All posts by : Adm_Vivicos

Visiting the Eternal City of Rome is definitely a cultural experience and a great way to immerse oneself in the beauty and history of ancient Rome but, visiting this city also makes for a wonderful culinary experience, where you will be able to taste some of the most delicious food you will ever find. The city of Rome is commonly known for its famous pasta dishes like Carbonara, Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe and Gricia but another local favorite dish is definitely Carciofi alla giudia. Today we’ll go more in-depth about this fantastic dish and where you can eat it while visiting Rome.

Let’s find out something more about Carciofi alla giudia and why you should have them!

Carciofi alla Giudia: Unraveling the Origins and Flavors

Carciofi alla giudia is one of the most popular dishes in Roman cuisine and it consists of a fried artichoke. It was first made by the Jewish community that lived in Rome and, in fact, its name actually means “Jewish-style artichokes”. It is believed that this recipe originated in the Roman Ghetto and, to this day, it is one of the most delicious dishes that you can find in this place. If you’re interested in knowing something more about the Jewish Ghetto in Rome, you can book a private tour with us!

How to Prepare the Perfect Carciofi alla Giudia

Preparing Carciofi alla giudia takes a little while and it’s usually something that only more advanced cooks can make. The quality of the artichoke used for the preparation is very important and, because of this, the city of Rome cares strongly about using artichokes that come from their land. These artichokes are cleaned and opened to be left for a while in water with lemon juice (this prevents the loss of color). Once they are seasoned with salt and pepper they get deep fried in olive oil. To make them crispier, once they’re done frying, Romans usually sprinkle some water on them. This allows for the artichoke to achieve an extra level of crunchiness.

Top Restaurants in Rome to Eat Carciofi alla Giudia

If you’re planning on visiting the city of Rome and are looking for some of the best places to try Carciofi alla Giudia, we have your back! Here’s a list of some of the best restaurants where you will be able to find these amazing artichokes:

• TAVERNA VOLPETTI: Located in the Testaccio neighborhood, Taverna Volpetti offers a unique experience surrounded by locals. It is usually more associated with a classical Italian diner but their Carciofi alla Giudia are definitely worth trying. If you don’t like fried food, you could also try their Carciofi alla Romana, they are exceptional!
• NONNA BETTA: Located in the Jewish Ghetto, this restaurant offers an intimate atmosphere where you will be able to get a taste of Roman culture.
• DA ENZO AL 29: Located in the Trastevere neighborhood, Da Enzo 29 is a great way to immerse yourself in local culture and it makes amazing Carciofi alla Giudia. Another thing we suggest you try in this restaurant is their tiramisù!
• GIGGETTO: Located in Via del Portico D’Ottavia, this restaurant is perfect if you wish to fully dive into Roman traditions. Their Carciofi alla Giudia are considered some of the best in Rome and you should definitely try them!

Conclusion

Visiting the city of Rome always makes for an incredible experience, mostly when you combine your sightseeing with eating great local food. If you want to get to know more about Italy and the city of Rome, make sure you check out our other blogs and book a private tour of the wonders of Rome with us for a full experience!

We have officially entered the Holiday season! Wandering through the streets of the magical city of Rome, you will easily notice Christmas lights and decorations that color the city and give it a whole new beauty. During the Winter season in Rome, you will be able to find lots of fun activities to do with your kids or loved ones in general and going to Villa Borghese’s Christmas World is one of them. With over 700 artists coming together to create a wonderful show, the Villa Borghese Park is one of the best places to be during the Christmas season in Rome.

Let’s find out something more about Villa Borghese’s Christmas World and why you should think about adding it to your itinerary!

Villa Borghese’s Christmas World

An Unforgettable Holiday Spectacle

Christmas World in Villa Borghese is considered to be the biggest Christmas village in Europe as it covers over 30 square meters, filled with amazing installations, shows, games and places where you can take photos. As previously mentioned, Christmas World in Villa Borghese hosts the amazing performances of over 700 artists who wear costumes and props and truly make you feel like you’re in another universe.

When is it hosted?

This year Christmas World in Villa Borghese will take place from December 1st to January 7th and it will make for one of the biggest events during the Holiday season in the Eternal City.

Villa Borghese Gardens

As said before, the event is hosted in the beautiful Villa Borghese Gardens, a large park in the city of Rome that offers both natural peace and architectural beauty. It is considered to be the third biggest park in Rome, right after Villa Doria Pamphili and Villa Ada and visiting this magical place, regardless of the Christmas World event, is definitely worth it! Find out something more about Villa Borghese by checking out our other blogs and consider booking a private tour with us if you’re looking for the full experience!

Opening Times and Info

As previously mentioned, Christmas World in Villa Borghese will be open from December 1st to January 7th from 10:00 AM to 06:00 PM. The opening times will vary on December 24th and December 31st as the park will close at 04:00 PM. We strongly recommend checking out the opening times before heading out as they may vary due to weather circumstances and last-minute changes.

Family-Friendly Holidays in Rome: Exploring Villa Borghese with Kids

Exploring the city of Rome during the Holiday season surely makes for a wonderful experience, mostly if you’re traveling with kids. The city colors turn brighter and the magical atmosphere will make you feel like you’re in a movie! If you are traveling with kids, we highly suggest you book a tour of the wonders of Rome for kids. This will introduce them to everything that there’s to know about Roman culture and what they are seeing. If you want to get to know more about Italy and the Eternal City of Rome, check out our other blogs and consider booking a private tour of Rome with us!

Considered to be one of the most beautiful Churches in Rome, the Church of St. Louis of the French, known in Italian as Chiesa San Luigi dei Francesi, is a 16th-century French Church. The most interesting aspect about this Church is that it’s filled with works of art by the one and only Caravaggio, which is what we’ll be focusing on today!

Let’s find out something more about Caravaggio’s masterpieces in Chiesa San Luigi dei Francesi and why you should add this fascinating Church to your itineraries of Rome!

History and Architecture of Chiesa San Luigi dei Francesi

Built in 1518, the Church of St. Louis of the French was created to accommodate the expanding French community in Rome, as, before this Church, they only had a small chapel. The Church was designed and built by Domenico Fontana who took inspiration from a project that Giacomo della Porta was working on and it was commissioned by Giulio de Medici, the man who later on became Pope Clement VII.

The construction of the Church officially ended in 1589, more precisely on October 8th as it became accessible to the public on this day.

The Magnificent Art of Chiesa San Luigi dei Francesi

As previously mentioned, one of the most interesting aspects of this Church is its art, which completely embodies and represents the French style through the depiction of his most important historical and religious characters. The style of the totality of the art located in this Church can be defined as Baroque.

The Church has five chapels on the sides of its three naves. Each Chapel is filled with unique pieces of art by artists such as Domenichino, Guido Reni and many more.

Exploring the Contarelli Chapel and Caravaggio’s Masterpieces

As said before, the Church of St. Louis of the French is quite popular for housing some of the most beautiful works of art made by Caravaggio. His art is located in the Contarelli chapel, named after Cardinal Mathieu Cointrel who commissioned many works of art to Caravaggio.

Here’s a list of some of the most beautiful works of art to look out for when visiting Chiesa San Luigi dei Francesi:

• Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, Caravaggio;
• Calling of Saint Matthew, Caravaggio;
• Saint Matthew and the angel, Caravaggio;

Mausoleums at Chiesa San Luigi dei Francesi

Another thing that the Church of St. Louis of the French is known for is that it’s the home of some famous graves, such as the tomb of Pauline de Beaumont and Cardinal François Joachin de Bernis.

Conclusion

Visiting the Church of St. Louis of the French is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in Caravaggio’s beautiful art. If you want to get to know more about Italy and Rome, check out our other blogs and book a private tour with us!

The city of Rome is filled with infinite beauty. With its monuments, ancient historical buildings and beautiful art, there’s definitely endless things to see. Something you shouldn’t overlook when visiting Rome though is its delicious food! You may have already heard of the popular four Roman pasta dishes: Carbonara, Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe and Gricia.

Let’s find out something more about these amazing pasta dishes and why you should try them when you’re in Rome!

Carbonara

A Creamy Roman Classic

It’s pretty much impossible to not have heard of Carbonara at least once in your life. Considered to be one of the most popular Italian dishes, unfortunately not quite well replicated outside of Italy, this creamy pasta has stolen the hearts of many locals and tourists throughout the years. The origins of this dish are not very clear but we know it has evolved a lot with time.

Carbonara is often over complicated when made abroad, as people tend to add unnecessary ingredients and often make it heavier than it should be. The recipe is quite simple though and it consists of pasta garnished with crispy guanciale and a cream made out of egg yolks, pecorino cheese and black pepper.

Amatriciana

Tomato Sauce Perfection

If you’re a fan of tomato sauce, Amatriciana is the perfect match for you! This pasta dish was created in Amatrice, a town in north-east Lazio and has since then made its way through the hearts of local Romans. This pasta is garnished with guanciale and a tomato sauce cooked with some chili and pecorino cheese. This dish results in a very creamy sauce where the saltiness of the guanciale is perfectly evened out by the tomato sauce. We highly suggest you try it with spaghetti or mezze maniche pasta!

Cacio e Pepe

Simplicity at its Finest

Another delicious dish of the Roman food culture is the Cacio e Pepe pasta. This pasta dish is fairly easy to make and it consists of a pasta garnished with a cream made of pecorino cheese and black pepper mixed with a little bit of pasta water.

The hardest part about making this dish is that you must put the cream into the pasta when the fire is off and the pasta has cooled a little. If you put it in too early, you’ll lose the creamy consistency of the pasta as the cheese will curdle.

Gricia

The Perfect Blend of Salty and Creamy

If you’re not sure what to eat between Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara, Gricia may just be what you’re looking for! Personally, I consider this to be the perfect union between the two and a very great alternative for when I’m craving both! Gricia is made with the same cheese cream used in Cacio e Pepe but it’s also garnished with crispy guanciale, creating that perfect blend between salty and creamy.

Experience Rome’s Culinary Heritage

If you’re in Rome, you definitely can’t miss out on trying these amazing pasta dishes. If you have the time or someone to split the abundant portions with, we highly suggest you try them all and choose your favorite… every local has one!

Located on top of the Quirinal Hill, the highest hill of the seven in Rome, Palazzo del Quirinale is a very important building that had different roles throughout the centuries. It used to be the pope’s Summer residence and then it became the home of the Italian king, before becoming the president’s residence. The palace is located in the beautiful Piazza del Quirinale, which offers one of the most beautiful views of Rome’s skyline!

Let’s find out something more about Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome and why you should visit this place!

Palazzo del Quirinale: a residence with a storied past

As previously mentioned, Palazzo del Quirinale used to be the Pope’s Summer residence. It was designed for Pope Gregory XIII and built with the hope of escaping Malaria, a very dangerous disease that was spreading at that time in Rome. With the Unification of Italy in 1573, it became the residence of the King of Italy and the royal family, up until 1947, when Italy became a republic. That’s when Palazzo del Quirinale became the home of the president of Italy, who now is Sergio Mattarella.

What to see in Piazza del Quirinale

Piazza del Quirinale offers one of the best views of the Eternal City from above, but this is not all there is to this square. It is, in fact, filled with monuments and elements that make it very special. One of the most stunning parts of this square is its obelisk, right next to the statues of Castor and Pollux that are taming horses. Another beautiful thing about this square is its fountain, located right under the obelisk.

The most interesting aspect about Palazzo del Quirinale and Piazza del Quirinale, which takes place every day at 03:00 PM, has to be the change of guard ceremony. Much like the one that takes place in London, although it’s not as famous, this ceremony is definitely worth attending, as it is a great way to absorb the Italian culture and listen to traditional music played by a marching band.

Conclusion

Visiting Palazzo del Quirinale and Piazza del Quirinale is definitely a must when you’re in the Eternal City of Rome. This place offers so much for tourists as it is one of the best ways to get to know Italian history and traditions. If you want to learn more about the city of Rome and Italy in general, we highly suggest you check out our other blogs and book a private Rome tour with us for the best experience possible!