Pasta, Piazzas and Pizza: Rome is a Digestive Delight

Rome is a must-see destination on any European holiday. It has a rich mix of history, art, culture and architecture. Experiencing where the gladiators fought in the Roman Coliseum, the great architectural marvel of the Pantheon or the sublime beauty of the Trevi Fountain will take up a lot of your time in Rome, but you’ll need somewhere to eat and relax as well. Many people enjoy Italian food at home; nevertheless experiencing Italian food in Italy’s capital city is a must-do on any trip to Rome.

One of the best ways to make sure you get the most edible enjoyment out of your trip is to pair up the big sights with the local Italian markets. One of the best piazzas to visit in Rome is the Piazza Navona. Originally a competition arena, it now plays host to some exquisite architecture and sculptures. Piazza Navona is also surrounded by tourist-filled restaurants that spill out onto the square. If you feel peckish whilst at Piazza Navona and want to experience local Roman fare, Campo de’Fiori, just around the corner, is a must-see. Campo de’Fiori is a large outdoor market, brimming with fresh fruit and vegetables during the day, and providing a great meeting place in the evening with an abundance of cafés, bars and restaurants.

If you are on your way to visit the Vatican City, the Trionfale market is a handy and inexpensive place to grab a bite to eat en route. The authentic Italian cuisine and great local atmosphere in these markets make them a much more authentic local experience than sitting in one of the tourist restaurants across the city.

After you’ve thrown your coins into the Trevi Fountain and wished to return to Rome, why not pay homage to the one of the great Italian foods, pasta? The National Museum of Pasta Foods is a small museum located close to the Trevi Fountain and showcases the history and evolution of pasta through the ages; after you’ve visited, you’ll view your spaghetti in a whole new way.

For more authentic Italian cuisine, without the tourists or the tourist prices, the Testaccio and San Lorenzo districts are worth a visit. Whilst off the beaten track, these areas are still easily accessible and will give you a great evening of traditional Italian flavour. If you’ve spent all day walking around the city and want to eat somewhere closer to home, most hotels in Rome will be able to offer advice on where the best restaurants are in their area.

After dinner you’ll need to indulge in some dessert in the form of Italian ice-cream, often called gelato. The Villa Borghese and the surrounding gardens are great for taking a leisurely stroll away from the crowds, and they happen to be in the upmarket Parioli district, which is famous for its gelato.

Rome offers amazing culture and history for its visitors to experience, and if the sights are paired with discovering some of Italy’s fine cuisine, your journey to Rome will be one you won’t forget.

Getting Around Rome

The seasoned tourist knows that the best way to get around Rome is on foot. However, for those looking for a bit more information than Walk, this guide to Getting Around Rome is can help.

Arriving in Rome. Visitors will most likely arrive by plane into Rome’s Lenoardo da Vinci Airport, also known as Fiumicino, after a nearby city. Situated about 25 kilometers outside of Rome, the best bet for getting into the city is the train. The airport train station operates a line to Rome’s Central Station (Roma Termini) daily between 6:30 am and 11:00 pm. The ride takes approximately half an hour. Tickets cost 11 euro and are available from one of the machines in the station. Keep in mind that the train really is the most efficient read: no traffic jams and least expensive option for getting into Rome. If your flight arrives, however, between 11:00 pm and 6:30 am, you will probably want to take a cab, rather than wait around. Expect to pay at least 50 euro.

Getting Around in Rome. Once you have settled into your guest accommodations in Rome, you will find that the quickest and easiest way to get around the city besides walking, that is public transportation. Please keep in mind that while the Metro and bus systems are quiet safe, it is still important that you stay alert for pickpockets. Carry your valuables in a secure money belt.

The central station for Rome’s Metro is the Termini, which is the hub of the system’s two lines, A and B. Line A crosses the city from east to west and includes stops at many tourist destinations, such as the Vatican, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Barberini and Piazza del Popolo. Line B traverses Rome from northeast to southwest, with stops at the Coloseum, Circo Massimo, and St. Paul’s Basilica. The B train also stops at Rome’s three main railroad stations, Stazione Tiburtina, Stazione Termini and Stazione Ostiense. Remember the following stops and you should have most of your time in Rome covered: On Line A, Spagna for the Spanish Steps, Musei Vaticani for Vatican City and Ottaviano for St. Peter’s Basilica; on Line B, the Colosseo is closest to the Colosseum.

Rome’s Metro trains run approximately every ten minutes, from 5:30am until 11:30pm (and until 12:30am on Saturdays). Tickets for the Metro can be purchased from vending machines at the metro stops. A one-way ticket costs 1.00 euro. You can also purchase a daily ticket, which is good for unlimited travel by metro or bus, for 4.00 euro, or a weekly for 16.00.

If you get fed up with trying to figure out Rome’s somewhat notoriously complicated public transportation system, then your best bet really is to walk! The historic center of Rome is quite small and very walkable. And along the way you are certain to bump into one of Rome’s famous gelato stands or pizza stores, making the effort all the more worthwhile.