Le Bomboniere - gifts for guests
by sikorka
This is an Italian custom in general, rather than just Roman, but because I have not created Italy page yet I will write about it under my Rome page.
In Italy when you go to a wedding or baptism ceremony you will receive a gift from newlyweds or during baptism from parents of the child.
Usually it is something made from silver, for instance I received a silver spoon and a silver tea pot. It can be also a crystal vase or a typical, hand-made Sicilian vase.
Plus you will receive confetti: sweet almonds wrap in a small, cute bag.
I was very surprised at first when we receive "la bomboniera" at the wedding of my husband's brother, but later on I discovered that Italians like a lot to give small souvenirs during different occasions just to remember them.
All around Italy there are thousand of shops which sell only le bomboniere.
Oval fountain in the Villa d' Este
by Packerman
Oval fountain in the Villa d'Este. A cool, shady place to relax and see some beauty of what God has created (water & plantlife) and man has made (fountains). I believe there are some tables to sit down and eat a sandwich/snack. We sat right next to the fountain on the left side on the concrete edge.
Tram
by jeoren
Take the tram 3 from metrostation Ottaviano San Pietro and make a ride through the northern part of the city. It's the most relax way to visit the parts of the city outside of the citycentre. You'll pass along some modern shopping- and officebuildings and interesting old monumental buildings.
The Best Meal of My Life (my friends' lives, too)
by Lacristina about La Fontanella
In October 2004, I returned to La Fontanella for yet another spectacular meal, but this one outdid all others! I can truly say it was the best meal of my life! My friends would agree.
I have eaten at Bruno and Nicola's lovely, elegant restaurant (Frette linens, beautiful stone mosaic of Florence in the main room) many times, and never been disappointed. If you go, please tell them Cristina from Pittsburgh says hello!
La Fontanella is not cheap, but it is reasonably priced for the quality of the food and level of service you receive. For me and my pocket book, it is a splurge, but one I pay for gladly when I go. My estimate of the price includes wine, dessert, and after dinner drinks.
For this particular meal, since my friends were vegetarians, we skipped the fried zucchini blossoms (which contain a small piece of anchovy), and chose caprese with mozzarella bufala and mixed vegetables on the grill - heavenly. We ordered the house Montepulciano (red). Very good!
Then, for the pasta course! It was fall and truffles had just arrived! Yes, they are outrageously expensive, but this is the kind of thing you do on a special occasion, which this was. We ate the pasta (fatto in casa - made fresh in house) with white truffles shaved over the top. I can't explain how absolutely delicious this dish was! I probably can't afford to do it for another 5 years, but I'm glad we did!
We followed with the house specialty desert - the vanilla souffle - which is the best desert I've ever had. It arrives sizzling in its oven container and is served at your table. You can order it with an orange liquor sauce or chocolate sauce.
We began chatting with the Italian couple seated at the table next to us. When they learned that my friends had been students who helped save books during the horrible flood in Florence, they treated us to Vin Santo and biscotti, and toasted us and the United States. Then we treated them to Limoncello and toasted Italy!
Another fabulous dinner at La Fontanella! Caprese, grilled vegetables, mushrooms sauteed with cherry tomatoes, risotto, and the fabulous made-in-house pasta with white truffles. Of course, their signature dessert, the vanilla souffle.
Closed Mondays.
Capitol Hill
by sniem
A great place to start your sightseeing tour in Rome. Great views of Rome. Beautiful square designed by Michelangelo Buonarotti. The monument in the middle is the ancient statue of Marc Aurel. If you leave it on the back left side you can see the Romolus and Remus statue and have a great view on the Forum Romanum