Trastevere
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Logo of the rione |
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A typical narrow alley in Trastevere seen from the lower slopes of the Gianicolo hill |
Trastevere is
rione XIII of
Rome, on the west bank of the
Tiber, south of
Vatican City. Its name comes from the
Latin trans Tiberim, meaning literally "beyond the Tiber". Its logo is a golden head of a
lion on a red background, the meaning of which is uncertain. Trastevere borders to the N the XIV rione,
Borgo.
In
Rome's
Regal period (753-509 B.C.), the area across the Tiber belonged to the hostile
Etruscans: the romans named it
Ripa Etrusca (etruscan bank). Rome conquered it in order to have the control of and access to the river from both sides, but it was only a strategic aim; Rome was not interested in building anything on that side of the river. In fact, the only connection-point between Trastevere and the rest of the city was just a small wooden bridge called the
pons sublicius (Lat., "bridge built on piles").
By the time of the
Republic in 509, the number of sailors and fishermen making a living from the river had increased, and many of these had taken up residence in Trastevere. There were a lot of people coming from the East, too, mainly
Jews and
Syrians.
The area started being considered part of the city under
Augustus, who divided Rome in
14 regions (
regiones in Latin); the modern Trastevere was the XIV and was called
Trans Tiberim.
It really became part of the city with
Aurelian (270-275), who made larger protecting
walls to include Trastevere and the Vatican hill. Thanks to the wealth of the imperial age, several personalities decided to build their
villae in Trastevere: Clodia, (
Catullus' "friend") and
Julius Caesar (his
Horti Caesaris). The
regio included two of the most ancient churches of Rome, the
Titulus Callixti, later called
basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere, and the
Titulus Cecilae,
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
In the
Middle Ages Trastevere had narrow, winding, irregular streets; moreover, because of the
mignani (jutting foreparts on buildings' fronts) there was no space for carriages to pass. At the end of the 1400s these
mignani were removed, yet in spite of that, Trastevere remained a maze of narrow streets. There was a strong contrast between the rich and big houses of the upper class and the small damaged houses of the poor. The streets had no kind of pavement until, thanks to the will of
Sixtus IV at the end of the 1400s, they were eventually paved. At first bricks were used, but later
sampietrini, which is more suitable for the transit of carriages. Thanks to its partial isolation (it was "beyond the Tiber") and to its multicultural environment since the ancient Roman period, the inhabitants of Trastevere, called
trasteverini, were able to develop a separate culture of their own. In
1744 Benedict XIV made a revision of the limits of the
rioni, giving Trastevere the modern limits.
Nowadays, Trastevere keeps its peculiarity thanks to its narrow streets covered by
sampietrini, surrounded by original medieval popular houses. At night the streets are crowded by both Italians and foreigners because of the many pubs and restaurants. However, much of the original character of Trastevere remains. The area is also home to
John Cabot University, a private American University, as well as the
American Academy in Rome, and therefore also serves as home to its international student body.
*
Leonine City*
Trastevere Itineraries Guide*
Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere 360° IPIX PANORAMA*
Piazza della Scala 360° IPIX PANORAMA*
Piazza Trilussa 360° IPIX PANORAMA*
Piazza Sant'Egidio - The Market 360° IPIX PANORAMA
