Rome Favorites
Ah…Rome… If you know me, you know Italy that Italy is where my heart lies, and that Rome is my favorite city in the world. But once you’ve wandered the Forum and Colosseum, gazed up at the Sistine Chapel and admired St. Peters, and tossed your coin into the Trevi fountain….what’s next? Here is the first of several articles where I’ll touch on a few lesser-known sites to visit, as well as a couple of my favorite shops and restaurants in La Città Eterna.
Are you heading to Rome soon and want to download this list as a handy one-page reference sheet? Click here!
SEE
Aventine Hill - venture into the Testaccio neighborhood and wander through the Protestant Cemetery and up the Aventine Hill. This is a great place to take a book and a picnic lunch and spend a little quiet time. The Knights of Malta Keyhole at the top has become a well-known attraction in recent years, but if you go early in the morning it’s usually not busy.
Largo di Torre Argentina - the site of Caesar's assassination is now home to Rome's most famous cat sanctuary! The site sits below street level but as of 2020, Rome’s mayor announced upgrades to the area, including the building of walkways to allow tourist access to the ruins, though we’ll see how covid affects those plans.
Casina delle Civette - This fairy tail-inspired house is filled with beautiful Art-Nouveau stained glass. Look for all the hidden owls! Nearby is Mussolini’s former mansion, Villa Torlonia, which now houses an impressive art collection and garden.
SHOP
Polvere di Tempo - Italian for “Dust of Time”, this charming shop in Trastevere sells handmade hourglasses, compasses, kaleidoscopes, and other curios
Essenzialmente Laura - boutique perfumes all blended by pro "nose" Laura herself. The real standout here though is Laura’s exceptional service. She encourages you wear the perfume for a few hours to see how it settles on your skin. I love her relaxed, no-pressure approach, and the uniqueness of her perfumes.
La Bottega del Marmoraro - a quaint shop selling hand-chiseled marble tablets with Latin or Italian inscriptions. If you’ve been to Pompeii and seen the preserved graffiti there, you’ll instantly recognize where the owner, Enrico, gets his inspiration. You can even have him customize a tablet just for you!
La Bottega del Marmoraro | photo credit Aveviva on Trip Advisor.com
EAT
La Strega Nocciola - tiny gelateria with unique flavors like basil, lavender, and cinnamon. In the summer they usually have at least one “granita” on offer - kind of like an Italian shaved ice.
Trapizzino - there are a few Trapizzino locations across Italy now, but the Testaccio location is the original. They take fresh-baked "triangle pockets" of focaccia-esque bread and stuff them with your choice of fresh stews and sauces. They’re particularly wonderful in the wintertime when you want something to keep your hands warm while you walk.
Volpetti Salumeria - a neighborhood deli in Testaccio (sensing a theme here? I really love Testaccio you guys…) with every meat and cheese you could want. This is the perfect place to put together a picnic lunch and head up the Aventine Hill as I mentioned above.
Da Francesco - In a city with hundreds of restaurants all trying to do simple, hearty Italian with good service and a cozy atmosphere - Da Francesco excels at it. Mountains of black truffle shaved over your pasta certainly don't hurt either! Try their version of tiramisu made with pistaccio for dessert.
Have a place in Rome for me to add to my list? Comment below!
