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!

Under a colorful sky...

If you were in Rome yesterday, you would’ve seen the city invaded by a joyful army. Thousands of tourists gathered in the center, together with the Italian President and many governmental men, to see the parade celebrating the Republic Fest.

You may be a bit confused with all these celebrations, so let’s do a recap: April 21st the city of Rome turned 2,764. On March 17th, Italy celebrated its 150th birthday as a Nation. On June 2nd we commemorated the Italian republic, born 65 years ago, right after the World War II as a new government replacing fascism dictatorship and the previous monarchy.

There’s no better place for such a celebration like the Fori Imperiali, the road uniting the Colosseum and the Altare della Patria (the Altar of Nation). Eveyone was staring at the parade, the army itself was a symbol of Italy as dozens of traditional local police corps are now part of the national army. And as for icing on the cake, the final show of  every Republic Fest: the Frecce Tricolori (Tricolor Arrows)

The aerobatic jets pierced the sky, painting it as the Italian flag. So everyone wowing with their heads held up witnessed the most colorful sky Rome has ever had.


Please note that for the first time, the Colosseo opened its underground and parts of the third tier to the public. The underground is popular amongst kids for its stories of the gladiators and animals that were kept at the underground before the shows. Walks Inside Rome Team can include a visit to these parts of the Colosseo for an additional 50€ per group for the required reservation access. 

Got sport?

Rome is famous all over the world thanks to its monument and historical treasures. Actually, most of the physical activities the tourists are usually involved in are walking in the sunny streets, wowing in the museums' corridors and flexing their neck muscles up and down to stare at the taller buildings. But in Rome there is more going on when it comes to sport.

Soccer: being the national sport, you can't miss a soccer game at the Stadio Olimpico. There are 2 teams in Rome: Roma and Lazio, and of course their rivalry is neverending. If you want to try it yourself, just go at the park: it will be easy to find a bunch of people playing soccer on the grass anytime.

Run: running is healthy and relaxing. But it's even better when you can run by majestic monuments. In Rome you can. And if you don't want to wait for the Marathon, just set the alarm a bit early and go for a run by the Fori Imperiali.

Athletics: Rome has great athletics facitilites. And last week on the 26th during the athletic Golden Gala was a day of sport with international stars with a very special guest: the olympic champion Usain Bolt!

Ancient romans used to say "mens sana in corpore sano,",meaning "a healthy mind in a healthy body" and the city still sticks to this saying.

Rome runs for the cure..

Every year Rome turns pink. It's not because of the romantic twilights you can behold in late Spring. It's not because of the old fashioned buildings that takes you centuries back. This time Rome is pink because of the 12th edition of Race For The Cure, a great event that every year helps the research for breast cancer.

Houndreds of people gathered in the city center this weekend and applied for a fun run around the most important areas of Rome. Last Friday to Sunday you could see men, women, children and even a few dogs running at Piazza Venezia, rushing all the way thru the Forums heading to the Colosseum, and then Circo Massimo to the Caracalla Therms. All the fund raised are going to support our scientists in their own race. A very important run to find a cure for the most common cancer for the women.

Some people contributed with money, others took part in the race. Everyone ran with a smile and with the fullfilling feeling that the winner would anyway be the women's health.

Mamma Roma

Let's see, we had Mother's Day last Sunday and May which is the Mother Mary month. This is an opportunity to tell our moms how much we love them and also to remember that Rome is a mother itself! According to the myth, the twin Romulus and Remus were demigods born from the god of war Mars and a priestess.

Their mother's uncle ordered to kill the babies by throwing them in the Tiber river. There, a wolf found and raised them in its den by the Palatine hill...kinda like Mowgli from the Jungle Book! The children were breast-fed by the wolf and eventually Romulus founded the city of Rome, and became its first king.

No wonder the wolf is now the symbol of Rome. You can see many statues of the Capitoline Wolf, some of them as old as the city, the oldest being almost 2000 years old. The logo of Rome's soccer team is also a wolf head. Romans have a special link with this animal. They all feel like they're sons of Rome as well as the sons of a wolf. Quite an unusual mom to have, but as lovely as all the moms!

Visit the Capitoline hill with Walks Inside Rome to learn more about its fascinating history in the following tours:

• Ancient & Christian Rome
• Rome for Kids
• Underground Rome
• Classic Ancient Rome
• Small Group Ancient Rome

Sunday busy Sunday

Last Sunday has been a pretty busy one, due to the beatification of John Paul II and the Labor Day concert. Just as we expected in our previous post! Starting from Friday afternoon, pilgrims from all over the world gathered in Rome.

Saturday was a nice evening to walk the streets by Saint Peter to witness thousands of people arranging for the night. Yes, most of them slept outdoor, assisted by a huge organization of professionals and young volunteers helping the visitors with water and fresh fruits.

If Saturday night was one of a kind sight, Sunday was just crazy. Over 1.5 million people came to celebrate the former Pope John Paul II. One of the biggest event for the Catholic Church thus far!
Meanwhile, in Piazza San Giovanni, the traditional Labor Day concert took place. As every year, the first day of May is the opportunity for workers and students to get together and participate at this amazing festival.

Many famous Italian singers showed up on the stage, including Ennio Morricone and Gino Paoli. Good thing the audience was way lower than last year: "only" 500,000 people! This made a total of over 2 million people gathered in the center of Rome in less than 24 hours. Can you think about something more amazing?

Easter goes faster...

I hope you had a wonderful Easter spending great time with your relatives and friends! In Italy Easter is a double-sided celebration and you get to enjoy both sides of the fest.

On one hand, you have the religious event. On Friday the Pope walks with thousands of believers to commemorate the Via Crucis: the path Jesus Christ walked carrying the cross. Between blazing torches and psalms, the crowd arrives at the Colosseum and the Pope celebrates a special mass. On Sunday every church distributes small olive branches, which are a symbol for peace, and the Easter mass is celebrated.

On the other hand, you have the food & fun fest which are also grand. On Sunday you have a huge lunch that usually lasts until 8 or 9 PM. The traditional course is baked lamb and chocolate eggs for dessert! The Monday after Easter is called Pasquetta (Little Easter); it is also the bank holiday. We usually spend the day outdoors with friends: country, mountain or sea, every place is a nice place when you have good company, good food and a few bottles of delicious red wine!

How did you spend your Easter?

HAPPY 2,764th BIRTHDAY ROMA!

They call it “the Eternal City” and it almost is. Founded on April 21st 753 B.C., Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world and we would like you to join us in celebrating its birthday today! We call it “Natale di Roma” which means “Birth of Rome.” Both citizens and tourists are invited to the fest.
What to do? Last Sunday we already had a professional swimming tournament, ancient Roman dance exibition and a Roman poetry contest. Plus today the 21st, all the public museums will be free. The MACRO, Villa Torlonia Museum, Fori Imperiali, Ara Pacis and the Napoleonic Museum are just a few examples to mention.

What’s a birthday party without some music? Of course we are going to have it! The army bands will play in the Campidoglio and other 6 historical plazas, and the night at the Augusto Foro will be lit by the opera, orchestra and video performances.

 

Arts, music, culture and fun looks like the proper way to wish Rome a happy birthday. Just come to the party, your presence will be your present!

Nero the Hero

If Nero is recognized as one of the most famous Roman emperors, it is thanks to his weird behaviors. You know, things like beheading Saint Paul, crucifying Saint Peter and burn the whole city down. Although most of these acts are still to be confirmed, there is no doubt that Nero lived an extravagant lifestyle. Which by the way, ended with suicide at the age of 30.

Back in 64 A.D., this little rascal tried to burn Rome to a crisp. Good thing Rome is as friendly as its citizens and didn’t hold a grudge against Nero. On contrary, it is celebrating the emperor with an exposition lasting until September 18th. Visitors will witness the places where Nero lived and worked: from the Roman Forum to the Curia Lulia, passing by the Palatine hill all the way to the Colosseum. 

The Walks Inside Rome Team will cover parts of these exhibits during the following tours: Ancient & Christian Rome, Small Group Ancient Rome, Rome Highlights, and Classic Ancient Rome Walking Tour.

You will get the chance to see in person what’s left of his residences and watch a 3D reconstruction of how they looked like 2000 years ago. Yes, they were partly destroyed by the fire he set!

There is even a movie session at the Romulus Temple. You will be impressed to find how many movies Nero starred on, starting from 1900 to now!

Here's an example of one of those films...

Rome by Caravaggio

Thanks to the strength of his paintings, Caravaggio is one of history’s most appreciated artist. When you stand in front of “Judith Beheading Holofernes” or “The Calling of Saint Matthew,” you can feel the intensity of the chiaroscuro conflict striking straight to your heart. Just like his masterpieces, his life was an ongoing struggle between his brilliant artistic talent and the deep shadows cast by an excess of sex and violence. 

Rome offers the opportunity to fully understand Caravaggio’s art by visiting the places where he created, lived and went through neverending troubles. He only lived 10 years in Rome, between 1595 and 1605, but it was a critical period for his growth as an artist. 

As you walk through the city center, you will discover every building exactly as it was 400 years ago -- even the same atmosphere can be felt. You can pay a visit to Palazzo Madama where Caravaggio lived; although you may have difficulties entering for it now hosts the Italian Senate. While shopping at Via del Corso, take a turn to Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina. There you can see the places of his apprenticeship. Visiting these sights will be a wonderful way of experiencing his art rather than just simply looking at them.

Oh, and when you are enjoying the romantic lights at Piazza Navona while eating gelato by the fountain, keep in mind that Caravaggio was arrested at this square for illegal weapons!

You can see the current Caravaggio exhibit at Mondo Mostre just around the corner of Piazza Navonna. 

An artistic picnic

Springtime is the best time for a picnic. The warm sun above, the soft grass below and trees peacefully encompassing all around. There are many places in Rome where you can enjoy your outdoor relaxation, but my favorite is Villa Borghese, for 3 main reasons:

1) The view: the park is located above Piazza di Spagna and Piazza del Popolo, hence it only takes you to step out of the grass to be stunned by a wonderful landscape;

2) The Galleria Borghese: yes, in Rome you have a museum even inside parks! And it is no just ordinary museum, with Raffaello, Tiziano and Antonello da Messina paintings and Bernini sculptures. A tour to the Galleria is a must, either before or after your relaxation-on-the-grass;

3) The history: Villa Borghese is not the biggest Roman park but it’s the oldest. Created between the end of 1500 and the beginning of 1600 by the noble family Borghese.

When you walk between trees and Bernini’s statues, rowing on the lake and laying under the sun, the ancient nobles revive in you.

Spring runs in Rome...

Every season has its good reason to make you want to visit Rome. In Summer you would spend hours in the warm Italian sun, rather than relax in the Autumn tint of gold or feel the magic of gleaming Winter. But Spring is definitely my favorite season. The parks are covered with bright grass; walking down the street is pleasant but you won’t sweat too much. And how can I resist the fresh veggies and fruits?

I am sure the 17.000 people that took part at the marathon last Sunday also enjoyed the weather change. It was a unique show to see thousands of athletes running by the Colosseum, stamping their Nike on the same stones the ancient Romans used to walk 20 centuries ago!

Of course I was too lazy to take part at the run, but next year you may want to race with the African champions... or just seize the moment and run with your friends on the streets of Rome.

Happy Birthday Italy!

Rome is the ancient heart of a young Nation. Even though the capital city has more than 2.000 years, Italy just turned 150. Indeed, it is almost one century younger than the U.S.A.  Starting from Wednesday evening, Rome was flourishing with open air events, concerts, expositions, fireworks and parties in every club. No one cared about the rain and a loud crowd gathered in Piazza Venezia to see the majestic Altare Delle Patria turned in a gargantuan Italian flag. Similar shows were offered with a breathtaking night vision of the Colosseum and the very central Piazza Della Repubblica with its round fountain.

The celebrations were a exciting opportunity for Italians and tourists to get together and enjoy a version of the city you only get once in a lifetime. Italians usually don’t display thier patriotism that much - except for the soccer games - but in such events you can see how deep is their love for the Nation.

The day after was entirely dedicated to the 150th birthday of Italy. The Fori Imperiali and the Gianicolo became unconventional places for the President and the ministers to remind everyone how important is to be united. Viva l’Italia!

Fragments of Rome

Just like real women, Rome holds a variety of beauties. Some come from a glance, others from a smile. More than 2.000 years made Rome a very fashionable lady, with wonders glancing at every corner and smiles as deep as the history of humanity.

You can taste delicious artichoke specialties at the Jewish district, walk alongside an ancient Roman aqueduct or get your sight lost in the panorama from the Gianicolo hill, and you will feel each one of this shards reflecting the crystal-pure light of Rome. If you are in love with nature, you would probably smell the fragrance of the city strolling in the park of Villa Borghese or Villa Pamphili, just like the aristocrats used to do in the golden age. You will find the grass is always bright green, as expected from an everlasting beauty.

Being an Italian woman, Rome changes its dress often. Try to hold her hand in the morning visiting Campo de’ Fiori, and you will see a traditional flowers and fruits market with merchants talking loud and bargaining to sell their fresh goods, as their parents and grandparents did. Then take her arm by night and the stands will be gone, replaced by a chatting crowd dressed to kill, enjoying the warm evening sipping a cocktail or having their last gelato of the day.

But don’t worry, when you visit Rome, your partner won’t be jealous of you falling in love with this charming lady, because the same will happen to him/her.

Walk like a Roman!

What makes visiting a city an unforgettable experience? What makes you say “I don’t want to leave” or, at least, “I will come back?” It may be the view from the top of a tower, or a painting that leaves you speechless in a museum hall. For those whom place gluttony on the top of their leisure list, it may be a never before tasted flavor at a traditional restaurant. But what etch these experiences on your heart is the way you live them. And there is no better way to experience Rome than walking through it, just like a person who lives here.

The narrow streets of Rome are not made for cars and the Italian public transportation may be funny but who would like to be packed in noisy buses? Walking in the shoes of a Roman you would be welcomed by the warm light as you fall in love with the ancient buildings at every corner of the streets. Ancient roman walls  side by side with renaissance palaces speak the tongue of history, that only trained eras are able to fully understand. An open air treasure whose real value can only be unveiled by walking through it and experiencing as real Romans like us would.

If you are planning to visit Rome, don’t forget to put in your luggage a pair of comfortable shoes together with your Gucci and Jimmy Choo.