Here are five things we like to do in Rome that are a little bit under the radar and can help take the pace down a notch.
Showing posts with label rome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rome. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
5 Things to do in Rome
Have you ever been to Rome? We've been a few times now and it's always super busy. There is so much to see and do that it can be hard to figure out what's most important. The last time we went, in April, we tried to slow down and enjoy the city without rushing around from one tourist destination to the next.
Here are five things we like to do in Rome that are a little bit under the radar and can help take the pace down a notch.
Here are five things we like to do in Rome that are a little bit under the radar and can help take the pace down a notch.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Roman Food Tour
Yesterday I shared a few pictures from our time in Rome last week, but the best thing that we did while we were there was....a food tour! We went with a company called The Roman Foodie (the sister company of The Roman Guy, a popular tour operator in Rome).
The first time that Ryan and I went to Rome together, two years ago, we crammed everything into three days: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, St. Peter's and the Vatican museum, the Borghese Gallery....and then we needed a vacation from our vacation. This time we were excited to try something a little different and to appreciate Rome through its food.
We did the Trastevere Locals Food Tour which was fun for us because we stayed in Trastevere this trip and it was fun to explore our neighborhood in greater depth. There were six stops on the tour: we started at a cheese shop where we tried all different kinds of cheese including Pecorino, Parmesan, a cheese made with saffron that was bright yellow (!), buffalo mozzarella and my personal favorite, Burrata. Burrata is type of mozzarella; when it's being made, they cut the mozzarella ball open and put smaller pieces of mozzarella and cream inside and then tie it up again. When you cut into it, it's the most creamy, delicious thing you can imagine. We learned that it's originally from the region of Puglia - where we were headed after Rome - so we were excited to be on the right track.
Then we headed to a tiny restaurant that primarily makes baccala. Baccala is cod fish - up north, in Cortina, we eat it creamed, with rice or polenta. So we were surprised to find that in Rome, rather than being a main course, it's a street food! It's one of the only foods that Italians take to go and eat while they walk. In Rome, they fry the baccala and it's eaten in paper napkins.
It was fun to wander around Trastevere, stopping at tiny places with delicious food - and the weather was great, so that was a plus!
My favorite stop was a place called TASTEvere (ha). It was a tiny cafe/shop selling and cooking with only local foods. Everything was so fresh - we tried various meats and cheeses, crostini topped with an arugula paste, cauliflower hummus and fresh raspberry and apple juices. If I lived in Rome, I would have gone there every day.
Then it was on to a popular neighborhood spot, Trattoria da Teo, for Roman pastas. But first! A fried artichoke - my favorite - so I got to have two during our stay in Rome. Then we tried the two famous pastas, Cacio e Pepe (which is just cheese and lots of black pepper) and Amatriciana. Both of these pastas are so simple which is typical of Roman dishes and Italian food in general. (And this article in the New York Times was fascinating about the secret to Roman pastas).
Appropriately so, we ended the tour with gelato. Ryan had a fantastic lemon/basil flavor which was so refreshing and would be perfect for a hot summer day (actually it was perfect after an evening of great food too!).
Ryan and I weren't sure if we were "tour" people, since we generally like to do our own thing, but this was a fun way to see Rome in a different - and delicious - light, and we were really glad that we tried it.
You can check out The Roman Foodie's website here (and The Roman Guy's here) - and if you're in Rome in need of a tour, think about this one!
The first time that Ryan and I went to Rome together, two years ago, we crammed everything into three days: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, St. Peter's and the Vatican museum, the Borghese Gallery....and then we needed a vacation from our vacation. This time we were excited to try something a little different and to appreciate Rome through its food.
We did the Trastevere Locals Food Tour which was fun for us because we stayed in Trastevere this trip and it was fun to explore our neighborhood in greater depth. There were six stops on the tour: we started at a cheese shop where we tried all different kinds of cheese including Pecorino, Parmesan, a cheese made with saffron that was bright yellow (!), buffalo mozzarella and my personal favorite, Burrata. Burrata is type of mozzarella; when it's being made, they cut the mozzarella ball open and put smaller pieces of mozzarella and cream inside and then tie it up again. When you cut into it, it's the most creamy, delicious thing you can imagine. We learned that it's originally from the region of Puglia - where we were headed after Rome - so we were excited to be on the right track.
Then we headed to a tiny restaurant that primarily makes baccala. Baccala is cod fish - up north, in Cortina, we eat it creamed, with rice or polenta. So we were surprised to find that in Rome, rather than being a main course, it's a street food! It's one of the only foods that Italians take to go and eat while they walk. In Rome, they fry the baccala and it's eaten in paper napkins.
It was fun to wander around Trastevere, stopping at tiny places with delicious food - and the weather was great, so that was a plus!
My favorite stop was a place called TASTEvere (ha). It was a tiny cafe/shop selling and cooking with only local foods. Everything was so fresh - we tried various meats and cheeses, crostini topped with an arugula paste, cauliflower hummus and fresh raspberry and apple juices. If I lived in Rome, I would have gone there every day.
Then it was on to a popular neighborhood spot, Trattoria da Teo, for Roman pastas. But first! A fried artichoke - my favorite - so I got to have two during our stay in Rome. Then we tried the two famous pastas, Cacio e Pepe (which is just cheese and lots of black pepper) and Amatriciana. Both of these pastas are so simple which is typical of Roman dishes and Italian food in general. (And this article in the New York Times was fascinating about the secret to Roman pastas).
Appropriately so, we ended the tour with gelato. Ryan had a fantastic lemon/basil flavor which was so refreshing and would be perfect for a hot summer day (actually it was perfect after an evening of great food too!).
Ryan and I weren't sure if we were "tour" people, since we generally like to do our own thing, but this was a fun way to see Rome in a different - and delicious - light, and we were really glad that we tried it.
You can check out The Roman Foodie's website here (and The Roman Guy's here) - and if you're in Rome in need of a tour, think about this one!
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Rome
Last week we were in Rome for a few days - the second stop on our grand tour of Italy. We were invited to do a food tour with The Roman Foodie (more on that tomorrow) and obviously couldn't pass up that opportunity, so we made our way down to the city from Cinque Terre.
We were in Rome two years ago and it was so.busy. Rome is tricky because there is so much to see and do and try but that can be exhausting. This time we wanted to slow down and appreciate the city a little bit more.
We stayed in Trastevere, a neighborhood across the river, which I would highly recommend. Our street was quiet (for a big city) and there were tons of great cafes, bars and restaurants right around the corner.
Most of our trip - appropriately so - was centered around food. There are tons of amazing Roman dishes, but my favorites are fried artichokes (we were in luck because it's artichoke season) and cacio e pepe (and Ryan's is the Negroni cocktail). So we made sure to have lots of everything.
We're strong believers that the best way to get a feel for a city or town is to wander, so we spent most of Tuesday morning doing just that.
We ended up at the Pantheon where we bought sandwiches at a cafe and continued on to the (very crowded, as usual) Spanish Steps for a lunch time picnic.
My favorite thing in Rome is when you catch a glimpse of the Colosseum at the end of a busy street. It's such a great mix of old and new.
On Wednesday we headed out of the city, to Orvieto for the day.
Orvieto is a hill town in Umbria (a little over an hour outside of Rome, on the train) known for their Cathedral, ceramics and Classico wine so we checked out all three.
The funniest thing happened during aperitivo: this cat came over, hopped up on my lap and settled right in!
Tomorrow I'll be sharing more pictures/details from our very exciting food tour, so stay tuned!
We were in Rome two years ago and it was so.busy. Rome is tricky because there is so much to see and do and try but that can be exhausting. This time we wanted to slow down and appreciate the city a little bit more.
We stayed in Trastevere, a neighborhood across the river, which I would highly recommend. Our street was quiet (for a big city) and there were tons of great cafes, bars and restaurants right around the corner.
We're strong believers that the best way to get a feel for a city or town is to wander, so we spent most of Tuesday morning doing just that.
We ended up at the Pantheon where we bought sandwiches at a cafe and continued on to the (very crowded, as usual) Spanish Steps for a lunch time picnic.
My favorite thing in Rome is when you catch a glimpse of the Colosseum at the end of a busy street. It's such a great mix of old and new.
On Wednesday we headed out of the city, to Orvieto for the day.
Orvieto is a hill town in Umbria (a little over an hour outside of Rome, on the train) known for their Cathedral, ceramics and Classico wine so we checked out all three.
The funniest thing happened during aperitivo: this cat came over, hopped up on my lap and settled right in!
Tomorrow I'll be sharing more pictures/details from our very exciting food tour, so stay tuned!
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Expat Interview: Rick Zullo in Rome
For our third expat interview today, I was very excited to have the chance to chat with Rick Zullo, an award-winning travel writer living in Rome!
Wouldn't it be amazing to actually live in Rome where you could walk by the Colosseum every day? Rick says:
"I first came to Italy in the summer of 2010. I was participating in a literature program in Venice for about six or seven weeks and decided to extend my stay and travel around a bit. Also, I took the occasion to visit my great-grandparents' village in Molise. Then I wound up in Rome where I met an Italian woman who would eventually become my wife. So I went back to the States, sold my things, got a visa and moved back to Rome three months later. How's that for the quintessential 'American abroad' love story?"
What do you love most about living in Italy?
Wow, hard to pick one thing. And in fact I think it's not just one thing, but the overall mix that creates such an interesting atmosphere in daily life. I love that my evening's entertainment is a passeggiata and an aperitivo. I love that some of the best museums in this incredible, historic city are churches in my own neighborhood.
What do you miss most from home?
Not much, really. I guess mainly the ease of getting simple tasks done, which in Italy often requires a monumental degree of stamina and patience. Something as mundane as picking up a package at the post office can consume an entire frustrating day.
Aside from post office troubles - which I've struggled with myself - what do you think is the hardest part of living in a different country?
It's hard to make deep, lasting friendships with local people who have such different cultural reference points. In Italy, it's very easy to make the acquaintance of someone, but there always seems to be an invisible barrier that prevents a closer bond. That's why expats typically hang out with other expats. The language can be a big part of that too, of course.
Have you adopted any Italian habits or mannerisms over the past few years?
That's a great question! There are several. I no longer put ice in my drinks, and I no longer tolerate air conditioning unless it's VERY hot. I wear more scarves than ever before. And for anything food related, I've been completely converted to the Italian ways. Also, I hate to admit it, but I've acquired some Roman driving habits. Enough said.
What have you found to be the biggest difference between Italy and the US?
Well, there are so many small differences that play a role in daily life, and those are the ones that I notice the most. But if I had to pick one big one, it would be related to how commerce and finances are handled. There are so many regulations and barriers in place in Italy, that one can be forgiven for not wanting to participate at all. This goes for anything from hiring employees, to opening a bank account, to signing a rental contract, to making simple purchases. Try to return an item at any retail store and you'll find out. I'm often reluctant to buy some things, because I know what a major issue it will be if I have to return it for any reason.
How did you learn to speak Italian?
Initially, I made huge strides with a software program. That got me to "functional" before I ever even moved to Rome. Then once I got to a basic conversational level, it was just a matter of using it in everyday life.
What's your favorite Italian meal?
Oh, so many! I love all the typical primi piatti in Rome, but I have a favorite Sicilian dish called bracciole di pesce spade - grilled swordfish fish rolls. There's a restaurant in Rome called Capricci Siciliani that does a good job with them.
Do you feel totally comfortable living in Italy now or are there some days that can be overwhelming?
There are moments that are difficult, but overall I'm very comfortable in Italy. No matter where you live, you gain something, you lose something. But on balance, life in Italy suits me better than anyplace else that I've lived.
Where is your favorite place to travel to in Italy?
I always tell people that if you want to live in Italy, you should look for places from Rome to the North. On the other hand, for the pure pleasure of traveling, I like to go south to Sicily. Not sure I would live there, though.
Favorite thing to do?
What I appreciate about Italy is that the best things are the simple things. Go for a walk, poke your head inside a church or local museum, stop for an aperitivo and just enjoy the surroundings. Then once in a while, sit in a cozy trattoria with good friends and a few bottles of wine for about 3 hours of eating, drinking and conversation. Life can't offer much more than that, in my opinion.
Thank you so much, Rick! I loved what Rick said about some of the best museums in Rome being churches in his own neighborhood - I think that's one of the most fascinating (and different!) things about Italy. Rick writes a great blog which you can read here and check out his eBook, Live Like an Italian! You can connect with him on Facebook and Twitter, too.
And PS - our first two expat interviews are here and here.
Wouldn't it be amazing to actually live in Rome where you could walk by the Colosseum every day? Rick says:
"I first came to Italy in the summer of 2010. I was participating in a literature program in Venice for about six or seven weeks and decided to extend my stay and travel around a bit. Also, I took the occasion to visit my great-grandparents' village in Molise. Then I wound up in Rome where I met an Italian woman who would eventually become my wife. So I went back to the States, sold my things, got a visa and moved back to Rome three months later. How's that for the quintessential 'American abroad' love story?"
What do you love most about living in Italy?
Wow, hard to pick one thing. And in fact I think it's not just one thing, but the overall mix that creates such an interesting atmosphere in daily life. I love that my evening's entertainment is a passeggiata and an aperitivo. I love that some of the best museums in this incredible, historic city are churches in my own neighborhood.
What do you miss most from home?
Not much, really. I guess mainly the ease of getting simple tasks done, which in Italy often requires a monumental degree of stamina and patience. Something as mundane as picking up a package at the post office can consume an entire frustrating day.
Aside from post office troubles - which I've struggled with myself - what do you think is the hardest part of living in a different country?
It's hard to make deep, lasting friendships with local people who have such different cultural reference points. In Italy, it's very easy to make the acquaintance of someone, but there always seems to be an invisible barrier that prevents a closer bond. That's why expats typically hang out with other expats. The language can be a big part of that too, of course.
Have you adopted any Italian habits or mannerisms over the past few years?
That's a great question! There are several. I no longer put ice in my drinks, and I no longer tolerate air conditioning unless it's VERY hot. I wear more scarves than ever before. And for anything food related, I've been completely converted to the Italian ways. Also, I hate to admit it, but I've acquired some Roman driving habits. Enough said.
What have you found to be the biggest difference between Italy and the US?
Well, there are so many small differences that play a role in daily life, and those are the ones that I notice the most. But if I had to pick one big one, it would be related to how commerce and finances are handled. There are so many regulations and barriers in place in Italy, that one can be forgiven for not wanting to participate at all. This goes for anything from hiring employees, to opening a bank account, to signing a rental contract, to making simple purchases. Try to return an item at any retail store and you'll find out. I'm often reluctant to buy some things, because I know what a major issue it will be if I have to return it for any reason.
How did you learn to speak Italian?
Initially, I made huge strides with a software program. That got me to "functional" before I ever even moved to Rome. Then once I got to a basic conversational level, it was just a matter of using it in everyday life.
What's your favorite Italian meal?
Oh, so many! I love all the typical primi piatti in Rome, but I have a favorite Sicilian dish called bracciole di pesce spade - grilled swordfish fish rolls. There's a restaurant in Rome called Capricci Siciliani that does a good job with them.
Do you feel totally comfortable living in Italy now or are there some days that can be overwhelming?
There are moments that are difficult, but overall I'm very comfortable in Italy. No matter where you live, you gain something, you lose something. But on balance, life in Italy suits me better than anyplace else that I've lived.
Where is your favorite place to travel to in Italy?
I always tell people that if you want to live in Italy, you should look for places from Rome to the North. On the other hand, for the pure pleasure of traveling, I like to go south to Sicily. Not sure I would live there, though.
Favorite thing to do?
What I appreciate about Italy is that the best things are the simple things. Go for a walk, poke your head inside a church or local museum, stop for an aperitivo and just enjoy the surroundings. Then once in a while, sit in a cozy trattoria with good friends and a few bottles of wine for about 3 hours of eating, drinking and conversation. Life can't offer much more than that, in my opinion.
Thank you so much, Rick! I loved what Rick said about some of the best museums in Rome being churches in his own neighborhood - I think that's one of the most fascinating (and different!) things about Italy. Rick writes a great blog which you can read here and check out his eBook, Live Like an Italian! You can connect with him on Facebook and Twitter, too.
And PS - our first two expat interviews are here and here.
Friday, November 16, 2012
And a Few More....
Back by popular demand....here's a few more picture of our trip to Rome earlier this month.
Hope everyone has a great weekend! Ryan has a tough game on Saturday night against Brunico - they're #1 - but we won on Thursday so we might be making a come back....
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| The Victor Emmanuel monument, which was very close to our little hotel |
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| Rainy streets in Trastevere, our first night |
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| Great view of the Colosseum |
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| Walking around the Forum.... |
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| More Forum |
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| A beautiful ceiling in the Vatican Museum - which we saw a lot of |
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| A map from the "map room" in the Vatican Museum....we were trying to look for Cortina! |
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| Even MORE walls and ceilings! |
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| A view of Piazza del Popolo |
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| A little duck pond in the Borghese Gardens |
Hope everyone has a great weekend! Ryan has a tough game on Saturday night against Brunico - they're #1 - but we won on Thursday so we might be making a come back....
Friday, November 9, 2012
When in Rome: Part 2
So. On Tuesday morning we woke up and figured out the Metro system! (Actually Ryan figured it out while I looked on). We took the Metro to the Vatican to tour St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel. It was a beautiful day and the tourists were out and about! We got mixed up in several different tour groups, but it didn't really matter that it was so crowded - we spent the whole morning walking around looking up at the ceilings in the Basilica, Museum, and Chapel!
After a quick lunch right outside the Vatican walls, we took the Metro (again!) on a little sporadic adventure to Piazza del Popolo. I had wanted to see the church there, which I read was one of "Rome's most overlooked churches"...but of course - it was closed! We ended up at a Leonardo da Vinci museum that Ryan really wanted to see (I had no idea he was a fan) and that was interesting, and then we walked in the Borghese Gardens for an hour or two before heading to the Borghese Gallery to look at Bernini sculptures and beautiful, beautiful walls (no pictures allowed though!).
That night we had a thrilling Roman dinner - cacio e pepe, which is a Roman specialty that I've never seen anywhere else and was dying to try, ossobuco, and fried artichokes. YUM. We ate in a great little restaurant near our hotel with tons of locals, all of whom were there when we sat down at 9 and were still there when we left at 11.
The next day we booked it over to the Santa Maria della Vittoria church to see another Bernini statue, St. Teresa in Ecstasy (I seem to have a taste for Bernini these days). It was great and the church was so ornate and beautiful, but very small and plain on the outside. It was one of my favorite things we saw. THEN we popped in to the Cappuccin Crypt to look at bones. Literally. The Crypt has the bones of over 4,000 friars who died between 1528 and 1870 and they are arranged in patterns all over the walls - skulls, thigh bones, shin bones, pelvis bones.....(Ryan was thinking that I was crazy at this point, but it was actually quite cool).
Then, with sore necks and aching feet, we headed back to the train station, hopped on the train, and fell sound asleep. Overall - great, great trip!
After a quick lunch right outside the Vatican walls, we took the Metro (again!) on a little sporadic adventure to Piazza del Popolo. I had wanted to see the church there, which I read was one of "Rome's most overlooked churches"...but of course - it was closed! We ended up at a Leonardo da Vinci museum that Ryan really wanted to see (I had no idea he was a fan) and that was interesting, and then we walked in the Borghese Gardens for an hour or two before heading to the Borghese Gallery to look at Bernini sculptures and beautiful, beautiful walls (no pictures allowed though!).
That night we had a thrilling Roman dinner - cacio e pepe, which is a Roman specialty that I've never seen anywhere else and was dying to try, ossobuco, and fried artichokes. YUM. We ate in a great little restaurant near our hotel with tons of locals, all of whom were there when we sat down at 9 and were still there when we left at 11.
The next day we booked it over to the Santa Maria della Vittoria church to see another Bernini statue, St. Teresa in Ecstasy (I seem to have a taste for Bernini these days). It was great and the church was so ornate and beautiful, but very small and plain on the outside. It was one of my favorite things we saw. THEN we popped in to the Cappuccin Crypt to look at bones. Literally. The Crypt has the bones of over 4,000 friars who died between 1528 and 1870 and they are arranged in patterns all over the walls - skulls, thigh bones, shin bones, pelvis bones.....(Ryan was thinking that I was crazy at this point, but it was actually quite cool).
Then, with sore necks and aching feet, we headed back to the train station, hopped on the train, and fell sound asleep. Overall - great, great trip!
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