Welcome to Trastevere, the neighborhood that Romans affectionately call the heart of the city. You are currently standing 'Trans Tiberim,' a Latin phrase meaning 'beyond the Tiber.' For thousands of years, this area served as the primary gateway for those arriving in Rome from the sea or the western lands. As you take your first look around, notice the narrow, winding alleys and the warm, ochre-colored walls characteristic of this thirteenth rione, or district, of Rome. Unlike the grand, open boulevards of the imperial center across the water, Trastevere has always marched to its own beat. It is a place and a people defined by their independence and their deep connection to the river. Today, it remains one of the most vibrant corners of the Italian capital, a maze of history where every corner has a story to tell to those willing to listen.