mostly spread around the area of the Tiber Island.

Some of the restaurants offering the best of Jewish cuisine – while fully respecting the principles of the kashrut and being certified by the local Jewish community – are: Ba Ghetto (and Ba Ghetto Carne for meat), Ba Ghetto Milky, Bellacarne, Su Ghetto, Yotvatà (for dairy products) and Daruma Sushi Kosher.

Combine culture and cuisine for a truly unique experience!