Testaccio
Testaccio is the 20th rione of Rome, officially established on December 9, 1921, and located on the left bank of the Tiber River within Municipio Roma I, encompassing an area historically tied to ancient commerce and later industrial activity.[1][2]
Its name originates from Monte Testaccio, a 150-foot-tall artificial mound formed by millions of shattered amphorae discarded between the 2nd century BCE and 3rd century CE, evidencing the district's role as the Portus Emporium, a vital hub for importing olive oil and wine that sustained Rome's population and economy.[2][3][4]
After the Empire's decline, the area reverted to farmland until the 19th century, when it industrialized around the Mattatoio slaughterhouse, fostering a working-class identity and distinctive cucina romana featuring offal-based dishes born from butchers' discards.[5][6]
Today, Testaccio has evolved into a cultural and gastronomic enclave, with the repurposed slaughterhouse housing the MACRO contemporary art museum and the neighborhood sustaining Rome's authentic food scene amid nightlife and markets like Mercato Testaccio.[5][7]