Rome Sweet Rome
After exploring Tuscany in May 2012, the five of us headed to Rome for a couple of days.
You can read about our time in Florence HERE and our amazing dinner in Panzano at Officina Della Bistecca HERE.
We rented an apartment just off of Via del Corso near the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain.
The location was perfect for exploring “The Eternal City”.
John and I went for a quick trip back in January, but all we did was eat, drink, and recharge.
You can read about that trip HERE.
This time, we added sightseeing to our eating.
One day we booked a Vatican Walking Tour with Angel Tours.
The 3.5 hour tour includes the Vatican Museums, Raphael Rooms, Maps room, tapestries room, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Square.
Rome has a terrific underground railway system but most places are an easy walk.
We ate at Trattoria Da Gino back in January and couldn’t wait to return.
It’s an authentic Roman restaurant tucked away in a narrow alley near Piazza del Parlamento.
Look for this “Trattoria” sign on Via de Campo Marzio and it will point you in the right direction.
The staff is warm and pleasant and their food is amazing.
It’s like going to your best friend’s Italian grandparent’s house for dinner.
We were so full but we ordered dessert anyway.
And then, as if I didn’t already love this place, our waiter brought out complimentary Limoncello.
If I ever get back to Rome, I’ll eat at Trattoria Da Gino. And the time after that.
And the time after that.
The next day we went on a Walking Food Tour in Testaccio with Eating Italy Food Tours.
That tour definitely deserves a post of its own — the food was outstanding!
For now I’ll just tell you that I ate the best gelato EVER at Giolitti.
After the food tour we walked to the Colosseum.
If anyone tells you that it’s just a pile of rubble and a waste of money, politely nod and go in anyway.
It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.
And I think it’s amazing.
The Roman Forum is a short walk from the Colosseum.
For centuries, it was the center of Roman public life.
We ate dinner at Osteria da Angelino.
It is another one of our favorite restaurants from our January trip. The menu depends on what the chef finds at the market that morning.
The restaurant was filled with locals and that is always a good sign.
The sun was setting so we headed back to the Colosseum for one last look.
We had an incredible couple of days in Rome, but there was still one thing left to do.
The legend says that if a visitor throws a coin into the Trevi Fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome.
So we tossed our coins, made our wishes, and started our journey home the next morning.
Until next time, Roma…