The first Jews arrived in Rome twenty-two centuries ago, and their rich historical legacy is alive and well today. This tour focuses on the history of Rome’s Jewish community, beginning  with a trip to the ancient Jewish catacombs, a site that was discovered in the 19th century and is one of seven known complexes used for ancient Jewish burials. Situated along the scenic Appian Way, the richly painted site requires special permission for entry as the catacombs are not open to the public, which provides us with a unique opportunity to discuss Jewish burial customs while appreciating an up-close view of the extraordinary decorations and spaces that characterized them. Our time continues with a visit to the Jewish Ghetto, the neighborhood to which Jews were confined by order of the Pope from 1555 until 1870. Though many of the neighborhood’s original structures were demolished after the original walls of the Ghetto were taken down in the late 19th century, we will have ample chance to discover the history of the Roman Jewish community, from the synagogue exterior to  the many Jewish businesses that continue to make the area a rallying point for the local community. Rate excludes the cost of exclusive access to the Jewish Catacombs and round-trip transport to the catacombs.