My Chinese friend and I are going to Rome during the Chinese New Year in Jan. Are there any celebrations and is there a big Chinatown area in Rome. Thanks

While there are certainly Chinese restaurants in Rome, I don't know of a "Chinatown" there, nor am I aware of a large, organized celebration for Chinese New Year. Chinese restaurants, may, of course, have their own recognition and celebration of this holiday.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

I haven't been in Rome since 2000, but I was just in Naples last month and saw how the Chinese population there has grown. There is a distinct Chinatown area there (although right by the Garibaldi train station it's not the nicest part of town) and maybe you might consider spending the new year in Naples, rather than Rome.

Interesting question: is there a Chinatown in Rome?

I typed in "Rome Chinatown" in Yahoo and came upon one entry that claims that the "Termini" area - the area around the main train station and one of the worst areas of Rome - can be considered the "new" Rome "Chinatown".

Goes with the territory. The Asian immigrants usually end up in some of the worst neighborhoods, because those are the only places they can afford. Then they transfer the seedy neighborhoods into something more respectable. It's happening now in San Francisco's Tenderloin area.

However, in Rome, I won't look for the kind of New Year's celebrations that you will get in San Francisco's Chinatown, with the parades, fireworks, dragon dances and so forth. I could be wrong, but it doesn't seem like Rome has a large Chinese community.

Enjoy Rome! There's a lot more to do and see there than "Rome Chinatown"!
Jason

Rome does not have a large Chinese community and the area around Termini and southwest to Piazza Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II has long been an area populated by recent immigrants to Rome. There you will find many Africans, Muslims and Indians as well as Chinese.