There has been a Jewish community in Rome since the 1st century B.C. In imperial times about 30,000 Jews lived and worked in Trastevere, just across the river from the city proper.
In 1555 Pope Paul IV confined all the Jews of Rome to a small area which became known as the Ghetto which includes some interesting sights such us:

The old Synagogue, housing the Cinque Schole where different Jewish rites were celebrated, was left standing, but not for long: it was destroyed by a fire in 1893. Now the area is occupied by a school, a splendid new Synagogue (inaugurated in 1904) and other buildings dating from the turn of the century, Piazza Mattei has an attractive 16th-century fountain, the Fountain of the Turtles. Via S. Ambrogio gives a good idea of what the old ghetto must have been like. The Portico d'Ottavia was erected by the emperor Augustus in honor of his sister Octavia. Some of its columns were incorporated into the church of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria, which takes its name from the fish market which used to be held here (pesce means fish). In the 17th and 18th century the Jews were forced to come to this church on Saturday afternoons to listen to a sermon. (It is said that many of them put wax in their ears to avoid hearing the words of the priest.)

There are several restaurants in the Ghetto area which serve Jewish-Roman food (not always kosher). Typical dishes are Fritto misto vegetale (Mixed vegetables fried in batter), Filetti di baccalà; (Fried cod fillets) and Carciofi alla Giudia (Artichokes in the Jewish style).

EXTRA INFORMATIONS: