Rome Off the Beaten Tracks

 Trastevere (is the 13th rione of Rome: it is identified by the initials R. XIII and it is located within Municipio IV. Its name comes from Latin trans Tiberim, literally 'beyond the Tiber.Its coat of arms depicts a golden head of a lion on a red background, the meaning of which is uncertain.In Rome's regal period (753–509 BC), the area across the Tiber belonged to the Etruscans: the Romans named it Ripa Etrusca (Etruscan bank). 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 (English: 'bridge on wooden piles'). 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 (regiones in Latin); modern Trastevere was the XIV and was called Trans Tiberim. In the Middle ages Trastevere had narrow, winding, irregular streets; moreover, because of the mignani (structures on the front of buildings) 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 sampietrni (cobble stones), which were more suitable for carriages. Thanks to its partial isolation (it was "beyond the Tiber") 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 Benidict IV modified the borders of the rioni, giving Trastevere its modern limits. Nowadays, Trastevere maintains its  medieval character thanks to its narrow cobbled streets lined by ancient houses. At night, natives and tourists alike flock to its many pubs and end excellent roman cusine restaurants. If you wish to take a walk in the district Trastevere. I suggest to visit the several enchanting medieval churches that characterize the neighborhood such as the Basilca of Santa Maria in Trastevere with its splendid  byzantine mosaics on the apse, the Basilica of Santa Cecilia, The first  church of this site was devoted to the young Roman woman Cecilia, martyred it is said under  Marco Aurelio Severo Alessandro (A.D. 222–235). Tradition holds that the church was built over the house of the saint. The baptistery  associated with this church, together with the remains of a Roman house of the early Empire, was found during some excavations under the Chapel of the Relics. Among the artifacts remaining from the 13th century edifice are a mural painting depicting the Last Judgment (1289–93) by Pietro Cavallini in the choir of the nuns, and the ciborium  (1293) in the prebiery by Arnolfo di Cambio. Another enchanting church in Trastervere that you can't miis is the church of San Crisogono. Located along viale Trastevere, in the district of the same name, San Crisogono stands in Piazza Sonnino and is one of the oldest basilicas in Rome. The church was built in the 4th century, under Pope Sylvester I, was rebuilt in the 12th century and then again in 1626, based on a project by Giovanni Battista Soria, at the behest of Cardinal Scipione Borghese. Currently the basilica has a monumental baroque façade with a tympanum, preceded by a large portico with four columns. The interior of the church, decorated by Pietro Cavallini, is divided into three naves by two orders of granite columns; the apse mosaic is to be attributed to the school of the same artist, while the floor was made in the Cosmatesque style.Two monumental porphyry columns support a triumphal arch. The 17th century wooden coffered ceiling houses a copy of a painting by Guercino, the Glory of Saint Crisogono. Under the current church are the remains of the first, discovered in the archaeological investigations of 1907 and in subsequent excavationS. For more info and reservation about tours in Trastevere you can contat me at pincicarla4@gmail.com or call 00393483940697