PRIVATE

Private Tour of Jewish Rome

Tour Code TUR-01599

Duration 3 hours

Group Type Private

Departs From —

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Overview

Highlights include:

Portico of Ottavia
Theater of Marcellus
The Great Synagogue
The Tiber Island

This tour takes you through the streets of what used to be the gated Jewish Ghetto, to delve into one of the hidden chapters in Rome's history.

The Jewish community of Rome is the oldest in the world. There have been Jews in Rome since ancient times, and until 1555, they lived here peacefully. Then, the Pope decided to confine them to a small area of the city, which was frequently flooded.

During your tour through these few streets and many Roman ruins, you will see where the gates were and learn about what life was like there. Your guide will take you to a church where Jews were once forced to listen to weekly sermons designed to convert them to Christianity, and will tell you about the Cinque Scole, the synagogues built by Jews from different parts of the world.

There was a period of peace from Italian Unification in 1870 when Jews were granted citizenship until WWII. During this time, Rome's Great Synagogue, with its easily recognizable 'square' dome, was built next to the river.

Your tour will include the more modern history of Rome's Jewish population. Many people who live in the former Ghetto are the descendants of families who were deported to Auschwitz in 1943. You'll see where many of them lived, learn how they lost their rights under Fascism, and of how the Nazis promised to spare them from deportation in return for gold.

Although this is a moving tour, the ghetto today is a place of happy activity. Families and friends meet on the central street, where you can find Jewish bakeries and restaurants serving the Roman-Jewish cuisine created by housewives in a time of poverty. Make sure you stop to try some of this unique cuisine after your tour!

Hotel pick-up can be arranged upon request.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What's Included

Private English-speaking guide
Entrance to the Museum of Jewish History

What's Not Included

Gratuities of any type

Pricing & Availability

Please contact us today by either phone or email for assistance with this booking.

Email: team@italyvacationspecialists.com
Toll Free: 1-866-779-2565

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In September of 2018 I brought a group of 12 from Venice to Sicily and organized all of my services with the Italy Vacation Specialists. Being a travel agent and in the business, I know how complicated organizing travel arrangements can be in Italy and the IVS team took a huge burden off of me! I would like to start of by saying "THANK YOU" both for the amazing job you did on o… Read More
— Ann Brownell, KHM Travel Group
I went to high school with the owner of the company who organized my honeymoon for myself and my now wife from Tokyo. We spent three short weeks seeing Piedmont and experiencing wine paradise there, then heading to Nice in France with our private driver and flying to Rome where honestly 4 days is NOT enough. They keep saying to spend more time and we could not agree more! You n… Read More
— Robin and Kumi Bruun, Tokyo Japan
Jesse, There are no words to describe the fabulous time we had in Italy. Everything went as you promised. Absolutely no problems! The venues were fabulous. The guides were punctual and helpful. It couldn't have worked out better. You and your staff deserve high praise for the quality and efficiency of your work. BTW, Guiseppe was an absolute delight. We enjoyed his informative … Read More
— Jo Ann West
In August 2018, my family of four and myself travelled from Vancouver, BC to Rome Italy and spent 3 weeks touring Italy with IVS. This company had come highly recommended by many friends and associates of ours who had used them before and indeed to say they do an outstanding job is an understatement. You can tell while being in Italy that it is one complicated place to run to… Read More
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I traveled with JoAnn West through your services, guided by Giuseppe, in July of this year. What a wonderful experience; your service is really top notch! If I return to Italy for a tour, I will absolutely use your services again and recommend you to my friends!… Read More
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As a travel agent, but also a traveler to Italy, thee is no other company I would recommend than the Italy Vacation Specialists. Not only do they really care about what they are doing, they also really know Italy and try to educate many people about ways they can best see the country and not fall into tourist traps. I have been on 4 trips with the IVS team, firstly when the… Read More
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Jesse & Giuseppe,Sandy and I have been looking through my slides of our trip to Southern Italy. We had such a good time with you and Giuseppe that we wanted to let you know again. You were the best guides ever.… Read More
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I am a travel agent from Lebanon and have organized several group tours as well as individual tours of Italy with Italy Vacation Specialists. I highly recommend them as one of the very best tour operators in Italy to work with, given their professionalism and work ethic which I feel is second-to-none in the travel industry. All of the staff, the guides, the coaches and even the… Read More
— Nicole Haddad, Lebanese Travel Agent
This company really knows their stuff and recommended our family to stay longer in each location. We didn't listen to them, but wished we had in every single place we went. They recommended Sestri Levante over the Cinque Terre which was our favourite destination on our entire trip. We visited Rome where we stayed in the outstanding Hotel Locorno where they know the owner there,… Read More
— Sean & Veet Chapman, CGA
The trip was great we appreciate all the hard work you and your team invested to make our experience a once in a lifetime trip. We appreciate all the attention to the details in particular Giuseppe spending the time and the focus with us on the road and as we were exploring your great country.… Read More
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