Does anyone know the history of the gypsies, the pickpockets. Do the children attend school? Where do they live in Rome?
Have heard so much about them and wondered what their history is and their origins.

No, but I can tell you all about the pickpockets who aren't "Gypsies" and who look remarkably just like you do.

Alas they aren't restricted to Rome. Delightfully they prey on many of the rest of us in different countries too.

Most originate from Eastern Europe, get into whatever country, bleed the system dry and 'earn' their cash stealing and picking pockets. They pretend not to speak the language and the 'mothers' often drug the smaller children to make them look placid and ill and thus get more mugs to give them cash.

Better stop before I'm accused of turning into a fascist....!

Dear IG,

Google "Roma".

Not all Gypsies are thieves, nor are all thieves Gypsies.

If you want to know more about the gypsie,read this article is quite interesting.

http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_25/c3686071.htm

Thanks for your responses.

"Not all Gypsies are thieves, nor are all thieves Gypsies"......sounds like a Cher song!

There was a Gypsie theater in Moscow, heavily advertized by the communist propaganda as "the only one in the world". Anybody knows if it still exists?

If you truly wanted to learn about their history and origins, you can easily find respectable books on the subject, or legitimate web sites with considerable articles. Their origin is originally NW India. I read a book by Isabel Fonseca on them "Bury Me Standing", which I think was fairly unbiased and covered many issues regarding their history, origins, culture and current practices and living arrangements and locations. She is particularly interested in this subject and spent some time with them while researching this book. I believe she is a British citizen, you can find some articles by her on the web.

There are many others, and the Romany main organizations (I think one is Romany Congress) have some websites with lots of information on them, also, including historical origins. I have read some people claiming they did not come from NW India, but even the official Romany organizations agree with that. I believe Romania, Albania, and Hungary are countries with some of the largest populations, percentagewise (Czech Republic, also).

Thanks the Business Week article was excellent and thanks Christina for advice on where to search for the history, etc. info.
I am well aware that Gypsies are not all thieves.
Just very curious about this sect of people who seem to be refugees from war torn areas.