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The Jewish Ghetto in Rome was a ghetto situated in the rione Sant’Angelo in Rome, the area which enjoys colocation between the Via del Portico d’Ottavia, Via del Progresso, Via di Santa Maria del Pianto, and the Lungotever dei Cenci. It was referred to in Italian as “Serraglio delli Ebrei”, “Enclosure of the Jews”.

Why was it established? In 1555 Pope Paul IV promulgated a Papal Bull titled ‘Cum nimis absurdum’ which instructed the Jews of Rome to live in the ghetto even though their community in Rome pre-dated Christian times. The ghetto, designed by the architect Giovanni Sallustio Peruzzi, was a walled quarter of the city that had three gates which were locked at night-time. To add insult to injury, the Jewish community were forced to pay the 300 scudi for the construction of the ghetto. The ghetto was situated on the least desirable area of the city, a place that was subject to constant flooding by the Tiber River. The Papal Bull not only imposed this upon the Jewish community but also subjected them to further restrictions such as prohibition on practicing medicine on Christians.