What Makes Rome Irresistible?

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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People make a lot of fuss about this city, and Rome is sometimes still referred to as “Eternal City”, or “Caput Mundi” – latin for capital of the world. But does its ancient role as former centre of the Roman empire merit such attention? Is Rome only a relique, visited by kindly disposed people who see greatness in its ancient remains, gracefully overlooking its considerable flaws? Or is it still, today, a capital worthy of ranking among the great cities of the world? … Continue Reading

Saltimbocca – Really Roman?

(5 votes, average: 4.60 out of 5)

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Nowadays, the term “Cucina Romana” is readily employed to categorise a variety of recipes, sometimes a little too quickly. Here is a quick overview of the history of Rome’s cuisine, exemplified by the allegedly Roman recipe “saltimbocca alla Romana”. … Continue Reading

The Importance Of Being Blonde (In Italy)

(5 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

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Strange things happen when you are a foreigner. Even when you believe that you know the adopted culture and people well, some situations may leave you very surprised. In the following, I recount a strange experience which still has me a bit baffled, upset and ashamed, and which brought together two different cultural assumptions … Continue Reading

Blogging, Berlusconi, Fabio Chuisi and Gagging

(5 votes, average: 4.20 out of 5)

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Blogging and Bloggers are a problem to authoritarian control. But they are not a problem for truth and a better society.

Obama, Berlusconi, US Federal Reserve. Take some notes.

1. Fabio Chiusi is not the problem – he is part of the solution.
2. We bloggers are here to help you get things right.
3. Failed Bank Robbers may be too stupid to know they are too stupid to be bank robbers which could evoke “diminished responsibility”. This might also apply to you.
4. The Federal Reserve needs to be shut, or shut up.
5. We are here dealing with unknown Unknowns that don’t get to see the light of day without us. … Continue Reading

Some of Rome’s Best Pasticcerie

(4 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5)

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One of the things you don’t realize about Rome until you’ve left is the city’s (and the country’s) great tradition of pasticcerie. … Continue Reading

Monti Going Local On Food

(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)

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Monti has always held a distinctive charm to me, especially when it comes to the food offered in restaurants, the art galleries and quirky stores. There is an dynamic, alternative, future-oriented feel to Monti.

Now, Katie Parla has written an article for the New York Times which describes a number of restaurants that specialise in hyper-localised food, only from the Lazio region. Lazio’s location right next to Tuscany may have been problematic – who, pray, can compete with Tuscany’s reputation? – but it could be argued that Lazio is working extra hard to position their products relative to their famous neighbor, and can therefore not afford to compromise on quality. … Continue Reading

The Pleasures (and Addiction) of Pizza Bianca

(6 votes, average: 4.17 out of 5)

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Do not underrate this delicious Roman specialty. To do so will be at your peril. Pizza bianca – the warm, crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, ‘white pizza’ (although not a white pizza at all) makes up an essential part of the Roman diet. Some translate it as ‘flat bread,’ although no other flatbread I’ve ever had tasted like this. … Continue Reading

Rome On A Bicycle – Half A Dream Come True

(5 votes, average: 3.80 out of 5)

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It was something that we used to say with a sigh, on a Sunday stroll through the centre: If only it was bicycle friendly, and if only cars were banned from the historic parts of Rome. As far-fetched as it may have sounded even a couple of years ago, the local government pledged this March to transform the Italian capital into a cyclist’s utopia by 2020. … Continue Reading

The Italian Football Team Are Coming Home, And Rightly So

(5 votes, average: 4.80 out of 5)

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Quite honestly, overall, they played rubbish.

It all starts with a few problems in the team. Two of the biggest problems are Cannavaro and Pirlo. These two players were the backbone of the 2006 world cup success. The team played well around Pirlo, and defensively, Cannavaro was second to none. However, 4 years on and Cannavaro is not the player he was. … Continue Reading

Beating The Heat In Rome’s Summer

(7 votes, average: 3.86 out of 5)

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It’s unfortunate that the time of year most people visit Rome is also one of the most uncomfortable: the height of summer. Although the city, and the entire country, look gorgeous this time of year, the heat can dishearten the most ardent Rome-fanatic. If you find yourself arriving in the city during a heat wave, like the one sweeping currently, there are a few measures you can take to make your estate romana (Roman summer) a little more pleasant. … Continue Reading

Another Trial For Amanda Knox

(24 votes, average: 3.04 out of 5)

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We had closely followed the first trial, in which Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were found guilty of murdering her British flat mate, Meredith Kercher, in Perugia. This was one of the most dramatic and internationally observed Italian trials of this decade, … Continue Reading

Questionable Numbers For Tourism In Rome

(5 votes, average: 4.40 out of 5)

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Anyone wandering around Rome in these days can see that it is a busy place. It seems as though the city has just woken up from a long slumber. Tourists and locals out and about and spending money. The good old days are back.

Or are they? … Continue Reading

Kids Enjoy Rome As Much As Adults

(6 votes, average: 4.83 out of 5)

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There is so much to do in Rome. Doing “Not Much”, is one of the best with kids.

Rome is a wonderful place for kids. Depending on their ages, you just need to tailor your trip to include a bit of “them” time, whilst making sure they are not bored with the you time. It is not that difficult as Rome is a very safe city, endlessly fascinating in many different ways. … Continue Reading

A Coffee Break With… Keith, 4

(4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

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House prices, Rent prices and market direction in Italy

Short term predictions about asset prices (houses, stocks, commodities) are inherently based on rumour and emotion. Predicting for the long term however, must be based on fundamental analysis. … Continue Reading

Another Blow To Celibacy

(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)

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Has the abuse scandal already had wider implications? Will it shape the future of the church, or is it merely a storm that will pass soon? Perhaps it is too much to link the following bit of news to the scandal, … Continue Reading

Why So Much Cash Is Used In Italy… And It Is A Good Thing

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Why should you support the use of cash in Italy? Does that not mean that you are facilitating tax evasion? Not necessarily. Instead, overusing your credit card in Italy means to undermine their social fabric, and might hurt the local economy and culture. Here is why. … Continue Reading

Italian Financial Future, And The Euro

(6 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)

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For travelers to Rome, and those expats being paid in Euros, the currency has become way too interesting over the last month or so. This is a quick overview to wipe away some of the main stream media misunderstandings, and try to understand what might happen to your money … Continue Reading

A Coffee break with… Keith 3

(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)

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European Petrol(Gas) Prices keep on climbing

The latest European figures for average petrol (gas) prices for various countries are now out for May 2010. … Continue Reading

Travel News update: 23 May

(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)

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There is a lot of important travel news coming through at the moment, and it is worth summarising quickly a few of the more important ones.

1. BA strikes. Whether the Unions succeed in a 2 week strike, or 1 day strike over the next few weeks, the fear of strikes is hitting future bookings with BA hard. Willie Walsh, CEO, has come out and said that no matter what happens from here, there will be a fire sale of seats of the summer to win back loyal customers. That is, they will dump seats at very low prices. … Continue Reading

Packing Light

(6 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)

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What to pack? What will I need? And how to fit it all into a suitcase? Packing is somewhat of a chore for most people, and the restrictions on the liquids you are allowed to take in your carry-on bag during airtravel have not made it easier. … Continue Reading