Roma, turismo, web 2.0…

International Tennis’ championship of Italy

For lovers of Tennis, in these days the International Tennis 2009 will be presented at Stadio Olimpico of Rome.
Like every year, the competition, scheduled from April 25 to May , will have around 60 among the best players in the world.

The 79th edition of the “Internazionali BNL di Tennis d’Italia” will share all the major stars of world ranking.
This year the premium for the winner is: 2,750,000 euros, for the men and 2,000,000 U.S. dollars for women.
At the championship, so with a total prize fund of over 4 million of Euros , organizers have to overcome the public record established last year: 162 thousand paying spectators.
For the occasion, the capacity of the central field was increased to 9500 seats.  

The test male will start April 25th, the female one, on May 3rd.
The two main innovations in the bill are Big Sunday of May 3rd (when both the male and female round) and the anticipation of the women’s final on Saturday May 9th.The decisive stages of both tournaments will again be broadcast live by Italia 1 channel, which for five years, has been the broadcaster of “Internazionali BNL d’Italia”.
SKY Sport will send all sessions of the game of the championship.

The International is also a way to spend a pleasant evening in an open space, in fact the area has a restaurant / bar just near the tennis courts, whose view is definitely breathtaking: at a glance you can see the cupolas of the most beautiful basilicas in Rome, the roofs of the houses and the cathedral in its many architectural styles.
During this event, it becomes an enchanting place for meeting for each age group.In conclusion, for those who believe that Italians are dedicated exclusively to the game of football, will be glad to know that are 5 Italians among these tennis players.Well … not only a nation of writers, surfers, poets, but also sports lovers.

Museums in Rome

  Rome has been preparing for so long for “The Saturday of the museum” a series of thumbnails that every Saturday, from April 4 until May 2, include the opening of some museums together with exhibitions of theater, music, and gastronomy.
Rome offers to its visitors new ideas to live the city during the day and night.
The initiative represents a clear choice of the Municipality of Rome to exploit the museums of the city, including venues and aggregation for the Romans, who in normal times can not enjoy the wonders of their beautiful Eternal City.
For this occasion, the Museum of the Capital will launch a series of animated opening night by large cultural events, thus proposing the museum not only as an exhibition space but also as a place for evening entertainment.
The 13^th Of April, the day of “Pasquetta” has been full of theater: the 21 and 22.30, at the Museo Nazionale Romano di Palazzo Altemps, on stage “Il mondo della luna”, journey through the drama giocoso di Carlo Goldoni, music by Franz Joseph Haydn, constructed by mixing Ludovico Ariosto to Italo Calvino.

At Musei Capitonili , however, at 21 Gabriele Lavia suggested readings on “philosopher Marcus: between reason and reasons of state.”
The Gambero Rosso will delight the palates of the Roman Saturday 18 (19.30 and 21) to the Central Montamartini, with Italian wines, in a frame of industrial archeology.
The music player will be April 25: at the Museo di Roma in Palazzo Braschi will perform the string trio Ludwig, music by Beethoven and a transcript of the “Hungarian Dance” by Brahms. At Museo Nazionale Romano (at Terme di Diocleziano) , however, the quintet of Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia will propose a repertoire of waltzes, marches and polkas of the Strauss family, but also jazz songs (21.15 and 22.30).The event will end with a concert on May 2 to the Markets of Trajan, where the pianist Danilo Rea will perform in “Piano Solo”, while at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, the Trio will perform John Amato.
Admission to all performances is 5 euro, until the places available.
Rome has recently developed several cultural activities to promote and enhance its wonders.

Typical restaurant in Trastevere: Meo patacca

Trastevere, one of the most famous areas of Rome full of life with people from the center and the suburbs, Italians and foreigners. All with the desire of pleasant moments among the various places of the capital nights.Here, among the alleys, still lives the traditional spirit of Rome and one of the places that keep it is the restaurant “De Meo Patacca”, built in 1959 and located precisely in Piazza de’ Mercanti, in heart of this historic neighborhood. Strangely the founder of this wonderful restaurant is not a Roman, but an American, that by marrying an Italian girl decides to open the restaurant with the help of “trastevererini” friends.Just with the name can grasp a lot: Patacca Meo is the protagonist of a work by the end of 1600, which, together with Rugantino represents arrogant and brave types, witty and generous, that belong the popular district of the capital.His figure, as well as in several comedies that have spread over time, is keep alive by the famous restaurant.
Some years ago I have been there by pure chance, and has since remained as one of the most special places I has been.
It is a sort of jump through the time as it returns to particular passed moments of Rome.
The atmosphere of this place is wonderful: there are the not modern lights, but gas lights or candles, inside as well as outside, in the square where the tables are arranged.
The decoration is very special, all ancient but well cared for.
The cuisine is exceptional, thanks to the respect of the Roman tradition that has, among the various dishes, a wide variety of appetizers, a magnificent wine of Roman castles, and excellent homemade bread and pasta.
The waiters wear typical costumes while working, use a “romanesque”language and between a meal and the other run of comedies really funny, performances that give moments of joy and culture to the guests of the place.
Great melodies of the musicians of Trastevere, the troubadours of the classics in their songs that reflect the authenticity of the Roman neighborhoods.

The best Ice Cream in Rome

the warm weather has arrived and is inevitable to mention the best Ice Cream in Rome.

This is the list of the best ‘Gelateria’ in Rome (in touristical areas)

Il Gelato di San Crispino (Via della Panetteria 42 - Trevi / Via Achaia 56 Appio Latino)
For a lot of people it is the best Ice cream in Rome! With two locations one in two steps from the Trevi Fountain, the other in Zone Appio Latino. Ice Cream 100% natural… tastes meringue!

Giolitti (Via Uffici del vicario , 40 - Navona)
A guarantee! Affollato of tourists and Italians it is an ice cream always on top.

Bartocci (Via Alessandria 145 - Porta Pia)
Close to Porta Pia… Viale Regina Margherita … and closte to my house! It is one of my favorite ice cream.
It isn’t in famous list…. because it is an ice cream from simple people … where you will find a lot tastes (try…bartoccioso
when me and my girlfriend go to take an ice cream … I take it from Bartocci …
and she take it at Gelateria dei Gracchi (the seat of Viale Regina Margherita!), just 100 mt distance.

Gelateria dei Gracchi (Via dei Gracchi 272 - St. Peter / Viale Regina Margherita, 212 Porta Pia)
Excellent, 100% natural. One of the best pistachios in Rome. Can an Ice Cream be snob?

La fonte della salute (Via Cardinal Marmaggi, 2 - Viale Trastevere)
One of the best address in the Trastevere area.

La Fata Morgana (Via Ostiense, 32 - Piramide)
One of the most award-winning ice-cream in Rome …. don’t expects to find the usual tastes .. not find them! 

Old Bridge (Graben Michelangelo 5 - San Pietro)
Close to P.za Risorgimento (San Pietro). The line is very long and sometimes more than 10 meters (all on the road).
The ice cream is among the largest of Rome …. but is not particularly good …  I do not like!

Two very famous address out of center:

Lanzalotto - Viale Somalia (front of Bingo )
Tony - Largo Missiroli Alberto, 13 (Circonvalazione Gianicolense)

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Vera, a Vegan girl in Rome

Today, I discovered the Vera’s blog, a girl from Naples, vegan (she doesn’t eating animal products or derivatives, including eggs and milk), that  wrote a very nice article about her 5 days holiday in Rome, with a great enthusiasm. A truly engaging story.

I do not know who she is, but she is nice, Vera’s Rome is so original, including milk shakes without milk,
organic shops, the delicacies of Taverna del Mossob (Eritrean restaurant at Via prenestina … absolutely unknown to me),
with mishaps his friend Nico, the mini statues of Celidonia, lunch at Govinda the Hare Krishna restaurant
a stone’s throw from the ghetto, dinner at Sciam the disappointing Syrian restaurant in Via del pellegrino.
Vera tells a different Rome that probably we cannot find in any city guide.

The story of the journey to Rome from the pages of blog Vera
(Italian Language) - (English Translation By Google)

Organic shop?! The Friars’ Vegetable Garden!

In Rome there are more than 2000 holiday apartments and bed and breakfast … so a lot of tourists have a kitchen and need to buy food and vegetables!

The are a lot of Supermarket and in Campo De’ Fiori there is the most famous market for fruit and vegetables… could be ok, but…

…If you are looking for a special place you have to go to the ‘Orto of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme’ (Vegetables garden of Basilica of Santa Croce), you can buy directly from the Friars… the most organic vegetables in Rome!

The vegetable shop is in Piazza Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.

Opening hours for the sale to the public: :

Tuesday: from 16 to 18
Wednesday: 16 to 18
Friday: from 16 to 18
Saturday: from 10 to 12
Address: Piazza Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (right of the Basilica)Further information on the website of the Basilica:
http://www.basilicasantacroce.com

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The best Pizzerias. Traditional Roman style.

Rome is one of the capitals of pizza, and there is a Roman style!
True ‘Roman’ is thin or very thin  without borders and well cooked…. Very different from that proposed by the Neapolitan tradition and with soft edges well in relief.
Only in Rome you can taste the real Roman pizza always cooked in a wood oven!

Roman Pizza Classic
The real best addresses in town:

Montecarlo - Vicolo Savelli 13 (Navona) Via Alessandria, 106 (Porta Pia)
One of the best pizza in Rome…. Wooden tables side by side….  You can try the good traditional roman pastas  (Cacio e Pepe, Matriciana, Gricia…) and fried plates (Supplì, fiori di zucca…). Also open for lunch.

Ai Marmi  (alias Panattoni… the alias obitorio) - Viale Trastevere 53 (Trastevere)
If at Montecarlo there isn’t  privacy, at Marmi people eats one above the other! If  you what  a romantic dinner is not the place for you.
If you want the best pizza in Rome come here… marble tables that have at least 50 years ( ‘For the Marbles’… is known by the name of obitory precisely!), No tablecloth, waiters quickly, glasses of the century (and sees)…. Very good food, reasonable prices. There is always a line, but usually it is very fast.

Giacomelli - Via E. Faà Bruno 25 (Mazzini Meadows)
A well-known historical pizzeria. All of excellent quality and ability to choose the extent of pizza between small, medium and large…. Also excellent pastas. If you are close to Mazzini area it is  probably your best choice.

Baffetto - Via del Governo Vecchio 114 (Navona)
Excellent pizzera very popular among tourists who prefer to Montecarlo. The two pizzerias  are very similar to each other and perhaps there is a relationship between the owners… both excellent.

Nuovo Mondo - Via Amerigo Vespucci 15 (Testaccio)
Of all perhaps is the least famous pizzeria… a unique… similar to Marmi but possibly even more ugly! They eat less than 15 euros, forget the tablecloth… the classic place where once the account were writing on the table.

Remo - Piazza Santa Maria Liberatrice 44 (Testaccio)
Other address in Testaccio  loved by tourists. More or less a brother of Montecarlo and Nuovo mondo … an excellent pizza at reasonable prices.

Berninetta-Via P. Cavallini 14 (Piazza Cavour)
A good address if you are close to  Piazza Cavour, for an audience that wants a formal service.

Giggetto - Il Re della Pizza - Via Alessandria 43 (Porta Pia)
One of the most famous pizza in Rome. A classic good service.
The pizza is very good, without being better than Montecarlo (just 200 mt in Via Alessandria), prices are a little bit expansive and the environment is decidedly more formal. The most crowded pizzeria in the area.

L’Isola della Pizza- Via degli Scipioni 45 (St. Peter)
It is not known as the best pizza in Rome… because it is not! But  our  list haven’t an address close to Vatican.
L’Isola is a very good and  fun pizzeria! When you arrive you will receive a lot of  starters of all types… Pizza? It also is very good!

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