Eating in Rome

Italy is famous for its cousin, and Rome can surely also claim her place as The Capital when it comes to food. Let’s see a few of the many traditional Roman dishes you can enjoy all year long, assembled in a menu.

Appetizer: Jewish artichokes. The specialty from the Jewish Ghetto is a must when you take a walk in the heart of the city. This delicious appetizer looks more like a golden delicatessen than a fried artichoke.

First course: carbonara or amatriciana pasta. There is no winner here for the 2 types of pasta are both top notch Roman specialties. The carbonara is cooked with eggs and bacon, while the amatriciana is with tomatoes and bacon. Try both and pick your fav!

Second course: tripe. Although you have many options here, I would say the Roman tripe is something you shouldn’t really miss. Tasty cow tripes with tomato sauce, pepper and sheep cheese, you could get addicted.

Dessert: grattachecca. This is the traditional dessert you get during summer. Well, when you get tired of gelato that is! It looks like shaved ice but you will find out it is way tastier than every ice-based dessert you’ve ever had.

Buon appetito!

Come Sea Rome!

Let’s face it: during Summer, Rome can get really warm. You have many option to keep yourself cool, from the shades of the tree in the park to a delicious gelato. But when things get really hot you can just take a dive into the sea. Aside from the good old Tevere being the only water course through the city, there are many options for a fun and relaxing daytrip at the beach.

Ostia: the closest beach, can be reached in about 20 minutes by train. It's not the best sea in the area but no one really goes there to bathe... this is infact the place of choice for trendy people who want to lounge and have a drink on the sand, and sunbathe all day long.

Sabaudia: to reach this town you have to go 1 hour south. The water is beautiful and you can actually kill two birds with one stone, since the beach lies in between the sea and a lake. It is also the place where VIPs from Rome go to enjoy the sun. Last but not least, it is near by the natural reservation of Circeo. What more do you want?

Tarquinia: if you can’t manage to stay away from cultural stuff even when you lay on the white sand, Tarquinia is your choice. This time you have to go a bit north, but it’s worth it. This wonderful town holds an Etruscan necropolis where you can visit tombs of about 2,700 years old! And, of course, it’s close to the sea.

So what are you waiting for? Take your choice, and remember you can do each one of this in 1 day from Rome. In the end, if you really can’t make up your mind, just visit them all!

Where to hang out in Rome!

Rome offers a wide variety of places for the night fun. And every one of them is appropriate for a specific audience. Let’s go thru the most important to find what’s better for you!

TESTACCIO: was once the area where poor people lived and is now the melting pot of party animals. With dozens of clubs, discos and outdoor bars, your night will never end...until your legs beg you to stop dancing! Very crowded during the weekend.

TRASTEVERE: is the other once low-class area in the center of Rome. Trastevere is perfect for hanging out in the warm summer nights, walking in the narrow alleys with a beer in your hand or just lounging at Piazza Trilussa enjoying some street comedians or "magicians" like the famous Mago Guarda. Many young people here, every night.

CAMPO De'FIORI: is the place of choice for cool people. The square is right in across of Piazza Navona and during daytime, it is a traditional market. It can get packed but you will always find a way to enjoy your drink meeting new people at every step. Very touristic!

LUNGOTEVERE: is the riverside that is a dead place during Winter, but it turns in one of the most lively area from late June to early September. Right on the Tevere shore you can find restaurants, clubs, bars and places where you can relax under the unclouded starry sky, smoking hookah and sipping your favourite drink. It is also pretty cheap.

Got it? And this is only what the very center of the city can offer you... just explore and you will find even more! 

Shakespeare in Rome

Every summer, Villa Borghese turns into an open air theater. And we’re not talking about a normal theater: it is an Elizabethan theater in the vein of the original Globe Theater where William Shakespeare was artistically born!

In the daytime, you can go lay on the grass and ease the warmth of the shining sun, boating on the lake. Or you can go visit the Galleria Borghese museum, which renovation has recently made available 10 new rooms. In the night time, you can enjoy the most famous plays born from the genius of Shakespeare that spread all over the world and throughout the generation like space-time chickenpox.

From July 1st until September 18th, you can go back to Elizabethan age with “The Storm, Love's Labour's Lost, Richard III, Twelfth Night," and of course, “A Midsummer Night's Dream.” If you get the special Globe card, you can get a discount on the shows and on the tickets for many museums (see the complete list here.

To be there or not to be there? It’s quite obvious, don’t you think???

In The Name Of Rome

Everyone has a name’s day, but in Italy even cities do. Well, kind of! Last Wednesday was Saints Peter and Paul’s day. Everyone whose name is Peter or Paul (in Italian are Pietro and Paolo), celebrated his name’s day on the 29th. Since Peter is also the protector saint of Rome, the city celebrated as well.

To start with, Wednesday was bank holiday for all the people working in Rome. Offices were closed and many stores as well, except restaurants, bars and all the main shopping points. Also, most of the Romans left the city to spend a day in the countryside or at the beach, to ease the high temperature which hit 95° F. The result was a less crowded Rome to be visited.

Then we had concerts: the “Toccata e Fuga,” with street musicians playing randomly in Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Navona and other special places; Franco Califano, the most famous Roman song writer, performed at the Verano; and the rock band from California Korn played at the open air festival Rock In Roma. Music for everyone, all over the city!


Don’t forget this is also a religious fest, and many celebrations went on in the churches. Finally, at sunset the Pope took a tour in the city carrying Saint Paul’s chain. And the people, religious or not, thanked Saints Peter and Paul for the exciting day!

Musica, maestro!

Summertime in Rome is about sun, relaxation and tons of music! All summer, the city offers many concerts that will appeal every kind of audience. 

Some of them are free, like those scheduled at the Piazzale Verano, a mix of new and old Italian artists, which would give you a nice overview of the way we make music. Also, many clubs are offering live music all around the city.

Every year, there are 2 main stages: the Capannelle racecourse and the Auditorium. The first will host Rock In Roma, a festival that brings daily the best international rock: Moby, Jamiroquai, Skunk Anansie, 30 Seconds To Mars, Korn, Chemical Brothers.

If you don’t like hard sounds, you can choose the  Auditorium. The good music starts with John Mayall Buena Vista Social Club and The Manhattan Transfer, and goes one with the legendary Beatle Ringo Starr, Chicago, George Benson, up to the bright stars of Elton John, Lou Reed, Joe Cocker and Sting. And don’t forget classical music, jazz and piano concerts from Haochen Zhang, Stefano Bollani and Giovanni Allevi.

And, last but not least, the 18th edition of Rome meets the World. The open air festival by the lake at Villa Ada, with artists from all over the world for a charming cross-cultural event.

What are you waiting for? Come sing with us!

Rome is proud with Gaga!

 
17 years after its debut in Italy, the Pride Parade returns in Rome. Formerly known as Gay Pride, now Euro Pride, this colorful event is a fest to celebrate every kind of sexuality. Every year people from all over Italy and Europe gather in the capital to defend that there’s no difference in being straight, gay or lesbian. No wonder then if many heterosexual people join the parade.

This year, more than 2 million people are expected. The reason for such a big crowd is the special guest that’s been revealed just last week: Lady Gaga! The popstar will honor her Italian heritage together with her extravagant dress code leading the parade with a free concert at Circo Massimo. Gaga wrote her name on a list of artists whom took part in the event during the past years, from Gloria Gaynor to legendary Village People.
 
A gay parade right by Saint Peter’s church may sound a bit awkward but so far it has always perfectly worked. This is great example of coexistence, don’t you think? See you on Saturday to sing all together Lady Gaga’s hits!