Pizzas, Pastas and Piazzas: A Guide to Rome’s Culinary Culture with Context

Rome is the city where timeless traditions, architectural wonders, and culinary delights converge. On this walking tour with Context Travel expert, Massimo Porcelli, you’ll learn about the history of local cuisine, and get a few tips on where to enjoy them.

As you soak up the flavors, smells, colors and a bit of history, Massimo will dive into the varieties of extra virgin olive oil (Italy’s green gold), explain the difference between Roman and Neapolitan pizzas, and introduce you to Rome’s locally cured meats and cheeses.

Starting on Ponte Sisto, you’ll cross the bridge and enter the city’s historical center where you’ll uncover the mysterious origins of Carbonara, the queen of Roman pasta. At Campo de Fiori, a market square famous for its flowers, you’ll discover primizie (the first fruits and veggies of the season) and learn about the history of aperitivo, a tradition dating back to Roman times that perfectly combines the art of socializing and drinking.

Along the way, you’ll learn a thing or two about the city’s architecture and artists like Bernini, Borromini, and Caravaggio and take in the magnificent buildings that surround Rome’s piazzas.

On this Rome tour, you’ll have a chance to visit local establishments like:

• Old Bar Pasticceria Mariani, where you can learn about the evolution of coffee in Italy while trying an ’espresso in tazzina’
• I Dolci di Nonna Vincenza, with its incredible Sicilian desserts
• Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria and Antico Forno Roscioli, where you’ll learn the difference between a pasticceria, a forno, and a salumeria
• Forno Campo de ’Fiori, opened in 1880 and known for churning out the best pizza in the historic center
• Da Francesco, one of Massimo’s favorite pizzerias, and popular local wine bar, Il Goccetto
• Supplizio, where you can indulge in supplì, a breaded and fried ball of rice similar to Sicily’s arancino
• È Passata la Moretta, where Massimo will point out how traditional Roman dishes and desserts focus on quick, familiar recipes that require few ingredients
• I Pizzicaroli, where you'll find the best selection of Roman porchetta, salami, prosciutto and cheeses
• Il Goccetto, the perfect place for a Roman aperitivo
• Polese, a classic Roman trattoria
• Bar Gelateria “Alberto Pica” dal 1971, where you can end the tour on a sweet note with traditionally made Italian gelato

By the end of this 90-minute tour, you’ll have a greater appreciation for Roman’s culinary traditions, and know how to order like a local.