QUOTIDIANOMIME

Also available in: Italian

Fori imperial, Via Condotti, Colosseum, St. Peter’s, Villa Borghese, the Tiber. In a word: Rome.

Studied in school books, visited maybe in a hurry and always lined up, almost certainly never really explored. The difference between visiting a city and savoring it is impalpable, but consistent: it is thanks to the second that you return home with a suitcase full of memories and a bit of nostalgia.

To enjoy the Eternal City you have to leave the map at home, maybe rent a Vespa as in the film with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck set in Rome, and get lost in the alleys, classes and markets. The real Rome is not that of the guided tours or one of the predetermined paths: the city deserves to be seen, heard, seen, touched and especially savored. Not only monuments or shops, but also things typical of the local residents.

Maybe independently, or through any suggestions of who has just finished the little culinary path proposed here:

1. Try street food: to avoid absolutely all eateries besieged by tourists; usually the product quality is poor and the prices are very high. Preferred instead is the alleys next to the points of the city, looking for little tidbits of quality, such as rice balls and meatballs with cream, cheese and cinnamon from Torment (Via dei Banchi old 143), next to Campo de ‘Fiori.

2. Savour Kosher: Jewish Quarter is a maze of squares and glimpses of life; passing next to the Synagogue, you can reach Piazza of the five schools, to sit and enjoy a meal made with the ancient Jewish tradition. Defined as kosher dishes offered follow the principles of the Torah which prohibits mixing meat and dairy products in the same dish, requires to use only the meat of ruminants (cow, sheep, goat) slaughtered according to certain criteria. From MasterKosher (Via S. Maria Wailing 63/66) you can enjoy an excellent carpaccio of salmon, orange and pink pepper accompanied by the famous artichoke (fried) to giudia. While those who want to can visit Koshercakes sweet, a few meters ahead. The selection of cakes and biscuits is very rich and varied: the apple crumble is recommended. A delight that melts in your mouth.

3. Try the cuisine: Following the Anglo-Saxons who said, “When in Rome, do what Romans do”, the culinary research of a typical meal Roman cannot and must not stop at restaurants with menu-boards “only choice” written in all the languages ​​of creation.  Instead, try the places recommended by the Romans, so you have an idea of ​​what true regional cuisine tastes like. The best area to sample rigatoni amatriciana, lamb or tripe is Trastevere: especially Ponentino, a hidden gem in the Piazza del Drago 10. The menu is always at a fixed price, but the quality is excellent.

4. A glass of red in Campo de ‘Fiori: floral and vegetable market day, a meeting place for young people during the night. Some say that the Roman who never sleeps will have meetings here, drinking and chatting. For those wishing to mingle with young local council, stop for a drink or a glass of wine (I would say maybe a red Castelli Romani, de gustibus …) to rest your legs and enjoy the sunset.

5. Uscite the box: Do you feel adventurous and feel like walking? See all these tourists can taste an ice cream? In Piazza degli Zingari 5 (Trastevere) is the Gelateria Fatamorgana, first in the ranking by the Messenger (relative to the 10 best ice cream shops in Rome). Besides all’intramontabile Bronte Pistachio Chocolate or White, the must of the season is just one: Ice cream flavored Olive Taggiasche. Really a bomb, trust me.