Thinking about visiting Rome, Italy? By the end of this guide, you’ll be ready to take a delicious and culturally immersive trip to Rome.
1. For those wanting to have a Rome experience not typically found in guidebooks, visit the popular district of the Garbatella, founded in 1920. Inspired by the concept of the “Garden City”, Garbatella was the location for many Italian movies and is considered by many the “real Rome,” still genuine and working-class. Here you can admire many murals and amazing artworks by the most famous street artists.
2. For those wanting to experience local culture in Rome, you must visit the Pigneto. This multicultural area is the heart of the nightlife of the young Rome with many bars, restaurants, and enoteche (wine bars). In the past this district was very poor; however, it’s now thought of as a refuge by poets, architects, artists and expats.
Red wine makes for the perfect meal pairing in Rome. Photo courtesy of Emiliano de Laurentiis.
3. For someone wanting a traditional meal, enjoy a good glass of wine and a portion of home-made pasta in one of our simple family-run restaurants, called “Osteria”. In Rome, you must try “Tonnarelli” (long fresh pasta) with a cream made by pecorino cheese and grinded pepper (“cacio e pepe” in Italian). You’ll find good osterias in the district “Testaccio” or in the famous “Trastevere.”
4. In terms of characteristics of local cuisine, every Italian town has a different culinary tradition, connected to local resources of the countryside. The Roman food was influenced by poverty of the rural areas: a big part of the local recipes are simple and there is a massive use of porks and entrails. In Italy you’ll find often a mix, with one basic rule: the food has to be genuine and seasonal. And served with real olive oil!
5. For those wanting a cooking class that goes beyond eating in a restaurant, one suggested activity in Rome is to discover the local food through a food tour. There are many groceries, bakeries or delicatessens in Rome, and it’s fun to have small tastings and meet the locals. One of my favorite things to do in Rome is to go into a “farmer’s market”: you can talk with the farmers, and taste their products. And of course buy a yummy mozzarella cheese.
6. For those wanting to assimilate into local culture, understand that in Italy coffee is a “religion,” so you’ll see Romans sipping espressos everywhere, even after dark. But only tourists drink a cappuccino or a “latte” after noon. So if you want to merge in the local culture, don’t ever order a cappuccino as a drink to go with pasta or pizza. You could “scandalize” an old waiter.
Villa d’Este in Tivoli. Photo courtesy of M. Maselli.
7. A spectacular day trip from Rome is Tivoli. The town has two villas on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Archaeology can be found at the Villa of the Emperor Hadrian while gardens and fountains can be enjoyed at the Villa d’Este.
8. A recommend place to stay depends on the budget. Many tourists prefer an international brand for their 5-star hotels, although I suggest choosing a small independent hotel run by Roman family. The more convenient option is renting an apartment in the historical center.
9. For a drink paired with a beautiful view, the Minerva Roof Garden is a must. It’s the rooftop bar of the Minerva Hotel, facing the amazing Pantheon.
10. For those wanting to travel Rome responsibly, help the local economy by choosing local companies: Roman guides, family-run restaurants and hotels. Also, respect Rome and its long history: don’t climb ruins or statues just to get a great photo. And please don’t put your feet in our historical fountains, even if the heat is terrible. We hate that!
Article contributed by freelancer Marisa F, who is also an archaeologist and qualified tourist guide born and raised in Rome.
Top photo credit: Roman musician. Photo courtesy of Moyan Brenn.
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
