Old School Polaroid Project of Coppedè building in Piazza Mincio
We’re very biased about this neighborhood as we lived here for 6 years. It’s definitely the kind of neighborhood that after a few days, you’ll feel at home. It’s also one of the neighborhoods we feel strongest about because we not only like it, but know that you’ll never come here unless we give you some great reasons.
For those of you who want a taste of Roman life, head to the covered fruit and vegetable market at Piazza Alessandria for inexpensive, fresh produce. On Via Alessandria there’s an artisan pasta maker, a butcher, and on Reggio Emilia, a little organic food shop that also sells body care products. There’s a great wine shop/enoteca, at Piazza Regina Margherita and in the same piazza – Da Emilio a great local family owned trattoria. Other great restau- rant options are La Maremma on Via Alessandra (also a good pizzeria), Tribeca – an excellent NY style restaurant (but only open for breakfast and lunch) and the very well known Gelateria dei Gracchi on viale Regina Margherita – hands down some of the best gelato in Rome. There’s Fior Fiore, a pizza by the slice place with a second location at Piazza di Spagna.
This is one of the greener neighborhoods of Rome starting with the Villa Torlonia, a gorgeous park with a restaurant/pizzeria, La Limonaia for relaxed dining al fresco. The Villa Torlonia is a great place for a stroll, a jog or a picnic. You can watch elderly Italian men playing bocce ball outside the local community center. In the park is the recently restored and gorgeous 18th century Casino Nobile (Mussolini’s home in Rome when he was in power) while on the other side of the spectrum is Technotown which offers workshops in new media for 8-17 year olds. Other public parks within walking distance is the dog lovers Villa Paganini, the uncultivated, wildish Villa Ada and the polished Villa Borghese.
Architecture? You can walk to Piazza Mincio and see some of the coolest buildings in Rome designed by Gino Coppedé (from the Polaroid photo at the beginning of this post) and beautiful and timeless mosaics at the church of Sant’ Agata fuori le mura (Saint Agnes outside the walls). The restored and adorable Casina delle Civette in the Villa Torlonia houses a stain glass museum. Art? The newly expanded MACRO (Museum of Contemporary Art) located on Via Reggio Emilio hosts various revolving exhibits while nearby have sprouted up countless small contemporary local art galleries.
Below is a google map we made for guests staying at our house that can help you get around in this neighborhood:
View Via Postumia in a larger map
