Trastevere [t̪räsˈt̪eːvere] is the 13th rione of Rome, on the west bank of the
Tiber, south of Vatican City, and within Municipio I. Its name comes from the
Latin trans Tiberim, meaning literally "beyond the Tiber". The correct
pronunciation is [trasˈteːvere], with the accent on the second syllable. Its
logo is a golden head of a lion on a red background, the meaning of which is
uncertain. To the north, Trastevere borders on to the XIV rione, Borgo.
History In Rome's Regal period, the area across
the Tiber belonged to the hostile Etruscans: the Romans named it Ripa
Etrusca. Rome conquered it to gain control of and access to the river from
both banks, but was not interested in building on that side of the river. In
fact, the only connection between Trastevere and the rest of the city was
a small wooden bridge called the Pons Sublicius.
By the time of the Republic c. 509 BC, the number of sailors and fishermen
making a living from the river had increased, and many had taken up
residence in Trastevere. Immigrants from the East also settled there, mainly Jews
and Syrians. The area began to be considered part of the city under
Augustus, who divided Rome into 14 regions; modern Trastevere was the XIV
and was called Trans Tiberim. Since the end of the Roman Republic the
quarter was also the center of an important Jewish community, which
inhabited there until the end of the Middle Ages.
With the wealth of the Imperial Age, several important figures decided to
build their villae in Trastevere, including Clodia, and Julius Caesar. The
regio included two of the most ancient churches in Rome, the Titulus Callixti,
later called the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere, and the Titulus Cecilae,
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. In order to have a stronghold on the
right Bank and to control the Gianicolo hill, Transtiberim was partially
included by Emperor Aurelian inside the wall erected to defend the city against
the Germanic tribes. In the Middle Ages Trastevere had
narrow, winding, irregular streets; moreover, because of the mignani there
was no space for carriages to pass. At the end of the 15th century these
mignani were removed. Nevertheless, Trastevere remained a maze of narrow
streets. There was a strong contrast between the large, opulent houses of the
upper classes and the small, dilapidated houses of the poor. The streets had no
pavement until the time of Sixtus IV at the end of the 15th century. At first
bricks were used, but these were later replaced by sampietrini, which were more
suitable for carriages. Thanks to its partial isolation and to the fact that
its population had been multicultural since the ancient Roman period, the
inhabitants of Trastevere, called Trasteverini, developed a culture of
their own. In 1744 Benedict XIV modified the borders of the rioni, giving
Trastevere its modern limits. Modern day
Nowadays, Trastevere maintains its character thanks to its narrow cobbled
streets lined by ancient houses. At night, natives and tourists alike flock
to its many pubs and restaurants, but much of the original character of
Trastevere remains. The area is also home to several foreign academic
institutions including The American University of Rome and John Cabot
University, the American Academy in Rome, the Rome campus of the Thomas More
College of Liberal Arts, the Canadian University of Waterloo School of
Architecture, and the American Pratt Institute School of Architecture
therefore serving as home to an international student body.
The unique character of this neighborhood has attracted artists,
foreign expats, and many famous people. In the sixties and seventies, the
American musicians/composers Frederic Rzewski and Richard Teitelbaum, of the
group Musica Elettronica Viva, lived in Via della Luce. Sergio Leone, the
director of Spaghetti Westerns, grew up in Viale Glorioso, and went to a
Catholic private school in the neighborhood. Ennio Morricone, the film
music composer, went to the same school, and for one year was in the same class
as Sergio Leone. Education
Public libraries in Trastevere include Casa della Memoria e della Storia.
See also Leonine City
References Bibliography
Coarelli, Filippo. Guida archeologica di Roma. Milano: Arnoldo Mondadori Editore.
External links Rome/Trastevere travel guide from
Wikivoyage