Places To Buy Food In Rome

Rome is full of open-air markets to please palates and sights and the famous Testaccio Market is not to be missed. Located in the well-liked area of Testaccio, between the Pyramid and the Tiber river, this area is often overlooked by tourists but well-frequented by locals for its restaurants, clubs and cafs. The area hosts the city’s previous slaughterhouse and that’s the reason why dishes such as ( oxtail ), and ‘trippa ‘ ( tripe ) were introduced in the local cuisine. In fact , slaughterhouse employees lived around here and were partly paid with what the Romans call the quinto quarto, or fifth quarter – the hide, tail and innards left over after carcasses are quartered.
Take the bus to Testaccio and step off on via Marmorata. Ramble into any side street and you’ll reach piazza Testaccio. Can’t find it? Just follow the smells of fresh veggies, fruit, flowers and horse beef and the stream of locals heading towards the ingredients of their next meal. Head right into the covered market and stroll thru the varied stalls selling fish, beef, cheese, fruit and vegetables. The variety and the amount of fresh goods will make your mouth water…
This market, like any market in Rome, is an one-stop shop for eating tasty food on the cheap. Walk up to a cheese and salami counter and choose your favourite. Buy some bread and you have yourself an inexpensive lunch ( or dinner ). The vegetarian selection is endless with ripe artichokes stacked high, chicory, fennel, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, while the colors of the fresh fruit will make you buy some just for the fun it – apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries, and pears.
If you have aAccommodation in Rome with cooking facilities, then buy some fish or beef from one of the stalls. One fish stall in particular is not to be missed : the Mastroianni siblings claim to be relatives of the great actor Marcello Mastroianni, proved by footage of unknown origins. Nevertheless, their fish selection is kind of impressive with weird fish, molluscs, shellfish, crustaceans and others I am not quite sure of what they are.
Once you’ve bought your goodies, and prior to heading back to your Rome Accommodation , head towards the famous and ancient Monte Testaccio – a synthetic mound in Rome composed nearly completely of ‘testae ‘, slivers of broken amphorae dating from the time of the Roman Empire. Monte Testaccio was used as a place of recreation when Stendhal visited in 1827. Eating good Italian food amid history, now that is’s an extraordinary Roman memory.

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