Trastevere, Rome: history and attractions

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

As you know, all roads lead to Rome. Perhaps someday the road will lead you to the capital of Italy. The stunning city is literally filled with beautiful places and historical sights. In our article we want to talk about the popular area of Trastevere (Rome), located on the left bank of Rome. It is known for its cobbled streets, fantastic restaurants, bars and historical monuments.

History of Trastevere

Rome is a majestic city, famous thanks to Alexander the Great, Caesar and its rich history. The Italian capital is filled with historical sights, among which a special place is occupied by ancient quarters, each of which is fraught with mysteries of bygone times.

In total, there are about 35 quarters in the city, and 15 of them were founded at the beginning of the last century. All of them have their own purpose: some are considered rich areas with expensive hotels, others are business centers, and still others are historical andcultural.

Trastevere (Rome) is a rather modest Roman district that has managed to preserve its originality and the spirit of the real Middle Ages to our times. Narrow cobbled streets still exist here, which are its hallmark. The quarter is the best place for walking tourists and couples. Currently, Trastevere is filled with souvenir shops, shops, restaurants, cafes and pizzerias.

It is difficult for contemporaries to imagine that at the beginning of its history (in the 1st century BC) the area was completely abandoned and of no interest to anyone. Exiled Etruscans lived on its territory. And after a while, visiting Jews and Syrians began to settle here. The Trastevere district in Rome owes its rich history and the presence of unique objects to the multinational composition of its inhabitants belonging to different faiths.

The quarter could become a part of the city only during the reign of Aurelian (it happened at the beginning of the 1st century AD), who surrounded the city with a wall. But Trastevere (Rome) reached its heyday during the reign of Caesar. During this period, the area became popular among the we althy. Villas of noble nobles and even the mansion of the emperor himself were built on his lands.

During the Middle Ages, the area became an ordinary working quarter. Its inhabitants differed from other Romans in traditions and a special dialect. It was in Trastevere (Rome) that the very first street fairs and amazing poetry evenings began to be held. Moreover, local residents even began to hold their own holidays. The most important of them is Noantry,which means “we are different” in translation.

In the 70s and 80s of the last century, the Trastevere area in Rome became popular with expats and the middle class. After that, numerous tourists flocked here. The area has become more lively, new shops and cafes have been built in it, attracting visitors and guests of the city.

Modern look of the area

Currently, Trastevere (Rome), the photo of which is given in the article, is a picturesque corner of the capital. Its romantic labyrinths of cobbled streets, stalls and medieval churches, tiny churches and Bohemian houses decorated with flower boxes attract many tourists.

During its long history, the area has undergone many reconstructions, changing its appearance. And now Trastevere is filled not only with ancient buildings and sights, but also decorated with modern cafes and restaurants, giving festivity to this place.

Rich history has forever left its mark on the appearance of the quarter. The unusual and unique architecture of the area gives it a special charm. Probably, it is for this reason that tourists certainly try to walk along the streets of Trastevere (Rome). What to see in this cute corner of Rome? The answer is simple: everything! Here every corner is filled with sights and secrets.

Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome

The Trastevere area is a place with its amazing energy and beauty. The most popular place in this area, which is also its center, is St. Mary. It is also of interest because it belongs to the oldest sights of the city.

Tourists and the Romans themselves come here to admire the stunning mosaics of Pietro Cavallini and the octagonal fountain.

Perhaps the main attraction of the area can be considered the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. It was founded in the third century by Saint Callixtus, and construction was completed already under Pope Julius I. Over the many centuries of the existence of the temple, it was restored and rebuilt many times. But still managed to preserve its unique appearance.

Scientists suggest that the church was one of the first temples in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It gained fame due to the fact that it was in it that Mass was celebrated openly for the first time. The history of the creation of the church is shrouded in all sorts of legends. One of them says that even in ancient times, on the day of the birth of Christ, in an inconspicuous place in Trastevere, a source of pure water suddenly began to beat.

The Jewish community interpreted this as a special sign, so much later a temple was erected in this place. The appearance of the building, which we see now, was created in the middle of the twelfth century by decree of Innocent II. According to experts, the earlier building was completely destroyed by the personal order of the pope due to the fact that it was in this place that his political opponent was secretly buried.

Santa Cecilia in Trastevere (Rome)

What to see in Trastevere? Of course, Santa Cecilia deserves attention. In our fifth centuryera, a basilica was built here, which was dedicated to the Roman Cecilia. Believers tell a legend that the temple was erected on the spot where the house of Cecilia once stood. The martyr, canonized as a saint, is the patroness of music. The old Romanesque building was significantly modified in the ninth century, and after another seven hundred years, Santa Cecilia was completely rebuilt.

Inside the temple, wall paintings by Pietro Cavallini (XIII century), marble columns, figurines of angels have survived to this day. The chapel is decorated with works by Luigi Vanvitelli and Antonio del Massaro. The main value of the temple is the sculpture of Cecilia herself, which was created by a late Renaissance master named Stefano Moderno.

Museum in Trastevere

In the capital of Italy, almost every street has its own history and some kind of secret. No less interesting for tourists is the Trastevere area in Rome. The sights located on its territory are worthy of close attention.

To get acquainted with the history of the area, and of the whole of Rome, it is worth visiting the museum in Trastevere. It is located on the square of St. Egidio. Its walls contain exhibits reflecting the difficult life of the Romans in the 18th-19th centuries. This period was not easy for all of Italy. The exposition of the museum contains art objects, paintings, staged episodes from the life of different segments of the population.

Temple of San Pietro

The center of the historic district is Pishinula Square, the main part of which is still paved with paving stones. On herthere is a temple of the same name and a large number of entertainment venues.

Tourists should see the Church of San Pietro in Montorio. The Catholic Church has preserved within its walls real masterpieces of architecture, painting, art and sculpture. The architecture of the building itself is a prime example of the Renaissance style.

Botanical Garden

Green oasis in the center of Trastevere is the botanical garden. On its territory you can admire a large collection of Mediterranean plants. It is located on the lands of the ancient villa Corsini. In the eighteenth century, Queen Christina of Sweden lived here. Since 1883 the villa has been owned by the Italian state. Since then, the vast garden (12 hectares) has been open to visitors. Its highlights are the Aroma Garden and East Corner.

Villas and palaces of Trastevere

Tourists should know that the Trastevere area in Rome (reviews confirm this) is interesting not only for temples and churches. There are many ancient villas, fountains and palaces in its beautiful streets.

Villa Fornesina is an example of Renaissance architecture. It was built as a country house for a famous banker, but later the estate came into the possession of Cardinal Forenzi. The villa is famous for the fact that at one time Rafael, Peruzzi and Sodoma worked on its interiors.

A few steps away is the Palazzo Corsini alla Lungara. The palace was built in the fifteenth century. But in 1736 it was acquired by representatives of the Corsini family. ATduring the occupation of Italy by Napoleon's troops, the brother of the famous commander lived in this building.

Currently, the building belongs to the state, and within its walls there is an art gallery and a library. Everyone can see here the works of Rubens, Caravaggio and other famous masters.

Very often Villa Shara is called the green heart of Trastevere. Locals are very fond of this place, although in recent years it has been in some desolation. Once here were the famous gardens of Caesar. In the sixteenth century, the beauty of the places was appreciated by the local nobility, and since then villas have been built on the lands. The territory of the estate is interesting because, in addition to the building, there is a beautiful park, sculptures and fountains.

Other area attractions

A triumphal arch called the Septimius Gate was built on the territory of the district. This building marks the border along which the ancient wall that guarded Rome once passed.

There are many fountains built on the territory of Trastevere, giving coolness on hot days. One of them is Del Aqua Paola. It is located near the church of Santo Pietro. The locals gave the fountain the cute nickname Fontanone. It was built in 1612 at the behest of Pope Paul V. Flaminio Ponzo and Giovanni Fontana worked on its project.

Restaurants

It can be said that for tourists the restaurants of Trastevere (Rome) are the calling card of the area. Here, on every street you will find cozy cafes, pizzerias, taverns and souvenir shops, as well as streetmusicians.

Local restaurants delight visitors with excellent national cuisine. The best establishments in Trastevere are:

Popi Popi is a restaurant with a great atmosphere and delicious food. The pride of the establishment is a very special pizza, perfectly cooked meat and traditional pasta in Italy.
Ivo F Trastevere is the best place for connoisseurs of Italian pizza. Real professionals cook it in special ovens, which give the dish a special exquisite taste. This place is always full of people, which once again confirms its incredible popularity.
Carlo Menta is one of the best restaurants in Trastevere. Guests of the establishment can appreciate the perfect combination of traditional dishes and their value.
Casetta di Trastevere is a restaurant known for interesting drinks and cocktails, as well as amazingly delicious dishes.
Alle Fratte di Trastevere is a fine establishment with good national cuisine, famous for its delicious desserts and coffee.

Walking along the streets of Trastevere, by all means look into one of the above establishments and appreciate the taste of real Italian dishes. After all, only in Italy they know how to cook so well.

Flea market

If you are not too tempted to visit the historical sights of the area, then you might want to go to the famous flea market with the beautiful name of Porta Portese. Real lovers of antiques and unusual things always gather here. Every Sunday tourists come here in search of unique antique furniture, dishes and clothes.

How to get to Trastevere?

Every tourist planning a trip to the capital of Italy, the question arises: “Where is the Trastevere district in Rome? How to get to it? Experienced tourists, of course, recommend immediately purchasing a map of Rome. It will be very useful to you not only when searching for an area, but will also help you navigate while walking around Trastevere (Rome). How to get to the historic district depends on where you stay in Rome. It is worth remembering that Trastevere is located on the western coast of the Tiber River, occupying the eastern slope of the Janiculum hill. Getting here is easy, as transport links in Rome are well established. The easiest way is to use trams number 8 and 3 or metro.

In addition, Trastevere can also be reached on foot along the Cestio and Fabricio bridges across the Tiberina island or across the Sisto bridge from the Farnese Palace. Tourists who visit the area for the first time should also think about how to get out of it later. After all, the whole of Trastevere consists of a network of narrow streets, similar to one another, it is very easy to get lost in them. You can navigate on your own using the map, choosing large temples and squares as the main landmarks.

Reviews of tourists about Trastevere

Tourists who have visited Trastevere (Rome), reviews of which are given in the article, highly recommend everyone to visit here. The area is literally filled with a special atmosphere of amazing comfort and eternalholiday. Narrow streets endlessly intertwine with each other, creating the impression of infinity, their silence is replaced by the noise of squares with stunning fountains and temples.

The eventful history of Rome has left its mark on the appearance of Trastevere. After seeing the temples, basilicas and visiting the museum, you can plunge into the atmosphere of bygone eras. The multinational composition of the inhabitants of the area has contributed to the culture, architecture of the houses of the area, thanks to which Trastevere is filled with a very special flavor. In order to leisurely see the most interesting places of the quarter, it is worth allocating far more than one day. And ideally, you can settle in one of the cozy houses of the area - this is what tourists advise. On the territory of the quarter there are small beautiful hotels. But there are not as many of them as in other parts of Rome. However, if you wish, you can still find a suitable room in one of the hotels. In the daytime and in the evenings, Trastevere has a completely different look. With the onset of dusk, its streets are dressed in bright lights, giving a romantic atmosphere. Numerous cafes are filled with locals and tourists who are tired from walking for a day. According to the guests of Rome, it is in Trastevere that you should taste the national dishes. Local restaurants serve amazingly delicious food, nowhere else you will find such delicious pizza and desserts.

Trastevere and legends

The whole area of Trastevere is shrouded in secrets and legends, literally every building is associated with some extraordinary story. It is difficult to judge which legends are true, and which are just fiction. One ofof them, for example, tells about the meeting of the famous artist Raphael with Margarita Luti. In 1508 he worked on the painting of the Villa Farnesina. One day he saw a girl combing her hair in the window of a neighboring house. It is believed that it was Margarita Luti who subsequently became the prototype of the famous Sistine Madonna, as well as Donna Velata and many more works by the master. An interesting fact is that local guides are especially proud to show vacationers the window in the villa in which Rafael first saw the girl who inspired him.

Instead of afterword

When you arrive in Rome, try to find time to walk around the most charming and interesting area of the capital. Local attractions and delicious restaurants will win your heart forever.