Last week I spent some days in Rome. After months of studying for my last WSET Diploma exam I needed a short break.
Rome is fascinating, it is one of my favorite cities. I know the city quite well. It is a place where I have lived-in and have visited several times.
Ancient Rome is best known for its historical architecture, religion, cuisine, fashion and Renaissance works. Walking through Rome is like walking in one big open-air museum! Some iconic landmarks of Rome are the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Vatican City and many more.
I always love going back. The place is the eternal city and must be seen once in life.
I was surprised by how many tourists visited Rome. They say that November is the least busy time to visit the city, but it was still crowded though. Maybe because the Italian took advantage of a long weekend “fare il ponte”. Fare il ponte is an Italian expression which means literally “to make a bridge”.
The last time when I visited Rome was for the the 10 km race “la corsa dei Santi” in on November 1, 2018 1. I can’t remember the time I have finished the race, but what I remember is that we ran inside the city along many historic monuments. Great experience.
It has been a while since I wrote a blog post. Maybe because I do not have many new ideas or fantasy anymore to write about. Since 2022 I am back in the Netherlands and my focus is mainly wine, work, study and running (of course). New “wine” projects are upcoming, so stay tuned about the latest updates.
But for now just enjoy reading this blog post about Rome. Discover what to do and where to eat the best “spaghetti alla carbonara”. Enjoy the new spots and the best places to run in it’s busy heavily trafficked city.
Jubilee 2025
The city is always packed with tourists, imagine with the Jubilee next year. The holy year will bring even bigger crowds to Rome. The Rome Jubilee 2025 festivities will take place from Christmas Eve December 24, 2024 until Epiphany festival in January 2026. It is called the “Pilgrims of Hope”. Jubilees take place every 25 years.
Today Rome is under construction for the Jubilee. Due to construction, work facades are hidden, roads are blocked and you can hardly see any monument. This causes inconveniences, not only for visitors but especially for the locals.
Monti
I discovered new culinary treasures between Termini station and Via dei Fori Imperiali. One of my favorite new spot is the Monti district. Monti is Rome’s funky, hipster area with new bars, clothing boutiques and restaurants. It is a great place for Roman food, good wines and delicious ice creams.
To get to Monti you need to take the blue metro line B. The nearest station is Cavour.
Colosseum
I did the Colosseum tour with an official tour guide. Colosseum is one of the most famous monument in Rome, perhaps in the world!
I booked a 2.5 hour tour with access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine hill on a guided tour. The local guide was extremely informative and knowledgeable. It is well worth the money. A bit crowded but still a nice experience.
I have booked with GetYourGuide. Get Your Guide is an online marketplace for booking tours and activities in many places.
Vatican Museum
The best way to visit the Vatican Museum is with a guide. There are many tour options available but I booked the tour through the official website.
The Vatican was busy, as usual. It is a museum with 25000 visitors every day. The tour is 2 hours in the museum. Unfortunately, it is not possible to admire all the art work in such a short time. But our guide was good. We managed to see all the important parts of the museum. A must do.
Food and Drinks
I love eating everything that is Italian. I am privileged and lucky that I can and may eat all kinds of foods.
Traditional Roman foods are for example Spaghetti Carbonara, Pasta Amatriciana, Suppli, Carciofi alla Romana and “Maritozzo”.
Il Maritozzaro
Maritozzo is a filled freshly baked brioche filled with whipped cream. Honestly it was one of my favorite breakfasts. A hidden bar nearby the Trastevere station “il Maritozzaro” is worth the detour if you want to eat a good Maritozzo.
Via Ettore Rolli, 50
00153 Rome
Mercato Centrale
A nice discovery in the Termini area is the Mercato Centrale.
It is an ideal place to have a quick meal or snack before departure. It is pretty new. There are lots of choices including steak, burgers, pasta, pizza, sushi, desserts, craft beer, wine and gelato.
Several food stalls showcase the best produce from Rome, Italy and other countries.
Mercato Testaccio
Mercato di Testaccio is located in a more permanent structure. Here you can try some of the best street foodies.
Pizza al trancio is very popular, especially the classic pizza that is topped with ham, mushrooms, olives, artichoke and tomatoes. Yummy! This pizza is always priced by the total weight of the slices.
Another classic Roman Jewish dish is the fried artichoke “carciofi alla giudia”. They are seasoned with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon. This foodie is the perfect appetizer.
The Testaccio market is open Monday to Saturday from 7:00 am until 3:30 pm.
Milea Art & Food
Milea is a cocktail bar, bistrot in an art gallery in the heart of Rome (Trastevere). Such a great find during my stay in Rome! Cozy atmosphere to just relax and have a nice cocktail.
The Aperol Spritz is super delicious. This aperitif is made of Aperol, Prosecco/Spumante and soda water.
Ditirambo ristorante
This restaurant reminds me of a dinner I had with my father in 2009. Ditirambo is on a side street of the Campo de’ Fiori.
The classic Roman food and atmosphere never disappoints me. I can recommend the “fritto misto del Ditirambo”. This fried mix is popular and it includes fried cod, potato croquettes and meatballs.
After the antipasto comes the primo, the first course. Primo is usually pasta, risotto, gnocchi or sometimes soup.
I taglioni fatti in casa alla “gricia” con guanciale, carciofi and pecorino is a beautiful dish of homemade pasta with pork meat, artichoke and pecorino. Gricia means “white Amatriciana” or “carbonara without eggs”.
Buon appetito!
More restaurants
And here is a short list of more spots in Rome for Foodies:
- For the best-ever traditional Roman Carbonara
Location: Termini station
Da Nazzareno
Via Magenta 35/37
Roma - Roman style pizza
Accasadi
Viale Opita 72
Roma
Accasadi refers to “a casa di” in Italian. Like Antonietta describes: “Let’s go to Sylvia’s place.”
Location: Numidio Quadrato (metro line A)
Running
When I am on a holiday I love to run. Running helps me to stay in shape, physically and mentally. But it is also a way to experience the culture of a new place. It is a different way of sightseeing.
Running gear doesn’t occupy much space in my luggage. I always bring one pair of running shoes with me and the clothes I normally wear to run. Wherever I go.
The best place to run is along the Tiber river. The river flows through the center and provides one of the best running routes in Rome.
Metro line B: Basilca San Paolo, start Ponte Gugliemo Marconi
In the historical centre you can run easily because the main sights are achievable. To avoid traffic you need to go early. But personally I prefer running along the Tiber or in the Villa Borghese area. The park is full of beautiful paths.
Start from Piazza del Popolo and enjoy! How do I get there? Metro line A: Spagna or Flaminio.
Enjoy Rome!
