Trastevere is a district in Rome. The district's name derives from the Latin words "Trans Tiberem": beyond the Tiber river. Today Trastevere is one of the centers of Roman night life; rich in pubs, restaurants, clubs. Trastevere has a high population of expatriates and American college students as there are two American universities in the area.
Trains (marked regionale, not the express to Termini) from Leonardo da Vinci airport stop at Trastevere Railway station. Then hop on tram n° 8.
Tram n° 8 from Piazza Argentina is a nice tram for the short distance from close to the Pantheon to Trastevere. It runs frequently but unless you have luggage Trastevere is close enough to walk.
Cars of non-residents of Trastevere are not permitted to park there after dark so you'll have to park close and walk if you're going by car. Beware that on weekends or on any warm evening parking can involve driving round in circles for a long time looking for a place.
San Crisogono, Piazza Sonnino 40 (bus H, 23, 280, tram 8), 41.8891°, 12.473732°, +39 065818225. M-Sa 07:30-11:30 and 16:15-19:30, Su 08:30-13:00 and 16:15-19:30.
Casa della Fornarina, Via di Santa Dorotea 20 (bus 23, 280). There is little information available on Raphael's mistress La Fornarina. Margherita was the daughter of a baker from Siena. His shop was near Villa Farnesina where Raphael was painting. It is reported that Raphael repudiated her on his death bed as he wanted to be redeemed from his sins. Four months after his death Margherita joined the monastery Santa Apollonia in Trastevere. It is said that she was model for Raphael's portrait La Donna Velata.
Ponte Sisto, 41.892336°, 12.470794°. Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere (1471-1481) gave order to replace the old Roman bridge by a new one. It was Pope Sixtus IV who also ordered the Sistine Chapel and the Opsedale di Santo Spirito to be built. So he ran out of money. He levied a tax on prostitution in order to gain money for the construction of the Ponte Sisto.
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere (bus stop Viale di Trastevere, bus n° H,8,630 and 780), 41.889444°, 12.469722°, +39 06 581 4802. summer: 08:00-20:00, winter: 08:00-12:00, 16:00-20:00. One of the oldest churches in the city. The nave is lined with a mismatched collection of columns taken from ancient Roman buildings. The apse is covered in gold mosaics from the 13th century, arguably the finest mosaics in the city. Impressive mosaics also on the front. According to legend the church was founded in 222, so it would be one of the most ancient churches in the city. Written records mention a church on this place in 337. What is visible today was built in the 12th century, by order of Pope Innocent III. The facade is decorated with mosaics representing the Virgin Mary and ten unidentified figures. Most probably these mosaics are the work of Petro Cavallini who created the mosaics of the lower apse dated 1290 representing scenes from the life of Mary. The mosaics of the upper apse in byzantine style are even older and date from 1140. The columns of the nave originate from the ancient Baths of Caracalla. The facade of Santa Maria in Trastevere is even more impressive at night when it is illuminated.
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Piazza di Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, 41.887556°, 12.475892°, +39 06 589 9289. daily 09:30-12:30, 16:00-18:30, frescos by Cavallini: M-Sa 10:15-12:15, Su 11:00-12:30. Very ornately done and beautiful inside, but don't expect any information in English. All information panels are only in Italian. It's still a beautiful site though even if you don't read Italian. According to tradition St.Cecily suffered a particular cruel death as a martyr. She was scalded, suffocated and beheaded by three strokes on her neck. As she was singing all the time during her martyrdom she is considered the patron of music. The building of today shows a mixture of various styles, from the porticus of the 12th-century to the 18th-century facade.
San Francesco a Ripa, Piazza S.Francesco d'Assisi (South side of Trastevere), 41.885127°, 12.473186°. open to the public every day from 08:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 19:30. During the liturgical celebrations is not possible to visit the church or the shrine. Named after St. Francis of Assisi, who stayed nearby. Inside the Paluzzi-Albertoni chapel is one of Bernini’s masterpieces, the statue of the Blessed Ludovica Albertoni. The column in front of the church comes from the ruins of Veii (see Rome/North).
Villa Farnesina, Via della Lungara 230 (on the northern edge of Trastevere), 41.893611°, 12.4675°, +39 06 6802 7268, lapenta@lincei.it. M-Sa 09:09-14:00. Delightful Renaissance house that was built by a rich banker from Siena, Agostino Chigi. In 1577 it was bought by the Farnese family and has since been known as Villa Farnesina. At one time there were plans by Michelangelo to build a bridge over the river to connect the villa with Palazzo Farnese on the other side. You can tour several beautiful rooms that are all decorated with frescoes, including some by Raphael. Particularly entertaining is the Loggia of Cupid and Psyche, the former entrance hall, in which nearly every person represented is without clothes. €6
National Gallery of Ancient Art, Via della Lungara 10 (beside the Villa Farnesina), 41.893328°, 12.466586°, +39 06 68802323. housed in the baroque palace Corsini where Christina, Queen of Sweden settled down in the last years of her life 2016-06-14
Orto Botanico dell'Università di Roma "La Sapienza" (Botanical Gardens), Largo Cristina di Svezia, 24 (Northwest edge of Trastevere), 41.892296°, 12.465853°, +39 0649917107, info-ortobotanico@uniroma1.it. Nov-Mar: M-Sa 09:00-17:30; Apr-Oct: M-Sa 09:00-17:30. This garden was established in 1883. It has over 3,500 species of plants and includes a "Scent-and-Touch" garden for those who are visually impaired. €8 2016-12-20
Museum of Rome in Trastevere (Museo di Roma in Trastevere), Piazza Sant'Egidio 1/b (just behind Santa Maria in Trastevere), 41.88986°, 12.46897°, +39 06 0608 (daily 09:00-19:00). Tu-Su 10:00-20:00, M closed. Last admission 1h before closing. Permanent collection features paintings and drawings of Rome between the 18th and 20th centuries together with a fascinating black and white photo exhibition of Rome from 1950-80. Also offers rotating exhibitions, usually of the work of photographers. €8.50
Villa Sciarra, Viale delle Mura Gianicolensi, 41.8835°, 12.4649°. A lovely, if somewhat run-down park (parts of it are blocked due to the poor state of the roads) with statues and a great view on the city. 2020-01-12
Trastevere is the best place in city to get great Italian food at reasonable prices. There are dozens of quality restaurants in this area. A few are listed below; prices for a pizza or pasta dish with some wine or beer and bruschetta are around €12-15 and should not exceed €20 per person, though if you want to spend more you certainly have the option. Restaurants tend to open much earlier here than in other parts of Rome, mainly to cater to tourists as no self-respecting Roman would go out for dinner before 8PM.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division