Each and every day Emilio and Claudio Volpetti open the doors to their highly regarded deli (some say the best in Rome) dressed impeccably in their white uniforms with white shirts and white ties. Filled with cheeses, dried meats, bread and truffles, the main ingredient served here is invariably courtesy.…
At the corner of Piazza Fiammetta and Via degli Acquasparta you will find a 15th Century, two floor palazzo with a columned portico and porch above; this residence has long been attributed to the famous Florentine courtesan Fiammetta Michaelis, lover of Cesare Borgia. In this same square you can find…
Robertone isn’t the name of a place, but rather a man. A colossus of a man (his nickname does literally mean “Big Bob”), with large hands and often dressed in flannels and boots, Robertone has the look of an American woodworker. There’s more than meets the eye however, and you…
Crafts passed down for generations, from father to son, are invaluable cultural treasures, and Rome’s center is full of craftspeople still working today. Giuncart was started in 1960 by Mr. Mario Giovagnoli when he opened a small wicker and basket weaving workshop on Via del Pellegrino, and his son, Umberto,…
Via di Monserrato is one of the most beautiful and interesting streets of Rome: a few stores, art galleries, a few restaurants, beautiful courtyards. Chez Dede is not a typical Roman store, for better or for worse; on the contrary it has a deliberately French flavor. They sell books, small…
A perfect place for insomniacs to explore, the flower market at Trionfale opens at dawn and is bursting with flowers, and bustling with old women and gentlemen buying plants and bouquets at wholesale prices. A truly unmissable view of authentic Rome! Via Trionfale, 45
On Via Ripetta you will find one of the most bizarre window displays in Rome decorated with vintage doll heads stacked together in a casual, almost artistic manner. Don’t panic! Inside, a sweet, affectionate duo awaits you. More often than not you will find Gelsomina and her son Federico hard…
On the backside of Piazza Navona you can find a wooden door from the 20s, behind which hides a magical place. The interior of this shop is an organized chaos, where you can find antique books, old watercolors, ex voto, and old Roman postcards in various piles and scattered about…
At Silvana’s dry cleaning on Via Giulia, your perfectly clean laundry is always accompanied by a quick joke and Silvana’s infectious enthusiasm. As a personality and a businesswoman, Silvana is top notch. Via Giulia, 103
Found on the same street as the 16th Century Monte di Pieta, Risivi jewelers have a shop where you can find jewelry of relatively unimportant origins mixed among displays dedicated entirely to antique pieces. Look especially for unique finds from the Bourbon period, some of which are exceedingly rare. N.B.…
This father and son mechanic’s shop can cure the ills of any vintage Vespa Lambretta or Guzzi motorcycle. Steps from Campo de’ Fiori, these men are the heart and soul of an old, loveable Rome. Vicolo del gallo, 20
If you are looking for true happiness, taking a spin of Rome’s historic center on a bike is tough to beat. To find a well tuned steed, head to Collalti Bike Shop, whose rows of bikes out front are impossible to miss on Via del Pellegrino, not far from Campo…
