What are the five best things to see and do in Rome?
From major monuments to quiet back streets, Rome is filled with can’t-miss sites and activities. The number of things to see and do can be overwhelming. We love to challenge our Forbes Travel Guide editors to pick five things. Here’s their list of the five best things to see and do in the Eternal City:
1. Wander through the Roman forum. For more than a millennium, Rome was the capital of one of the grandest and most influential empires — and the Roman forum was the center of it all. This is where the senators debated bills, and the Vestal Virgins guarded their sacred flame; where Julius Caesar’s body was burned in a funeral pyre, and where Romans met to shop, worship and gossip. Our advice: buy a ticket to view the Colosseum’s tunnels and enter the forum through there, then take a tour or pick up an audio guide to see everything. There’s lots of information you don’t want to miss.
2. Visit the Sistine Chapel. No visit to Rome is complete without a visit to the Sistine Chapel, the famous landmark inside Vatican City. Look up to see Michelangelo’s frescoes — considered the pinnacle of Renaissance art — but be sure to look around you, too. The gorgeous frescoes on the sidewalls were done by Renaissance greats like Sandro Botticelli and Domenico Ghirlandaio, who was Michelangelo’s mentor.
3. You must see Rome’s most famous monuments, and we suggest doing so at night. Many of Rome’s most famous sites, including the Trevi Fountain and the Victor Emmanuel II monument, are lit up at night — making them even more dramatic and inspiring than they are in the daytime when the sun is beating down.
4. See some of the best art in Europe at the Borghese Gallery. Located in a beautiful villa on the edge of the city, the Borghese Gallery houses the fine art collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V. It’s about 350 years later, but it’s still a pleasure to explore. Among its masterpieces are lifelike statues by Bernini, some of the most famous paintings by Caravaggio, and works by Raphael, Perugino and Canova.
5. Explore Rome’s back streets. Rome’s major tourist sites can get crowded, particularly in the high season (from April to October). Avoid the masses by walking on one of Rome’s many cobblestoned streets, where you’ll see grandmothers poring over produce at market stalls and artisans working in their shops. We especially like the back streets around Campo dei Fiori and Piazza Farnese, and across the river in Trastevere.
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1 day agoAngela Corrias answered the question:
What are the best vegetarian restaurants in Rome?
With always more people in Italy becoming vegetarian, meat-free eateries are springing up all over the city.
Among the most famous are luxurious Margutta RistorArte, one of the oldest, in 118 Via Margutta, right beside Piazza del Popolo, and La Taverna Vegetariana, not very expensive and boasting a delicious menu with some dishes suitable for vegetarians and some also for vegans, in 94 Via Trionfale, about ten minutes walk from Ottaviano metro station near the Vatican.
Margutta offers a sumptuous choice of dishes using only fresh and natural products, hence changing its menu according to the season. Owners seek to blend their love for nature with their passion for the arts, and this shows in the colorful variety of their dish selection, some meat-free adaptation of delicacies from Mediterranean cuisine, some in-house creations.
La Taverna Vegetariana is a pretty inexpensive option and offers quite a rich menu, too. Also here you can find vegetarian adaptations of Italian dishes and more personal combinations. They propose a daily lunch deal, and for 12€ you will have a first course (primo), the main course (secondo), the dessert and half a liter of water. Whenever I'm in the area, I never miss the occasion of a lunch here, and while I often take the lunch deal, I never manage to order the dessert as portions are quite copious.
Another great vegetarian restaurant is Ops, near Piazza Fiume, in 56 Via Bergamo. It offers a wide range of dishes, and since it's a buffet-style eatery, it's possible to sample many different food options, of both cold and warm dishes. As dressing, a plethora of veg sauces, flavored oils and different seeds such as flax seeds, sesame and sunflower is available.
In the very city center, 4 Via Celsa, is Bibliothè, unconventional vegetarian place inspired by Indian philosophy, Ayurveda diet and love for the arts. Apart from many Indian dishes, they serve a great choice of herbal teas, always according to Ayurveda principles.
Not in the immediate city center, in Marconi area, 105 Via Gerolamo Cardano, is GecoBiondo, vegetarian trattoria that uses only organic and fresh ingredients, entirely season produce and preferably from local farmers.
Also many restaurants are now including in their menu more meat-free options. One I particularly like is in Monti area, near Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, in 134 Via Urbana. Aromaticus is actually a shop selling herbs, seeds, gardening tools, sprouts, salts and peppers from all over the world, so seats are very limited. Their choice is not huge but truly homemade, and most dishes are available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions. -
1 day agoAngela Corrias answered the question:
What are the best vegetarian restaurants in Rome?
With always more people in Italy becoming vegetarian, meat-free eateries are springing up all over the city.
Among the most famous are luxurious Margutta RistorArte, one of the oldest, in 118 Via Margutta, right beside Piazza del Popolo, and La Taverna Vegetariana, not very expensive and boasting a delicious menu with some dishes suitable for vegetarians and some also for vegans, in 94 Via Trionfale, about ten minutes walk from Ottaviano metro station near the Vatican.
Margutta offers a sumptuous choice of dishes using only fresh and natural products, hence changing its menu according to the season. Owners seek to blend their love for nature with their passion for the arts, and this shows in the colorful variety of their dish selection, some meat-free adaptation of delicacies from Mediterranean cuisine, some in-house creations.
La Taverna Vegetariana is a pretty inexpensive option and offers quite a rich menu, too. Also here you can find vegetarian adaptations of Italian dishes and more personal combinations. They propose a daily lunch deal, and for 12€ you will have a first course (primo), the main course (secondo), the dessert and half a liter of water. Whenever I'm in the area, I never miss the occasion of a lunch here, and while I often take the lunch deal, I never manage to order the dessert as portions are quite copious.
Another great vegetarian restaurant is Ops, near Piazza Fiume, in 56 Via Bergamo. It offers a wide range of dishes, and since it's a buffet-style eatery, it's possible to sample many different food options, of both cold and warm dishes. As dressing, a plethora of veg sauces, flavored oils and different seeds such as flax seeds, sesame and sunflower is available.
In the very city center, 4 Via Celsa, is Bibliothè, unconventional vegetarian place inspired by Indian philosophy, Ayurveda diet and love for the arts. Apart from many Indian dishes, they serve a great choice of herbal teas, always according to Ayurveda principles.
Not in the immediate city center, in Marconi area, 105 Via Gerolamo Cardano, is GecoBiondo, vegetarian trattoria that uses only organic and fresh ingredients, entirely season produce and preferably from local farmers.
Also many restaurants are now including in their menu more meat-free options. One I particularly like is in Monti area, near Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, in 134 Via Urbana. Aromaticus is actually a shop selling herbs, seeds, gardening tools, sprouts, salts and peppers from all over the world, so seats are very limited. Their choice is not huge but truly homemade, and most dishes are available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions. -
5 days agoAngela Corrias answered the question:
What is there to do at Villa Borghese in Rome?
True green oasis in the hectic heart of Rome, Villa Borghese is one of the city's most famous parks, although not the biggest one. Popular among locals and tourists alike, there are plenty of activities Villa Borghese offers to its visitors.
Being a huge public garden, apart from long walks immersed in nature, many people go there for running, walking their dogs and picnics, both during week days and weekends.
Located in Rome's city center, Villa Borghese is also in line with the beauty of the area, so if you are a photographer, an art lover or simply an esthete, you will enjoy the marble fountains, monuments and sculptures scattered all around the park along with its many gardens and palaces.
Apart from its outdoor activities, Villa Borghese also houses Rome's zoo, the Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, the beautiful National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GNAM) in 131 Via delle Belle Arti and Galleria Borghese, in 5 Piazzale del Museo Borghese, showcasing masterpieces by artists of the likes of Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Canova and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
From the Pincio Terrace, easy to reach from Piazza di Spagna and Piazza del Popolo, you can stare at a gorgeous view of Piazza del Popolo and a wider one into Rome.
Due to its size, Villa Borghese has many entrances, the easiest to find being from Piazza del Popolo, Piazzale Flaminio, Piazzale San Paolo del Brasile and Piazza di Spagna. -
5 days agoAngela Corrias answered the question:
What are the best neighborhoods in Rome?
Each neighborhood in Rome has its own personality, attractions and things to do, thus depending on what you are looking for, make sure you know where you are going.
Everybody knows downtown Rome and its most famous historic and artistic gems, and although also here there's still much to be discovered beyond Fontana di Trevi and Piazza Navona, this is hardly an area that needs any introduction.
Near the city center, from Piazza di Spagna up to Piazza Navona-Campo de' Fiori, a neighborhood that enshrines more ancient ruins, such as the Fori Imperiali, Nero's Domus Aurea and Trajan's Baths, together with moments of daily life is Monti, where different experiences are possible, from trendy shopping in Via Nazionale to soaking in the fascinating atmosphere of Piazza Vittorio, possibly Rome's most cosmopolitan hub, to visiting the beautiful Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
For a glimpse on traditional Rome, some of the best neighborhoods are Trastevere and Testaccio, but while Trastevere has now acquired a strong touristy identity, Testaccio still maintains its original working-class vibe. If you are in Trastevere, the best way to get under the skin of the area is simply to get lost around its narrow cobbled alleys and take in its atmosphere by stopping at its local shops, traditional eateries and the places that have marked the history of this gentrified area formerly inhabited by immigrants and the working class. On the other hand, in Testaccio, located on the left bank of the river and south of the Aventino Hill, you can appreciate the proper Roman identity by touring its streets and visiting its famous food market and former soccer field of the local team AS Roma.
If you like shopping, apart from central Via del Corso, Via Frattina and Via dei Condotti, head to Rione Prati, the neighborhood just beside the Vatican, where you can find cheaper yet stylish clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry boutiques, along with good restaurants and gelaterie serving some of the best gelato in the city.
Prati neighborhood is near another area sure worth your time, Vaticano-San Pietro, that goes from around Porta Cavalleggeri to Piazza Risorgimento/Via Ottaviano crossing the Vatican City and that, quite predictably, is a religious-driven district, so the best place for religious tourism and for finding religious artwork.
A bit further north you'll find Trionfale area, where you can visit the colorful food market and carry on with your tour up to Monte Mario for a stroll in Monte Mario Natural Reserve, park of great cultural and environmental value with inside Villa Mellini and Villa Mazzanti, where is the astronomical observatory that offers a great view on the city. -
5 days agoAngela Corrias answered the question:
What are the best neighborhoods in Rome?
Each neighborhood in Rome has its own personality, attractions and things to do, thus depending on what you are looking for, make sure you know where you are going.
Everybody knows downtown Rome and its most famous historic and artistic gems, and although also here there's still much to be discovered beyond Fontana di Trevi and Piazza Navona, this is hardly an area that needs any introduction.
Near the city center, from Piazza di Spagna up to Piazza Navona-Campo de' Fiori, a neighborhood that enshrines more ancient ruins, such as the Fori Imperiali, Nero's Domus Aurea and Trajan's Baths, together with moments of daily life is Monti, where different experiences are possible, from trendy shopping in Via Nazionale to soaking in the fascinating atmosphere of Piazza Vittorio, possibly Rome's most cosmopolitan hub, to visiting the beautiful Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
For a glimpse on traditional Rome, some of the best neighborhoods are Trastevere and Testaccio, but while Trastevere has now acquired a strong touristy identity, Testaccio still maintains its original working-class vibe. If you are in Trastevere, the best way to get under the skin of the area is simply to get lost around its narrow cobbled alleys and take in its atmosphere by stopping at its local shops, traditional eateries and the places that have marked the history of this gentrified area formerly inhabited by immigrants and the working class. On the other hand, in Testaccio, located on the left bank of the river and south of the Aventino Hill, you can appreciate the proper Roman identity by touring its streets and visiting its famous food market and former soccer field of the local team AS Roma.
If you like shopping, apart from central Via del Corso, Via Frattina and Via dei Condotti, head to Rione Prati, the neighborhood just beside the Vatican, where you can find cheaper yet stylish clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry boutiques, along with good restaurants and gelaterie serving some of the best gelato in the city.
Prati neighborhood is near another area sure worth your time, Vaticano-San Pietro, that goes from around Porta Cavalleggeri to Piazza Risorgimento/Via Ottaviano crossing the Vatican City and that, quite predictably, is a religious-driven district, so the best place for religious tourism and for finding religious artwork.
A bit further north you'll find Trionfale area, where you can visit the colorful food market and carry on with your tour up to Monte Mario for a stroll in Monte Mario Natural Reserve, park of great cultural and environmental value with inside Villa Mellini and Villa Mazzanti, where is the astronomical observatory that offers a great view on the city. -
On May 7Erica Firpo answered the question:
What are the best farmers markets in Rome?
Every neighborhood in Rome has a local market, whether open-air like Campo de' Fiori or covered like the large Mercato Trionfale nearby Vatican city. Markets traditionally are hubs not just for food but for social life. At the market, you will learn the wheres, whys and whens of season produce like Settembrini figs, Ovuli mushrooms and artichokes, discover new recipes, and meet new and old neighbors. Essentially, the market is the heart of Italian culture as the day begins and ends around food. Rome's markets have decades and centuries of history and personality, as well as some contemporary history.
The archetype Roman market is open-air Campo de' Fiori, in the heart of the city. Though not the most economical, the morning market has fresh produce, spices, flowers and knicknacks. The square itself has several great butchers to accompany your morning shopping. Rome foodies favorite the weekend only Circus Maximus Farmer's Market. A recent addition to Rome's food scene, the market resides on the renovated grounds of an ancient fish market and showcases organic and non-organic products from Lazio and surrounding areas including vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread, wines, olive oiis, meats, honey, preserves and pastas. ( Farmer's market fans will note that this past April, the Farmer's Market second location moved to the Garbatella neighborhood.) Across the river, Trastevere's Piazza San Cosimato market has great produce and an rock-and-roll cheese vendor whose selection includes non-Italian cheese along with local favorites.
Along with Farmer's Market Garbatella, there are many markets that rank top on the list for Rome foodies and are not in the historic center. The Monday-Saturday Mercato Trionfale (via Andrea Doria 3, adjacent to Vatican City), is one of the largest markets with an abundant amount of produce, meat, bread and cheese vendors, among others. If you do like fish and other edible sea creatures,Trionfale has the largest amount of fish vendors who in turn have the most diverse selection of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, et al. Take note, whether produce, meat, fish, bread or cheese, a great market lists origin of each product, along with price.
Testaccio's famous piazza market was recently moved just down the street to a new partially-covered structure. Most of the original vendors relocated to the new structure, which mixes covered and open-air design. Like other markets, Testaccio Market has fresh produce, meat, fish and bread, as well as lovely cheese, pastry and sandwich vendors. Additional great markets include Flaminio's Mercato Comunale, Via Guido Reni, which has excellent chicken butchers, fresh pasta and organic fruits and vegetables, and likewise the nearby and quite large market at Ponte Milvio. Monteverde's San Giovanni di Dio market has some of Rome's best butchers, bakers and fruit vendors. Near Termini Station, the weekday Piazza Vittorio market is sought out for its local and imported produce and other foods, as it is often considered the best place to find non-Italian produce and products like cilantro, durian, ginger and black rice.
Again, every neighborhood has its own market. It's just a matter of talking with your neighbors. Just remember the golden rule: do not touch the produce unless you are invited to do so.
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On May 7Erica Firpo answered the question:
What are the best farmers markets in Rome?
Every neighborhood in Rome has a local market, whether open-air like Campo de' Fiori or covered like the large Mercato Trionfale nearby Vatican city. Markets traditionally are hubs not just for food but for social life. At the market, you will learn the wheres, whys and whens of season produce like Settembrini figs, Ovuli mushrooms and artichokes, discover new recipes, and meet new and old neighbors. Essentially, the market is the heart of Italian culture as the day begins and ends around food. Rome's markets have decades and centuries of history and personality, as well as some contemporary history.
The archetype Roman market is open-air Campo de' Fiori, in the heart of the city. Though not the most economical, the morning market has fresh produce, spices, flowers and knicknacks. The square itself has several great butchers to accompany your morning shopping. Rome foodies favorite the weekend only Circus Maximus Farmer's Market. A recent addition to Rome's food scene, the market resides on the renovated grounds of an ancient fish market and showcases organic and non-organic products from Lazio and surrounding areas including vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread, wines, olive oiis, meats, honey, preserves and pastas. ( Farmer's market fans will note that this past April, the Farmer's Market second location moved to the Garbatella neighborhood.) Across the river, Trastevere's Piazza San Cosimato market has great produce and an rock-and-roll cheese vendor whose selection includes non-Italian cheese along with local favorites.
Along with Farmer's Market Garbatella, there are many markets that rank top on the list for Rome foodies and are not in the historic center. The Monday-Saturday Mercato Trionfale (via Andrea Doria 3, adjacent to Vatican City), is one of the largest markets with an abundant amount of produce, meat, bread and cheese vendors, among others. If you do like fish and other edible sea creatures,Trionfale has the largest amount of fish vendors who in turn have the most diverse selection of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, et al. Take note, whether produce, meat, fish, bread or cheese, a great market lists origin of each product, along with price.
Testaccio's famous piazza market was recently moved just down the street to a new partially-covered structure. Most of the original vendors relocated to the new structure, which mixes covered and open-air design. Like other markets, Testaccio Market has fresh produce, meat, fish and bread, as well as lovely cheese, pastry and sandwich vendors. Additional great markets include Flaminio's Mercato Comunale, Via Guido Reni, which has excellent chicken butchers, fresh pasta and organic fruits and vegetables, and likewise the nearby and quite large market at Ponte Milvio. Monteverde's San Giovanni di Dio market has some of Rome's best butchers, bakers and fruit vendors. Near Termini Station, the weekday Piazza Vittorio market is sought out for its local and imported produce and other foods, as it is often considered the best place to find non-Italian produce and products like cilantro, durian, ginger and black rice.
Again, every neighborhood has its own market. It's just a matter of talking with your neighbors. Just remember the golden rule: do not touch the produce unless you are invited to do so.
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On May 7Erica Firpo answered the question:
What are the best farmers markets in Rome?
Every neighborhood in Rome has a local market, whether open-air like Campo de' Fiori or covered like the large Mercato Trionfale nearby Vatican city. Markets traditionally are hubs not just for food but for social life. At the market, you will learn the wheres, whys and whens of season produce like Settembrini figs, Ovuli mushrooms and artichokes, discover new recipes, and meet new and old neighbors. Essentially, the market is the heart of Italian culture as the day begins and ends around food. Rome's markets have decades and centuries of history and personality, as well as some contemporary history.
The archetype Roman market is open-air Campo de' Fiori, in the heart of the city. Though not the most economical, the morning market has fresh produce, spices, flowers and knicknacks. The square itself has several great butchers to accompany your morning shopping. Rome foodies favorite the weekend only Circus Maximus Farmer's Market. A recent addition to Rome's food scene, the market resides on the renovated grounds of an ancient fish market and showcases organic and non-organic products from Lazio and surrounding areas including vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread, wines, olive oiis, meats, honey, preserves and pastas. ( Farmer's market fans will note that this past April, the Farmer's Market second location moved to the Garbatella neighborhood.) Across the river, Trastevere's Piazza San Cosimato market has great produce and an rock-and-roll cheese vendor whose selection includes non-Italian cheese along with local favorites.
Along with Farmer's Market Garbatella, there are many markets that rank top on the list for Rome foodies and are not in the historic center. The Monday-Saturday Mercato Trionfale (via Andrea Doria 3, adjacent to Vatican City), is one of the largest markets with an abundant amount of produce, meat, breaad and cheese vendors, among others. If you do like fish and other edible sea creatures, take note of Trionfale which has the largest amount of fish vendors who in turn have the most diverse selection of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, et al, in Rome. Testaccio's famous piazza market was recently moved just down the street to a new partially-covered structure. Most of the original vendors relocated to the new structure, which mixes covered and open-air design. Like other markets, Testaccio Market has fresh produce, meat, fish and bread, as well as lovely cheese, pastry and sandwich vendors.
Other great markets include Flaminio's Mercato Comunale, Via Guido Reni, which has excellent chicken butchers, fresh pasta and organic fruits and vegetables, and likewise the nearby and quite large market at Ponte Milvio. Monteverde's San Giovanni di Dio market has some of Rome's best butchers, bakers and fruit vendors. Near Termini Station, the weekday Piazza Vittorio market is sought out for its local and imported produce and other foods, as it is often considered the best place to find non-Italian produce and products like cilantro, durian, ginger and black rice.
Again, every neighborhood has its own market. It's just a matter of talking with your neighbors. Great markets will list origin of each product, along with price. Remember don't touch the produce unless you are invited to do so.
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On May 7Erica Firpo answered the question:
What are the best farmers markets in Rome?
Every neighborhood in Rome has a local market, whether open-air like Campo de' Fiori or covered like the large Mercato Trionfale nearby Vatican city. Markets traditionally are hubs not just for food but for social life. At the market, you will learn the wheres, whys and whens of season produce like Settembrini figs, Ovuli mushrooms and artichokes, discover new recipes, and meet new and old neighbors. Essentially, the market is the heart of Italian culture as the day begins and ends around food. Rome's markets have decades and centuries of history and personality, as well as some contemporary history.
The archetype Roman market is open-air Campo de' Fiori, in the heart of the city. Though not the most economical, the morning market has fresh produce, spices, flowers and knicknacks. The square itself has several great butchers to accompany your morning shopping. Favorite markets that rank top on the list for Rome foodies include the Monday-Saturday Mercato Trionfale on via Andrea Doria (adjacent to Vatican City), perhaps one of the largest markets with an abundant amount of produce, meat, breaad and cheese vendors, among others. If you do like fish and other edible sea creatures, take note of Trionfale which has the largest amount of fish vendors who in turn have the most diverse selection of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, et al, in Rome.
On the side streets between the Roman Forum and the Circus Maximus is the weekend-only Farmer's Market. This recent addition to Rome's food scene resides on the renovated grounds of an ancient fish market and showcases organic and non-organic products from Lazio and surrounding areas including vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread, wines, olive oiis, meats, honey, preserves and pastas. Just this past April, the Farmer's Market second location moved to the Garbatella neighborhood. Trastevere's Piazza San Cosimato market has great produce and an rock-and-roll cheese vendor whose selection includes non-Italian cheese along with local favorites.
Testaccio's famous piazza market was recently moved just down the street to a new partially-covered structure. Most of the original vendors relocated to the new structure, which mixes covered and open-air design. Like other markets, Testaccio Market has fresh produce, meat, fish and bread, as well as lovely cheese, pastry and sandwich vendors. Other great markets surrounding the city include Flaminio's Mercato Comunale, Via Guido Reni, which has excellent chicken butchers, fresh pasta and organic fruits and vegetables, and likewise the nearby and quite large market at Ponte Milvio.
Monteverde's San Giovanni di Dio market has some of Rome's best butchers, bakers and fruit vendors.
Near Termini Station, the weekday Piazza Vittorio market is sought out for its local and imported produce and other foods, as it is often considered the best place to find non-Italian produce and products like cilantro, durian, ginger and black rice.
Again, every neighborhood has its own market. It's just a matter of talking with your neighbors. Great markets will list origin of each product, along with price. Remember don't touch the produce unless you are invited to do so.
-
On May 7Erica Firpo answered the question:
What are the best farmers markets in Rome?
Every neighborhood in Rome has a local market, whether open-air like Campo de' Fiori or covered like the large Mercato Trionfale nearby Vatican city. Markets traditionally are hubs not just for food but for social life. At the market, you will learn the wheres, whys and whens of season produce like Settembrini figs, Ovuli mushrooms and artichokes, discover new recipes, and meet new and old neighbors. Essentially, the market is the heart of Italian culture as the day begins and ends around food. Rome's markets have decades and centuries of history and personality, as well as some contemporary history.
The archetype Roman market is open-air Campo de' Fiori, in the heart of the city. Though not the most economical, the morning market has fresh produce, spices, flowers and knicknacks. The square itself has several great butchers to accompany your morning shopping. Favorite markets that rank top on the list for Rome foodies include the Monday-Saturday Mercato Trionfale on via Andrea Doria (adjacent to Vatican City), perhaps one of the largest markets with an abundant amount of produce, meat, breaad and cheese vendors, among others. If you do like fish and other edible sea creatures, take note of Trionfale which has the largest amount of fish vendors who in turn have the most diverse selection of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, et al, in Rome.
On the side streets between the Roman Forum and the Circus Maximus is the weekend-only Farmer's Market. This recent addition to Rome's food scene resides on the renovated grounds of an ancient fish market and showcases organic and non-organic products from Lazio and surrounding areas including vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread, wines, olive oiis, meats, honey, preserves and pastas. Just this past April, the Farmer's Market second location moved to the Garbatella neighborhood.
Testaccio's famous piazza market was recently moved just down the street to a new partially-covered structure. Most of the original vendors relocated to the new structure, which mixes covered and open-air design. Like other markets, Testaccio Market has fresh produce, meat, fish and bread, as well as lovely cheese, pastry and sandwich vendors. Other great markets surrounding the city include Flaminio's Mercato Comunale, Via Guido Reni, which has excellent chicken butchers, fresh pasta and organic fruits and vegetables, and likewise the nearby and quite large market at Ponte Milvio.
Monteverde's San Giovanni di Dio market has some of Rome's best butchers, bakers and fruit vendors.
Near Termini Station, the weekday Piazza Vittorio market is sought out for its local and imported produce and other foods, as it is often considered the best place to find non-Italian produce and products like cilantro, durian, ginger and black rice.
Again, every neighborhood has its own market. It's just a matter of talking with your neighbors. Great markets will list origin of each product, along with price. Remember don't touch the produce unless you are invited to do so.
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On April 30Angela Corrias answered the question:
What are the best parks in Rome?
Rome boasts many green oases, some of which cover pretty big areas within the city center. Probably the most popular also among tourists, albeit not the largest one, Villa Borghese can be accessed from Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna, Piazzale Flaminio and Piazzale San Paolo del Brasile.
Hosting many museums, the zoo, smaller gardens, the Globe Theatre and the Casa del Cinema (Cinema House) within its premises, Villa Borghese has something to offer to anybody, and either you want to spend a day admiring art masterpieces or immersing in nature, the park will not let you down.
Another huge park a little further from the city center, in Gianicolo-Monteverde area, is Villa Doria Pamphili, where it's possible to do outdoor activities like running, biking or even just a picnic. Inside Villa Pamphili there is an organic bistro that prepares also picnic boxes for the customers who prefer having their lunch sitting on the grass rather than inside. Summertime, this park is a favorite venue for concerts, festivals and exhibitions.
Former Mussolini residence, the park of Villa Torlonia in Via Nomentana today can be visited and enjoyed for its liberty-style architecture and the activities for kids organized from time to time. Although it's not very big, it's well-kept and makes it for a lovely afternoon out.
One of the most popular gardens among locals, Villa Ada in Via Salaria hosts a great variety of plants and trees, along with a skating rink and fitness facilities, while Villa Celimontana, within Parco Celio, between the Colosseum and the Caracalla Baths, is a fave among jazz lovers for the international music shows that every year take place there.
At the feet of the Aventino Hill lies the Roseto Comunale, a lovely rose garden open only during spring. If you are in Rome in this time of the year, spend there a couple of hours, and apart from a beautiful view on the Circus Maximus, you can admire and smell more than a thousand species of roses. Still on the Aventino, but this time on the top, you can visit another type of garden, of the oranges, or Giardino degli Aranci, where the sweet smell of the fruits will make the view on the river Tevere even more enchanting. -
On April 30Angela Corrias answered the question:
What are the best parks in Rome?
Rome boasts many green oases, some of which cover pretty big areas within the city center. Probably the most popular also among tourists, albeit not the largest one, Villa Borghese can be accessed from Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna, Piazzale Flaminio and Piazzale San Paolo del Brasile.
Hosting many museums, the zoo, smaller gardens, the Globe Theatre and the Casa del Cinema (Cinema House) within its premises, Villa Borghese has something to offer to anybody, and either you want to spend a day admiring art masterpieces or immersing in nature, the park will not let you down.
Another huge park a little further from the city center, in Gianicolo-Monteverde area, is Villa Doria Pamphili, where it's possible to do outdoor activities like running, biking or even just a picnic. Inside Villa Pamphili there is an organic bistro that prepares also picnic boxes for the customers who prefer having their lunch sitting on the grass rather than inside. Summertime, this park is a favorite venue for concerts, festivals and exhibitions.
Former Mussolini residence, the park of Villa Torlonia in Via Nomentana today can be visited and enjoyed for its liberty-style architecture and the activities for kids organized from time to time. Although it's not very big, it's well-kept and makes it for a lovely afternoon out.
One of the most popular gardens among locals, Villa Ada in Via Salaria hosts a great variety of plants and trees, along with a skating rink and fitness facilities, while Villa Celimontana, within Parco Celio, between the Colosseum and the Caracalla Baths, is a fave among jazz lovers for the international music shows that every year take place there.
At the feet of the Aventino Hill lies the Roseto Comunale, a lovely rose garden open only during spring. If you are in Rome in this time of the year, spend there a couple of hours, and apart from a beautiful view on the Circus Maximus, you can admire and smell more than a thousand species of roses. Still on the Aventino, but this time on the top, you can visit another type of garden, of the oranges, or Giardino degli Aranci, where the sweet smell of the fruits will make the view on the river Tevere even more enchanting. -
On April 30Angela Corrias answered the question:
What are the best farmers markets in Rome?
Whenever I'm able to devote the right time to my precious grocery shopping, I love wandering about the colorful stalls of Rome's farmers markets.
Only in the city center and in its surroundings you can find several open markets where local producers sell fresh season produce. For a bit of a tourist experience, head to Campo de' Fiori, where every day early morning you will find possibly the oldest farmers market in the city showcasing fruits, veggies, cheese, sausages, fish and also ready-to-eat local specialties on the go such as pasta cacio e pepe, carbonara (with pancetta bacon, egg and cheese) and amatriciana (spicy tomato sauce with cured pig cheek).
Another great market, also well-known among tourists, is Mercato Testaccio, in Via Galvani, in Testaccio neighborhood. Here, apart from groceries, cheese, meat and fish, you will also find stalls making sandwiches and even a pasticceria (pastry shop), Dess'Art, where Sicilian-born Costanza prepares delicious cannoli, a traditional dessert from her region.
In the very heart of Trastevere, Piazza San Cosimato, every morning Monday to Saturday from 6am to 1pm takes place another lovely farmers market, Mercato di Trastevere, selling anything from local produce to French cheese and sausages to second-hand books and even pets' food.
While all neighborhoods have their own markets, two are my very favorite: Nuovo Mercato Esquilino, replacing former Mercato Vittorio, near Piazza Vittorio, certainly one of Rome's most multicultural areas where all foreign communities go shopping and where, apart from fruits and veggies from all over the world, you can find a great variety of beans, cereals and international herbs and spices; and Mercato Trionfale, in Via Andrea Doria, Rome's biggest market and one of the largest in Italy. Here you can find anything from fresh and dried fruits, season veggies, meat, fish, freshly baked bread and pastries, organic products, cheese and even some stalls selling clothes. -
On April 30Angela Corrias answered the question:
What are the best farmers markets in Rome?
Whenever I'm able to devote the right time to my precious grocery shopping, I love wandering about the colorful stalls of Rome's farmers markets.
Only in the city center and in its surroundings you can find several open markets where local producers sell fresh season produce. For a bit of a tourist experience, head to Campo de' Fiori, where every day early morning you will find possibly the oldest farmers market in the city showcasing fruits, veggies, cheese, sausages, fish and also ready-to-eat local specialties on the go such as pasta cacio e pepe, carbonara (with pancetta bacon, egg and cheese) and amatriciana (spicy tomato sauce with cured pig cheek).
Another great market, also well-known among tourists, is Mercato Testaccio, in Via Galvani, in Testaccio neighborhood. Here, apart from groceries, cheese, meat and fish, you will also find stalls making sandwiches and even a pasticceria (pastry shop), Dess'Art, where Sicilian-born Costanza prepares delicious cannoli, a traditional dessert from her region.
In the very heart of Trastevere, Piazza San Cosimato, every morning Monday to Saturday from 6am to 1pm takes place another lovely farmers market, Mercato di Trastevere, selling anything from local produce to French cheese and sausages to second-hand books and even pets' food.
While all neighborhoods have their own markets, two are my very favorite: Nuovo Mercato Esquilino, replacing former Mercato Vittorio, near Piazza Vittorio, certainly one of Rome's most multicultural areas where all foreign communities go shopping and where, apart from fruits and veggies from all over the world, you can find a great variety of beans, cereals and international herbs and spices; and Mercato Trionfale, in Via Andrea Doria, Rome's biggest market and one of the largest in Italy. Here you can find anything from fresh and dried fruits, season veggies, meat, fish, freshly baked bread and pastries, organic products, cheese and even some stalls selling clothes. -
On April 30Erica Firpo answered the question:
What are the best day trips from Rome?
Rome is by far the center of the world, and definitely Italy for the matter of a great day trip. Just 20 minutes away by local train and on the coast is the archaeological site Ostia Antica, often dubbed Rome’s Pompeii as it is a completely expose, ancient harbor city. A fun full day or half day trip, you are literally walking back in time through ancient houses, temples and forum. If the coast beckons you for beach and fish, 45 minutes northest of Rome is Santa Marinella, a small beach community with ancient ruins, Renaissance palaces, open beaches and delicious fish restaurants.
To the northeast and reachable by train and bus in 45 minutes is Tivoli which has the beautiful 2nd century Villa Adriana, Emperor Hadrian’s countryside home, and Villa d’Este, an incredible Renaissance villa with vast gardens and singing fountains. After a morning of site visits, I particularly love a long pranzo (lunch) at Sibilla, a restaurant overlooking Tivoli’s cascades and situated in a reconstructed Roman temple.
If looking to get out of the Lazio region for the day, head northeast to Orvieto in Umbria. The less-than-one-hour regional train ride leaves at the base of this charming hill town whose early 15th century cathedrale boasts the very best in early Renaissance paintings. If chaos is what you are looking for, la bella Napoli is only a quick 75 minute train ride from Rome (via rail transit providers TreniItalia and Italo). In Naples, you can pick up Christmas decorations, eat the best pizza you'll ever have and walk on the dark side (of Spaccanapoli) all in one day.