Across the river from the centre of town, TRASTEVERE (the name literally means "across the Tiber") was originally outside the city walls. It was the first inhabited zone of the right bank of the river, or 'rivadestra',  and was first delineated to form a defensive bridgehead for the ancient city.

In classical times it  was  the artisan area of the city, strategically placed upriver from Ostia so the trade could be unloaded nearby. Because it was outside the city walls, it was for centuries  heavily populated by immigrants. It was connected to the city by five gates and has always had a certain detached character. This separation from the centre of the city helped to forge the strong sense of community that still exists amongst the locals today. 

Today many expatriates have chosen Trastevere as their home too. There are many foreign univerisities that have their Rome seat in Trastevere.

Trastevere is also famed for its trattorias where you can enjoy a dinner 'al fresco', its lively nightlife, winding cobble stone streets,  and pictueresque squares where you can have an aperitivo while enjoying the live street perfomances.

And if you have children, the newly refurbished Piazza San Cosimato, with its playground and open spaces,  has become a gathering point for the areas children.  It also has a wonderful daily food market. 

There are an abundance of sights too:  The medieval basilica, Santa Maria in Trastevere with its fantastic mosaics , Santa Cecilia, with Maderno's sculpture of Santa Cecilia, Bernini's 'The blessed Ludovica Albertoni' at San Francesco a Ripa, where Saint Francis had his cell. Villa Farnesina with Raphaels' frescos, just up the street from where his lover 'La Fornarina' lived, Palazzo Corsini, the beautiful Botanical gardens where you can stroll while enjoying the flora and fauna of Rome. Piazzale Garibaldi  on the 'Gianicolo' hill, with its fantastic view of Rome, is just a short walk  up hill. If you enjoy bargain hunting, be sure not to miss the enormous flea market 'Porta Portese'  which is open from dawn till around 13 (1 PM) every Sunday. Be sure also not to miss  the local street festival,'The Festa Noantri ' which takes place every July during the week of the 16th.