Rome - Synagogue & Ancient Rome

April 2006

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Our last day in Rome was spent exploring the old and very old. We visited the Trevi Fountains in daylight en route to our first stop, a tour of Rome's oldest practising Synagogue (built in 1904) which also has a museum charting the history of the Roman Jews. When the Synagogue was built Jews could not be architects or builders so it was designed and built by non-Jews who were clearly sympathetic to the needs of the Jewish religion but is a lot more ornate and colourful than most Synagogues. They were also only allowed one building of worship so, to accommodate the various sects, five Synagogues were built into the one building, one big and four small. Today the big one and two of the smaller Synagogues are still practising.

Then it was on to the Forum and the Coliseum. We wandered around reading our guide book or listening to passing tours to find out what each building, monument or ruin was about. It is really quite amazing the size of the buildings and monuments the ancient Romans built and even more amazing that such a civilization has disappeared!

Before we headed off to the airport we sat outside at the café in the street near our hotel to have something to eat and drink while watching the world go by. We finished off with another delicious ice-cream, fetched our suitcases and, rather than walking back, passed the Spanish Steps one last time en route to the metro back to the airport train and home again. It was a great whirlwind tour of Rome but there is plenty left for more visits in the future!