The Jewish Ghetto is very antique area of Rome. The Ghetto's past location was Rione S. Angelo. It is now located in the area surrounded by Via Portico d' Ottavia, Lungotevere Cenci, and Via Santa Maria del Pianto near Teatro Marcellus. The Jewish presence in Rome can be also proved by the Arch of Titus that represents a Menorah, with the spoils taken from the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

The long history, of the Roman Jews, starts with several periods of isolation. The first segregation was done by a Papal bull, Paul IV, in the year 1555. He walled the quarter with three gates that were locked at night, and subjected them to various restrictions on their personal freedoms such as limits to allowed professions and compulsory Catholic sermons on the Jewish shabbat.

In 1798 during the Roman Republic, the Ghetto was legally abolished, and the Tree of Liberty was planted in Piazza delle Scole, but it was reinstated as soon as the Papacy regained control. In 1848, during the brief revolution, the Ghetto was abolished once more, again temporarily.

The city of Rome was able to destroy the Ghetto's walls in 1888 and demolish it almost completely, before the area was reconstructed around the new Synagogue of Rome.

Today, this area has become one of the most attractive and eclectic neighborhoods in which you can have a taste of the Jewish life and culinary traditions of Rome.

The fact that Jews were always kept closed allowed them to develop a different culinary traditions that has been by the Italians in general now. The main platters are always Kosher meaning permitted and they are the Roman artichokes (Carciofi alla Giudia), Pizza con l'indivia, aliciotti al'indivia and the fantastic polpettone.

If you are planning a trip to visit the Jewish Ghetto in Rome, I recommend a nearby Rome kosher bed and breakfast named Cesar Palace. You can find booking and other information on their website at http://www.cesarbedandbreakfast.com