Affective Curiosity
We couldn't have said it better than Webster himself. Come off the beaten path and discover the hidden jewels of the city; from the beautiful medieval area of Campo de' Fiori, to the suburb of ancient Rome, the lively quarter of Trastevere. You will see a church built on the location where St.Paul was believed to have been held under house arrest, and later walk into the Jewish Ghetto, site of the tragic Nazi deportation of the cities Jews. Upon leaving the Jewish Ghetto, don't forget to ask the guide about the famous cheesecake (rated #1 in Europe a few years back!) At the Tiber Island, you will have a chance to see the church which houses the relics of the apostle St. Bartholomew. Learn of the long tradition of healing that the island has had, from the great pagan healing cult of Asculupius, to the modern hospital there today (modern = built in the 16th century!). Later, you will have the awesome occasion to visit the oldest site of Christian public worship in Rome--Santa Maria in Trastevere (see below). Afterwards, take your pick of some of the best restaurants and trattorias in the city. Trastevere is Rome's little Greenwich village, and full of dinner choices.
Santa Maria in Trastevere
A visit of medieval Roman sites would not be complete without seeing this particular basilica. Tradition has it that this church is the oldest public site of Christian worship in the city. Learn why Christians were able to worship publically there nearly 100 years before Christianity was legalized by Emperor Constantine. The church was rebuilt twice, with the current church dating to the 12th century. It was decorated with some of the finest Byzatine-style mosaics of the period. One of the basilicas greatest treasures is a cycle of mosaics done in the 13th century representing scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, done by the artist Pietro Cavallini. Learn why Pietro Cavallini is credited by some historians as being the first Renaissance artist, nearly 200 years before Michelangelo! The basilica today is the spiritual home of the international Community of Sant' Egidio, which hosts beautiful evening prayer sung in the basilica each night, including a Greek-rite Divine Liturgy on Sunday evenings. Ask your guide about coordinating your tour to finish there just before the community prayer begins.
