The Jewish Ghetto of Rome is among the oldest in the world. Established in 1555, about forty years after the one in Venice, it was created by Pope Paul IV through the papal bull Cum Nimis Absurdum. The title, which in Latin means "Because it is beyond absurd," reflected the Pontiff's view that it was unacceptable for Jews to live in close contact with Christians. The measure imposed harsh restrictions: in addition to the obligation to reside within an area enclosed by high walls, Jews had to wear a distinctive sign for identification, could not own property, and were banned from practicing numerous professions. Initially, the neighborhood had only two gates, which were locked at sunset and reopened at dawn. It was only in 1848 that Pius IX ordered the closure of the Ghetto. The walls were demolished and the residence requirement was lifted, ending a segregation that had lasted almost three centuries.

In the heart of the Ghetto are the remains of the Portico of Octavia, erected by Emperor Augustus in honor of his sister Octavia. Originally, the structure enclosed a vast sacred area with temples dedicated to Juno Regina and Jupiter Stator. Over time, the Portico became the symbol of the neighborhood; in the Middle Ages, its spaces were used for the sale of fish, transforming the area into the Pescheria, the city's main fish market, active until 1885. Evidence of this past is found in a plaque that reads: "Capita piscium hoc marmoreo schemate longitudine majorum usque ad primas pinnas inclusive Conservatoribus danto." The inscription stated that the heads of the largest fish Long pieces of the size indicated on the plaque were to be delivered to the "Conservatori" (the civic administrators). This historical connection is also remembered by the name of the neighborhood and the local church, Sant'Angelo in Pescheria.

The Ghetto was also the scene of one of the most tragic episodes in modern history: on October 16, 1943, 1,022 Roman Jews were rounded up by the Nazis and deported to extermination camps. Of that group, made up of men, women, and children, only 16 returned. To honor their memory, the German artist Gunter Demnig created the Stumbling Stones (Stolpersteine): small brass blocks the size of cobblestones, engraved with the name, birth date, and death date of the victims. These plaques, set in front of the homes of the deportees, are today scattered throughout the neighborhood's alleys as a perennial warning.

Opposite the Portico d'Ottavia stands the Tempio Maggiore, the monumental synagogue inaugurated in 1904. The building, with a square base and surmounted by a large pavilion dome, is not only an architectural masterpiece, but also represents the spiritual and cultural hub of the entire Roman Jewish community.

Today, the Ghetto is a vibrant neighborhood, famous for its numerous restaurants serving Jewish-Roman and kosher cuisine. Among the unmissable specialties are Jewish-style artichokes, cod fillets, and gnocchi. fried, anchovy and endive tart, and zucchini concia, symbols of a thousand-year-old gastronomic tradition that continues to live on in the heart of Rome.