Riones (neighborhoods) of Rome

A rione (pl. rioni) is an Italian term used since the Middle Ages to name the districts of central Rome, according to the political divisions of that time. It comes from the Latin regio (pl. regiones, meaning region); during the Middle Ages the Latin word became rejones, from which rione.


Augustus first divided Rome into fourteen regiones to organize the growing city. The Riones have remained to this day, but with many transformations. Changes continue. Rione are similar to the arrondissements of Paris in that they were first known only by their number. They then came to be named by a landmark in the area.

Currently, there are 22 Riones. The Vatican is an area, a "neighborhood", all to its own.

Rione's selected

Trastevere: Natalia and Lauren
Testaccio: Alexis and Teo
Regola: Derek and Giulia
Ponte: Nick and Sijia
Monte: Mick and Carisa
Trevi: Stephanie and Tim
Vatican: Conner and Erika (again, not officially rione)

Requirements for this assignment:
-Presentation during week 9 (3/2 and 3/4). 30 minutes on site
-Write up a one page handout to give to students as a guide as you present
-You must take charge and lead us to your Rione where the presentation will begin (walk or bus)
-Write up final presentation and post to blog by your scheduled day (include photos and even voice, video and music. Be creative and have fun with this)

Things to cover in your presentation:
-History of the rione and "coat of arms" of the rione
-Who are the residents of the rione; who are the visitors
-Economy of the neighborhood
-Social communities and activities
-Monuments and memorials of the area
-"Borders" in the rione, consider also"insiders" and "outsiders"
-Art in the area
-Graffiti
-your reflections on the process
-discussion of your specific interpretation and your place within your interpretation

Use an ethnographic approach and consider your subject position and reflect on how your position influences your observations and reflections. What biases and assumptions do you bring?

Read the area as "text", do "close reading" and notice the subtle details of the area. Look at signs, listen to the language, talk to people, sit and observe the area and people's behaviors. Write in your journal. Go to different parts of your rione and observe difference, contradictions, similarities, and entries, walls, borders, etc.

You will be going back to your rione many times in the next 9 weeks. Do most of your research on-site. Take TIME to get to know it. Stroll through it on a busy weekday morning and also on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Have lunch at one of the most crowded pizzerias. Eat a gelato while walking. Let the area come to you as much as you go to it. Go with your partner, and also go alone at times. Walk, saunter, enjoy the slow pace of your travels through the neighborhood.

You and your partner should work together to craft a cohesive presentation of the area, but you should also include your unique observations and reflections. Discuss this unique aspects of your observations in your presentation and in your write up. You will have some different observations and interpretations. Note these, and discuss with your partner.

Also, discuss the process of this assignment. What were the difficulties and struggles you might have had. What about any "ah ha" moments and shifts that might have happened after visiting the site again and again. Include these kinds of reflections in your presentation.

For inspiration see the urban archives project:

Urban Archives (a Seattle project)