Located on the opposite bank of the River Tiber from central Rome, Travestere is a historically working-class neighbourhood in the Italian capital. It’s home to centuries-old churches, medieval houses and a botanical garden, as well as an abundance of traditional trattorias and stores selling artisan wares.
Things to do in Trastevere
Travestere is home to one of Rome’s oldest churches, the Basilica di Santa Maria, which has a fascinating history dating back to the 4th century AD. It is renowned for its 12th-century mosaics by Pietro Cavallini and features a coffered ceiling with Domenichino’s painting of the “Assumption of the Virgin”. Also of note is the Chiesa di Santa Cecilia, which houses the remains of the virgin martyr.
You can escape the hustle and bustle of Rome in the Orto Botanico dell’Universita di Roma “La Sapienza”, a gorgeous green space with themed gardens and glasshouses. Established in 1883, it overlooks the 17th-century Palazzo Corsini and is home to more than 3,000 species from around the globe. Wander through the Japanese garden and the tranquil bamboo grove before learning about medicinal plants in the Giardino dei Semplici.
Artefacts from the 18th to 20th centuries are showcased at the Museo di Roma in Trastevere, which occupies a beautifully restored Carmelite convent. Its collection includes traditional costumes, handicrafts and paintings from the period, as well as life-size dioramas depicting everyday life. Personal belongings and manuscripts from Italian poets such as Trilussa and Giuseppe Gioachino Belli are also on display.
Getting around Trastevere
Travestere is around 10 minutes’ drive from the Roma Termini railway station and 25 minutes from Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses and trams connect to Travestere while the neighbourhood is best explored on foot.