The People of Trastevere
Scroll down to see our walking routes and some blurbs about each site, or click “see more” under each site to the left for more in-depth info!
This 21-minute route throughout the unique and beautiful Trastevere neighborhood focuses on the influential individuals that lived in and frequented this neighborhood throughout it’s history.
With this route you will walk in the footsteps of these individuals and discover their connection to early Christianity in Rome and to the Trastevere neighborhood itself!
Remember to wear modest clothes to avoid any problems with entering religious sites.
To see the address of an individual site, click the hyperlinks beneath each location listed above.
Giuseppe Gioachino Belli
Giuseppe Gioachino Belli (1791-1863) was a Roman poet whose body of work represents the largest documentation of 19th century Romanesco dialect. His collection, including around 2300 sonnets, are a testament to lower class lifestyle, tradition, and culture from the 19th century.
The Mattei Family
The Mattei family was one of the most powerful Roman families during the Middle Ages and the early modern era. Their family tree includes eight Cardinals to the Catholic Church and Pope Innocent II. Their residence can be found at the Piazza in Piscinula.
Saint Benedict
The Church of San Benedetto is dedicated to the Patron Saint Benedict of Norcia, who was rumored to have stayed here when it was still considered a private residence. The church itself was built around 1100, with some parts of the building dating back to the 8th century.
The Martyrs
Saints Rufina and Secunda
Saints Rufina and Secunda suffered under the rule of Emperor Valerian and were killed in 257 AD. A church was built in their honor in the 12th century, whose bell tower still stands today.
Saint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia was a young Roman Christian woman from the 3rd century CE. Although she vowed to God to remain a virgin, she was married to a pagan Roman soldier. Legend states that she sang hymns to God in her heart during the ceremony, asking for help in maintaining her vow. Her singing is the reason she is recognized as the patron saint of music today.
Giuditta Tavani Arquati
Giuditta Tavani Arquati was a notable Italian patriot and a key figure in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification in the 19th century. She became a symbol of resistance and bravery after her tragic death during a police raid in 1867, which made her a martyr in the cause for Italian independence.
Sidney Sonnino
Sidney Sonnino was the 19th Prime Minister of Italy and served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs during World War I. In 1922, Rome’s City Council decided to dedicate a square to him, which sits next to Viale di Trastevere and includes the Basilica of San Crisogono and the Palazzo degli Anguillara.
Saint Francis
The first Franciscan Church in Rome, San Francesco a Ripa Grande is originally built upon a Benedictine monastery dating back to 949 AD. St. Francis stayed in Trastevere when he was founding the Franciscan order. This site was popular for early pilgrims to the Holy See.
The people associated with or commemorated in Trastevere are an eclectic group ranging from saints, martyrs, and papal guards of ancient history through to freedom fighters and poets in the 19th century and UN workers today who protect and defend cultural heritage throughout the world. If you want to find out more about the people of Trastevere you can look at the following sites: