Get out of the tourist area and get lost in the side streets of Trastevere Rome. Trastevere meaning “across the river” is an old, once working-class neighborhood, with bright colored buildings, cobbled streets, washing hanging out of windows, flowers overflowing from window boxes, busy cafes, and some unusual shops. There are also some exquisite churches in Trastevere Rome. To really experience the beauty of Trastavere Rome you should get lost among the winding lanes. Take a map of Trastevere and just drift from piazza to piazza.
Visiting Rome’s Most Beautiful Neighborhood
The area is a well-known nightlife spot, so to see Trastevere at your leisure go in the day time. On weekdays you will see the museums, shops, and restaurants open. On Fridays, the knife sharpener makes his rounds on his bicycle. On Saturdays perhaps a wedding and street performers and on Sundays the Porte Portese market, off Viale Trastevere, opens 06:30-14:00. Avoid crowds and the heat by going to Trastevere in the early morning.
Getting to Trastevere Rome
From the main center, you could walk across the Ponte Fabricio and Ponte Cestio bridges which span the river at the island Isola Tiberia (also worth a look). Or cross the Ponte Sisio bridge near Campo de’ Fiori. Otherwise, take tram number 8 ( from Argentina) or 3 (from Colosseum), which gives you good views on the way over as well. Get off at the first stop on the Trastevere side of the river.
Trastevere Walking Route
Cross the river at Isola Tiberia, stay to your right and take Via Anicia to Piazza in Piscinula. Then continue on Via Anicia until you get to Via Del Genovesi and turn left. At Via Del Vascellari take right. This will bring you to the exquisite Piazza S. Cecilia and its Basilica. From there head for Via Di San Michele. At Piazza Di Porta Portese take right, and right again at Via Della Luce. This brings you to Trastevere’s Piazza S. Francesco D’Assisi. Via Carlo Tavolacci and its continuation Via Amilio Morosini brings you to Via Roma Libera where you take right.
This gets you to Piazza San Cosimato and the outdoor fruit and veg vendors(08:00-14:00). Go down Via Natale del Grande for shopping, cross over Via San Francesco to get to Piazza Mastai, with its fountain, and continue up to Piazza San Calisto. Continue to the center of Trastevere, Piazza Santa Maria site of the Carlo Fontana fountain and the Basilica.
From there find your way through the narrow lanes towards Piazza Sant’ Egidiogo, there pop into the Folklore Museum. Down the Vicolo del Cinque, left into Via del Moro (check out the clock shop, and English book shop). Then head down Piazza Della Renzi and on to Piazza Trilussa and return to Piazza Sisto. Here you can take the bridge back over the river.
You should be exhausted by now and should have already stopped at several cafes for refueling!
Tips for Visiting Trastevere Rome
TAKE YOUR TIME! Soak up the atmosphere. Choose one part of the walking route if it is too much and linger in the Piazzas.
Eat or drink at Checco, Via Benedetta, 7 or Augustarello, 98 Via Giovanni Branca, or Caffè del Cinque, Vicolo del Cinque 5 or Caffè Di Marzio in the Santa Maria Piazza. There is no shortage of atmospheric cafes.
If you still have energy, go see the Villa Farnesina on Via della Lungara, or go up Gianicolo Hill for brilliant views and more sites.
