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…
Since 1959 Rome’s children have been brought to the Gianicolo every Sunday to see the puppet shows put on near the base of the statue of Garibaldi atop his horse Marsala. Children and families congregate under the shade of the surrounding trees and around the painted, wooden puppet theater, to…
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,…
Despite large numbers of visitors overwhelming its small streets, Trastevere’s soul still exists, and it can be found in Piazza di San Calisto. Bordered by splendid, sixteenth-century edifices, and hidden behind hedges of laurel, you will find Bar San Calisto, the beating heart of the neighborhood. The interior has remained…
Typography aficionados will be drawn to the green glow of Settimio’s vintage sign on Via del Pellegrino. With frosted glass and a buzzer at the door, you will first need to ask permission to enter this understated trattoria. If you are allowed in and given a table, don’t take the…
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…
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.…
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…
This old shop and cafe is worth the visit if only to admire the vintage furniture and the classic style of the proprietor, Signora Anna, in person. Instagrammers beware: photograph this old slice of Rome at your peril. Instead, order a cappuccino (one of the biggest in Rome) and enjoy…
Walking along Via dei Pettinari, away from Ponte Sisto, an old-world window display on your right will catch your eye; it’s the Bar Mariani. Take the time to enter this vintage pasticceria and enjoy all of the small details of this Roman jewel, where time has stood still since 1850.…
As you can tell from this shop’s old sign it was once a ‘carboneria’ selling heating coal to the neighborhood. Now, inside this mom and pop store you will find a small housewares and hardware emporium, where you can buy firewood, propane tanks, glass jars, jute bags, kitchenwares, screws, nails…
