Day 01
Capitoline Hill, Jewish Ghetto, and Tiber Island Walk
- Meet your tour guide and visit Piazza del Campidoglio at the top of Capitoline Hill. Piazza del Campidoglio was designed by Michelangelo, but its roots go back to the founding of Rome.
- From Capitoline Hill, walk to the Theatre of Marcellus, often jokingly referred to as the "Little Colosseum." The Theatre of Marcellus is older than the Colosseum, dating back to 12 BC, and it is now home to a few lucky residents who live in the apartments built above the theatre.
- On your walk, see the many restaurants of this lively neighbourhood and stop for a taste of traditional kosher gelato.
- Your guide will take you to Piazza Mattei, home to the famous Turtle Fountain, a true masterpiece of the late Italian Renaissance, and you will hear the fascinating story of how it was built in just one day.
- Next, visit the Great Synagogue of Rome, the third-largest in Europe. It functions today as a place of prayer, a museum, and a vital cultural reference point for the entire Roman Jewish community.
- From the Synagogue, take a short walk to the Portico d'Ottavia, an enormous structure built by Emperor Augustus in honour of his sister Octavia. Your guide will tell you about the structure's origins more than 2,000 years ago and how it was later repurposed as a fish market from the 15th to the 20th century.
- Finally, explore Tiber Island, a hub for medicine and healing. The Ancient Romans used the island as a hospital, with the river serving as a natural barrier to help stop the spread of disease. The island is now home to one of Rome's best hospitals.
