Share this tour
Offered languages
- English
Begin your journey in the Basilica of San Crisogono, one of Trastevere’s oldest churches and admire its majestic nave and unique marble floor.
Continue in the Basilica of Santa Cecilia and descend into the 2nd-century Roman houses, walking on original mosaic floors with ancient walls.
Then a nun opens the ancient monastery dining room only for our small group, where you'll admire the extraordinary 14th-century frescoes by Pietro Cavallini, masterpieces of medieval art.
Cross the ancient bridge to Tiber Island, cradle of Rome’s earliest trade routes and a sacred site of healing since antiquity.
Your walk continues into the Jewish Ghetto, heart of Europe’s oldest continuous Jewish community. Stand before the Portico of Octavia, where marble columns echo the grandeur of Rome’s Empire.
A few steps away rises the Teatro Marcello, the elegant ancestor of the Colosseum. Your journey concludes at the Church of San Nicola in Carcere, one of the most extraordinary palimpsests in Rome.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
You will meet our guide with an "OPEN MIND TOURS" signal, at Largo S. Giovanni De Matha, near the entrance of the Basilica of Saint Crisogono.
Itinerary
-
1Basilique San Crisogono
Begin your journey in the Basilica of San Crisogono, one of Trastevere’s oldest churches. Admire its majestic nave and unique marble floor, then venture below into the 4th-century basilica, where pillars, altars, and early Christian frescoes recount the dawn of Roman Christianity.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
2Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
Walk Trastevere alleys to reach the peaceful courtyard of Santa Cecilia, where time has stopped. In the basilica admire light softly illuminating mosaics and frescoes, before encountering the moving statue of Saint Cecilia beneath the altar. Descend into the 2nd-century Roman houses, walking on original mosaic floors with ancient walls, still bearing traces of daily life frozen in time. Finally, step into the adjoining monastery to admire the extraordinary 14th-century frescoes by Pietro Cavallini, masterpieces of medieval art that reveal the transition from Byzantine rigidity to the naturalism of the early Renaissance.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
3Tiber Island
Cross the ancient bridge to Tiber Island, cradle of Rome’s earliest trade routes and a sacred site of healing since antiquity. With your knowledgeable guide, uncover the traces of the temple of Aesculapius, god of healing, as the island served as a refuge for the sick.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Il Portico Di Ottavia
Finally, explore the Jewish Ghetto, home to Europe’s oldest Jewish community. Stand before the Portico of Octavia, dedicated by Emperor Augustus to his sister: once the monumental entrance to a vast open-air art gallery, and a 1000 years later turned into the city’s fish market, supplied by the nearby Tiber.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Teatro di Marcello
A few steps away rises the Teatro Marcello, the elegant ancestor of the Colosseum. As you stand before its graceful arches, imagine it alive with music, drama, and thousands of spectators during Rome’s golden age, an architectural vision that shaped centuries of performance spaces. A journey through sacred spaces, hidden layers, and living memory, revealing a Rome you simply cannot miss. Your journey concludes at the Church of San Nicola in Carcere, one of the most extraordinary palimpsests in Rome. Built over the remains of three Republican-era temples, the church absorbs their ancient columns and foundations into its very body. Touching these stones, you can feel the weight of 2,200 years of history layered into a single structure.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Show more
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Popular Countries
Company
Get our app
