Trastevere heart of Rome

The Trastevere district is the place of inspiration of the poets Belli and Trilussa, Trastevere is the heart of Rome.

Among the cobblestones, the squares and the Fontanone, the people of Trastevere, in ancient times, were distinguished from the nobility for their proud and genuine character, and for the beauty of their women.

Today Trastevere is one of the most beautiful and characteristic neighborhoods of Rome, the hub of nightlife and food and wine, the open-air theater of many wonderful squares, churches and historic alleys, an ancient and contemporary symbol of Roman times.

– Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere

The Basilica is located in Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere and is the reference Catholic place of worship for the entire neighborhood.

The side aisles were added to the basilica, founded by Pope Callisto I (217 – 222) and completed by Julius I (337 – 352), between the eighth and ninth centuries, the presbytery was rearranged and the confession was excavated, placed the remains of some martyrs including those of San Callisto.

The current architectural structure dates back to the reconstruction carried out in 1138 – 1148 and commissioned by Pope Innocent II (1130 – 1143), with material from the Baths of Caracalla. In 1702, Pope Clement XI had the portico rebuilt and the facade modified according to a design by Carlo Fontana.

– Basilica of San Crisogono

The basilica of San Crisogono is located in Piazza Sidney Sonnino 44, along Viale di Trastevere.

Dedicated to San Crisogono di Aquileia, it is one of the oldest churches in Rome and was built in the 4th century, under Pope Sylvester I (314-335).

Rebuilt first in the 12th century, then again in 1626, at the behest of Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli-Borghese, whose name stands out on the front, and whose heraldic emblems (eagle and winged dragon) can be found everywhere.

Under the current church the remains of the first are visible, discovered in the archaeological investigations of 1907. The basilica was for centuries the national church of the Sardinians and the Corsicans residing in Rome, where several are buried, already serving the pope in the Papal Corsican Guard.

– Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere

Located in Piazza di Santa Cecilia 22, legend has it that the church was built on the family home of Cecilia, an illustrious virgin, born of a noble Roman lineage.

The Golden Legend tells that Pope Urban I, who had converted her husband, Valerian, and had witnessed the martyrdom, buried the body of Cecilia among those of the bishops and consecrated her house by transforming it into a church.

During the renovation works carried out in 1599 by Cardinal Paolo Emilio Sfondrati, the marble tomb was opened and, in the further cypress chest, the almost intact body of the saint was found, dressed in white and with the mark of the wounds on the neck.

The discovery was considered so miraculous that even Pope Clement VIII went to see it and commissioned the sculptor Stefano Maderno to reproduce the figure as it had been found. The exceptional work in Parian marble, currently exhibited under the main altar, remains as evidence.

– Piazza di San Cosimato

Here is the local market that you can find every morning (except Sunday) from 6.30 to 13.30.

Mostly fruit and vegetables are bought, but there are also stalls for bread, cheese, meat and fish. In the center of the square there is a playground for children within which various activities are organized.

For example, there is the bulletin board for the exchange of books and the collection of plastic caps for the construction of a family home in Mozambique.

– The Fontanone

The Paola water fountain, known as Il Fontanone, is found climbing Via Garibaldi towards the top of the Janiculum, before Porta San Pancrazio.

Built between 1611 and 1612 by Giovanni Fontana in collaboration with Flaminio Ponzio, in 1690 Pope Alexander VIII commissioned Carlo Fontana, Giovanni’s nephew, to carry out a project to enlarge the work.

A unique feature among all the Roman fountains is the one that sees the pope’s insignia reproduced also on the columns surrounding the large swimming pool, on which dragons and eagles are in fact visible.

– Botanical Garden

With its 12 hectares and about 2000 m² of greenhouses, the Botanical Garden of Rome is one of the largest in Italy.

Among the many plant species, particular importance goes to the Palms, Conifers, Bamboos, Roses and Officinal plants. In addition, you can admire 18th century fountains, three 19th century greenhouses, the Tropical greenhouse and the Japanese Garden.

During the summer, it is an excellent shelter from the heat.