Table Of Contents
- The distances
- The Roman pinsa
- The red pizza from the oven
- Call attention with “Ahó”
- Living in a car
- The supplì with pizza
- South Rome vs. North Rome
- Walking the Roman streets
- At breakfast a maritozzo
- The carbonara in Testaccio
- The firing of the Gianicolo Cannon
- Drinking from the nasone
- Walking between past and present
- The Roman Aqueducts
- The Pines of Rome
Every city is a world, built by small or large peculiarities that make living there different from living elsewhere. Following this logic, Rome, on closer inspection, is a city full of mysteries, contrasts, and habits that make it what it is and that are known only after spending some time in the capital. These are details that are perhaps most easily noticed by those who arrive in the city. Those who were born there consider them normal, no matter how bizarre they might seem in other parts of our country and more generally in the world.
To find out precisely what are the things that characterize Rome that would be unusual in any other city, this time we took a closer look at the capital.
The distances
Those who live in Rome must soon come to terms with the great distances of a metropolis. Romans are used to traveling 30 or 40 km a day to reach an office, try a particular restaurant on the other side of the house, attend an event in another neighborhood or go to the beach. With us everything is near and far at the same time, depending on your point of view.
The Roman pinsa
In our city, more and more people are deciding to abandon the classic pizza for pinsa, which is more digestible and less caloric. Generally once a week, for example on Saturday night, people go out for pizza (or rather pinsa). What is considered a cheap meal for students in other cities is anything but in Rome. There are plenty of quality and even award-winning places in the city to try.
The red pizza from the oven
If you go out for pizza on Saturday night, during the day the quintessential Roman snack is the red pizza from the oven, low and well-done. The oil dripping on the paper speaks volumes….
Call attention with “Ahó”
In Rome if you become familiar with a person, there are no more names. This expression is used to call someone, even in a rather annoyed way. Ahó, but what you?
Living in a car
Generally Romans prefer to get around by their own means, perhaps this is also the reason for the long queues on the GRA. In summer, those who decide to go to the beach on Sundays know something about this.
The supplì with pizza
Supplì with pizza is the death of it, as they say in Rome. Just think, in the capital there is a place dedicated entirely to supplì. It’s called the Casa del Supplì and offers five versions available year-round (classic, ragù, amatriciana, mushroom and peas, cacio e pepe) plus seasonal ones.
South Rome vs. North Rome
This playful rivalry between South Rome and North Rome is also often captured in the ironic videos of some Roman youtuber. As we said, Rome is a big city and between North and South there are different customs, especially among the younger generation.
Walking the Roman streets
Of course, those who live in Rome are used to walking the Roman streets (and are not even surprised). The main ones are: Aurelia, Cassia, Flaminia, Salaria, Tiburtina, Casilina, Appia, Nomentana and Prenestina. They were built by the ancient Romans mainly to transport goods. Today we find old evidence of them in the Appia Antica Park, for example near Santa Maria Nova.
At breakfast a maritozzo
The maritozzo with cream represents the quintessential Roman breakfast. In Rome, there are many forni that maintain the tradition. But you can also find special versions: with cream, chocolate, salted.
The carbonara in Testaccio
Testaccio is the most veracious neighborhood in Rome. On Sundays for lunch to eat the first courses of Roman cuisine this is certainly the ideal destination. There are many typical trattorias in the neighborhood, and let’s say that on the weekend you certainly can’t refuse a nice plate of Carbonara.
The firing of the Gianicolo Cannon
One thing that happens only in Rome is the firing of the Gianicolo cannon every day at noon. This bizarre way of communicating official time was adopted in the mid 1800s by Pope Pius IX. At first the cannon shot started from Castel Sant’Angelo, then from Monte Mario and finally from the Janiculum.
Drinking from the nasone
Nasoni are found only in Rome, and only the citizens of Rome (if not a few knowledgeable tourists) know what we are referring to. In fact, the capital’s public drinking fountains are shaped like a cylindrical shape with a curved tap, resembling a long nose.
Walking between past and present
Beneath the Rome of today is another city, the city of the past that brings to light the customs and traditions of the past. For a Roman, it is not strange to walk the modern streets with relics of Ancient Rome alongside. Past and present mingle giving uniqueness to the Eternal City.
The Roman Aqueducts
Although these works of high engineering can be found in other cities in Europe, Rome is where most of them can be admired. About 8 of them remain in the city. Among the most famous we also find the Claudio of the Aqueduct Park, surrounded by nature. Today the only one in operation is Aqua Virgo; it brings water to the Trevi Fountain, the Barge of the Spanish Steps and the Four Rivers fountain in the beautiful Piazza Navona.
The Pines of Rome
There are many lovers of Rome’s pine trees, the trees that characterize our city. An alarm was even raised a few years ago to save the Pinus Pinea from the turtle mealybug insect.