Tag: rome

Trastevere by Night – Freni e Frizioni and People in the Streets

Trastevere, one of the hippest neighborhoods in Rome, is nightlife heaven when it comes to cool bars and great restaurants. And of all these bars, one of the most renowned is Freni e Frizioni (“Brakes and Clutches,” as it resides in a former auto shop). The bartenders are wholly capable, making me perhaps the best cocktails I’ve had thus far in Rome: an elegant mint julep with ice surrounding even the outside of the metal cup, and a unique Old Fashioned with blackberries and some amaro I can’t remember. The aperitivo food was also quite tasty, but the best part of it all was sitting outside in the cool Roman night with a drink and a good friend: Valeria, the new Yelp Community Manager of Rome, who was kind enough to give me an autographed copy of her novel, Invisibile.

After Freni e Frizioni, we headed to Antilia, another Trastevere bar. We met up with some new friends and enjoyed some amaro al fresco.

It was one of the best nights I’ve had in Rome, and I see now why Trastevere is so highly regarded as a hangout locale. Luckily, I had recently become accustomed with taking the buses in Rome, and I shared the ride home with a bunch of fellow night owls at 2:30 a.m., as evidenced by the last photo below.

Bridge in Rome at Night Continue reading “Trastevere by Night – Freni e Frizioni and People in the Streets”

Eating Italy Food Tours - Kenny and Domenico

Exploring Rome’s Testaccio from food to grave with Eating Italy Food Tours

Yesterday I had the pleasure of exploring Testaccio, a lesser-visited-yet-incredibly-beautiful neighborhood in Rome just southwest of the Colosseo and east of Trastevere, with Eating Italy Food Rome Tours.

Led by guides Kenny and Domenico, the tour took us from the historic stands in the Mercato Testaccio (including a seafood shop run by the family members of renowned Italian cinema star Marcello Mastroianni) to famous spots like Volpetti and Giolitti. The group sampled various kinds of Italian cheeses, expensive meats, balsamic vinegar that made my eyes roll back, supplì and of course the three most famous Roman pasta dishes: Amatriciana, Carbonara and Cacio e Pepe. Two members of the group were filming a segment for Viator, and I may have found myself caught on tape saying something ridiculously silly.

Continue reading “Exploring Rome’s Testaccio from food to grave with Eating Italy Food Tours”

Crossing Ponte Sant’Angelo (video) and Castel Sant’Angelo

Castel Sant’Angelo may be the most worthwhile attraction in Rome that requires admission. Unlike more famous sites like the Colosseo or the Musei Vaticani, Emperor Hadrian’s fortress-turned-museum is relatively uncrowded, features an art exhibition and provides brilliant views of the city. Located in front of the castle is Rome’s most beautiful bridge, the Ponte Sant’Angelo, Bernini’s bridge with ten angels spanning its length across the Tevere.

Ponte Sant'Angelo from Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome Continue reading “Crossing Ponte Sant’Angelo (video) and Castel Sant’Angelo”

View from the Spanish Steps in Rome on a Rainy Day

Rome in the Rain – Photos from Prati to Tridente and video of the Fontana di Trevi

“Paris is more beautiful in the rain,” says Owen Wilson in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris,” still my favorite film. I thought of this line when I checked the weather, seeing that Rome would be under gray skies for the next two days. I hoped the line about Paris would translate to Rome as well. Of course, it did.

Continue reading “Rome in the Rain – Photos from Prati to Tridente and video of the Fontana di Trevi”

Best of the Italia Beer Festival in EUR, Rome

A few days ago, some new friends and I ventured out to EUR (Esposizione Universale Roma), a neighborhood outside of central Rome built by Mussolini for what would’ve been the site for the World’s Fair of 1942 if he hadn’t gone all cray-cray into World War II. We were there for the Italia Beer Festival, a celebration of craft brewers in Italy.

Italian Beer Festival - Official Bib and Tasting Glass Continue reading “Best of the Italia Beer Festival in EUR, Rome”

Video of the Pantheon interior and Piazza Navona in Rome

As always, my goal is delivering the experience of being at a place through writing, photos and/or video. Below are three panoramic views of the interior of the Pantheon, an impressive structure built by the ancient Romans just under 100 years after the time of Jesus, and Piazza Navona, the grandest square in Centro Storico. Highlights of the former include the oculus, an “eye” at the top of the dome that lets in both sunlight and rain. The latter features Bernini’s legendary Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, an impressive fountain sitting near the steps of Sant’Agnese in Agone.

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Continue reading “Video of the Pantheon interior and Piazza Navona in Rome”

The Basilica di San Giovanni, pizza and supplì along Via Merulana and video of the Colosseo at night

Colosseo at night

While today may not have been as wild as my first night in Rome, it certainly was productive. I had my first of many cups of gelato and slices of pizza during this trip, and it was certainly interesting when I tried to order a new SIM card at Telecom Italia Mobile (there are still bumps in my Italian listening comprehension). All’s well that ends well, and I now have an Italian phone number, as well as a taste for more snacks. Continue reading “The Basilica di San Giovanni, pizza and supplì along Via Merulana and video of the Colosseo at night”