Mediaval - Rome

The fortress, consisting of a crenellated wall which, strengthened by a tower, enclosed dwellings and stables, dates from the 13th century.
Enlarged in the 15th century by Count Everso II, the building was heavily restored in the 19th century. Since 1914 it has been the seat
of the House of Dante, a cultural institution that promotes studies on the poet. Near the square is the church of San Crisogono,
one of Trastevere's great medieval basilicas. In the apse is a 13th-century mosaic erroneously attributed to Pietro Cavallini.

The bell tower, 5 storeys tall, was built ca. 1120 by order of the church's cardinal, Giovanni da Crema, who also had the basilica built.
Going all the way down Via della Lungaretta swe arrive at the square of Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of Rome's medieval gems (see Itinerary 2).
The apse contains the famous mosaics with the Coronation of the Virgin, executed in 1143, and the Stories of the Virgin done by Pietro Cavallini in the 13th century.

To the left of the apse is the Altemps Chapel, containing the 6th-century Our Lady of Mercy, one of the oldest images of the Virgin arriving up to the present day. The church allegedly stands over the Taberna meritoria where, in 38 B.C., a miraculous eruption of oil took place, interpreted later as an annunciation of the birth of Jesus. The first church in the city dedicated to the cult of the Virgin was thus founded on the site of the miracle in the 4th century. In reality, more than a miracle, the eruption was caused by the natural emission of oil from the ground.

This quarter, fairly tranquil during the daytime, at night becomes populated with Romans and foreigners seeking a place to eat and have fun. An excellent pizza can be enjoyed at Da Ivo, at Via San Francesco a Ripa 158 (06 5817082), or you can eat at Gildo, at Via della Scala 31/A (06 5800733). In Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere there is the restaurant Sabatini, a true institution in the quarter (06 5812026). In any case, almost all places propose excellent selections, suitable for all tastes and wallets! Length of itinerary: about 4 hours. Practical advice: The itinerary takes place on foot. We recommend taking it in the afternoon, in order to be able to end the day with a meal in a typically Roman restaurant.

The church of Santa Cecilia, considerably changed down through the centuries, has a beautiful Gothic tabernacle executed by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1293,
and precious 9th-century apse mosaics. The monks' choir holds the famous fresco with the Last Judgement by Petro Cavallini,
the greatest Roman painter of the late 13th century. Once again going back to Via dei Genovesi we arrive in Piazza Sonnino, which has
one of the most well-know medieval constructions: the Torre degli Anguillara, better known as the House of Dante.

Discovering Rome: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12