Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Fave Rome restaurants for view or historic interior?

Search

Fave Rome restaurants for view or historic interior?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 19th, 2014, 10:18 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Fave Rome restaurants for view or historic interior?

In Rome in April -- looking for good but not necessarily great food, but real emphasis on the experience -- setting/view or historic interior. Thanks so much for ideas.
m34aggie is offline  
Old Feb 19th, 2014, 10:54 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some links are dead but there are enough working to see the main points.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rmini-area.cfm
Rostra is offline  
Old Feb 19th, 2014, 12:08 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There's a restaurant near the Campo de'Fiori called the Grotte del Teatro di Pompeo, which is built over the ruins of the ancient Roman Theatre of Pompey. If the owner is there, and if he's not busy running the restaurant, and if he's in the mood, he may take you down to see the remains of the area under the stage of the theatre. Don't ask the waiters to do it; they're not allowed to bring customers down there, and the owner probably isn't supposed to either. The food is fine, but not out of the ordinary, and the prices are reasonable.

Another historic restaurant is Romolo, in Trastevere, which is in the building where Raphael supposedly whiled away the hours with the baker's daughter when he was supposed to be painting the frescoes at the nearby Villa Farnesina. His painting, La Fornerina, is supposed to represent the lovely young woman; you can see it in the Barberini Gallery. I never ate at Romolo; it seemed rather overpriced. However, I can recommend the nearby restaurant, Da Gildo.

Another legend recounts that Michelangelo went to the Villa Farnesina one day to see how Raphael's work was coming along. He didn't find Raphael, who was probably down the street with the Fornerina. So he picked up some charcoal and drew a head in one of the lunettes. Apparently, Raphael realized who had drawn this head and left it as it was. You can visit the Villa Farnesina (which I highly recommend) and see the drawing in the midst of the frescoes. I'm not sure scholars buy this story, but it is a very well-drawn head, and the frescoes are also magnificent.
bvlenci is offline  
Old Feb 19th, 2014, 12:47 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What a great story. Actually have been planning to get to the Villa Farnesina on this trip, so it's a twofer!
m34aggie is offline  
Old Feb 19th, 2014, 01:00 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Make it a threefer! Go to the Barberini Gallery as well, one of my favorite museums in Rome.
bvlenci is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Kienapple
Europe
2
Jan 17th, 2013 10:57 AM
Simone
Europe
20
Jun 28th, 2010 07:28 AM
bambii
Europe
5
Mar 21st, 2008 12:00 PM
Julie_Hurst
Europe
9
Aug 18th, 2007 06:59 AM
Dean
Europe
9
Jan 29th, 2004 09:40 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -