Archives des Rome – Scuola Romit

Five tips to live in Rome in the best way possible

scuolaromit — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 05:45:54 +0000

Rome is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. History, art, culture and entertainment combine in this city giving life to a truly unique setting. The climate, the landscapes, the views are some characteristics traits of a city that includes the famous “seven hills”, developing thus on different gradients and not all on the same level.

Having the chance to live and reside in Rome for some time is a great opportunity to literally travel back in time and at the same time learn Italian beside the country’s traditions. If you have already been to Rome you will have undoubtedly noticed that this city’s life is unique in the true sense of the word! How to orient yourself in this big city, with its neighbourhoods, its narrow streets, its habits as well as the less pleasant aspects related to its urban life?

Rome and traffic. Like any big city, Rome too is not immune to traffic. So, lets say you have an appointment and have to use the public transport net. Try to plan ahead, especially if you have to cross the city. This rule applies even more if the weather threatens rain or if it’s pouring. In this case, arm yourself with patience and determination and if you can’t really do it, perhaps calling Noah with his ark might be the idea! Seriously, remember Termini station is the connecting point for the subway lines and, in general, the area from which the main connections depart. If you have to take the car, leaving early is a must. Rome is a city where traffic, especially in the middle of the day, could prove unmanageable. So, consider well whether it is better to drive or use public transportation, or even, why not, rent a nice bike to move around!
Coffee! How could you not surrender to the allure of a good espresso in Italy? Remember then, that in Rome, an excellent coffee is essential break in the day, as well as a widespread habit among all Italians. Let the scent of coffee beans guide you towards a characteristic café where to stop. How much does a coffee cost? Starting from around 80 cents, depending on the café or bar where you happen to find yourself. If you ask for “un caffée”, you will be served the classic cup. So if you prefer your coffee “long”, “macchiato” (with milk), or if you want a “cappuccino”, always specify at the counter the type of coffee you want.
The traditional cuisine. The authentic culinary dimension of a city is almost always discovered in areas not overly touristic but in rather typical trattorias, perhaps in some nice historic alley. Famous are some Roman dishes such as the Carbonara, the Amatriciana, two very well-known first courses, or the famous Jewish-style artichokes. If you are in a trattoria, you will never be denied advice from the staff, on the contrary! Romans are very helpful and of a sunny disposition; let the chef himself recommend you a nice dish!

Areas to be avoided. Saturday evening is here and we would like to go out after a week of work or study. What to do, but especially, which neighbourhood should we avoid, especially if staying out late? There are certain neighbourhoods that are less popular and after a certain hour may get a little dangerous, as with any city in the world. The advice is to call a taxi and ask to be dropped close to home if we realize that it’s already pretty late. Remote peripheral areas, located at the terminals of the subway, or on the outskirts, are a bit more critical. The area surrounding Termini train station could be risky if you are alone and it is late. Unfortunately, one can encounter some ill-intentioned person any where in the world. The same advice that we should follow in any big city is applicable. Prudence, especially in the dead of night.
Relaxing. You have studied all week and worked hard. You need to regenerate, to walk, go for a run in the park, admire a beautiful landscape. You might climb up to the Terraces of the Pincio, explore Villa Borghese or Villa Torlonia, where you will be able to walk in beautiful green areas and see some very characteristic architectural ruins, linked to the historical events of this timeless place.

Well, these are just a few brief suggestions meant to help you the best possible way during your stay in Rome, from practical management of city life to the more relaxing moments. Let your instinct guide you, discover the places that instil you with positive emotions and feel free to ask your new friends or language course teachers for advice, and get ready to live an unforgettable experience!

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The Rione Monti. Places to visit

scuolaromit — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 06:00:01 +0000

Rome, the Eternal City, is a place full of surprises and charm. The historical eras have followed one another stratifying themselves and leaving an indelible mark of the passage of peoples and cultures. Even today, to visit this city is a marvellous experience. Even the less known sights, the neighbourhoods farther from the centre can hide a little surprise for us.

Among the various areas of the city, Rione Monti, is a place full of attractions, home to art galleries, bars, clubs, taverns, narrow streets, where you can taste Roman culinary specialties. Yet, once this neighbourhood was not so highly considered by the citizens of Rome, as it was considered a run-down area of the city. That isn’t the case anymore, indeed, the situation has changed so much that the neighbourhood can now be considered among the coolest in the city and is loved even by celebrities. Art galleries, shops, wine bars adorn the streets of this area, which boasts also an interesting nightlife!

Via Panisperna

The area’s name comes from the expression lì monti (the hills), which indicated an area including the hills Esquiline, Viminal, part of Quirinal and of Caelian, arriving up to the Aurelian Walls. Although today some of these areas are excluded from this topographical subdivision the name has remained unchanged.

Rione Monti is also one of the oldest districts of the capital and was once densely populated. It appears as a very heterogeneous area as it has undergone various experiences throughout history. For example, despite its enormous development in Roman times, the aqueduct that supplied this urban area with water, was damaged during the Middle Ages and interrupting the urbanization, which resumed only in modern times and is still continuing.

Piazza Madonna dei Monti

It currently appears as a neighbourhood full of alleys, tiny streets and rather high buildings, dating from different periods and styles. Via del Boschetto, Via Urbana, via Baccina are some of these characteristic narrow streets, while Piazza degli Zingari and Piazza Madonna dei Monti are among the most populated areas.

In Piazza Madonna dei Monti we find the church that has the same name as the square and which in the thirteenth century was monastery housing a community of Poor Clares. This area, later a place of worship, was originally a barn and owes its change of use to a curious episode. Some labourers who were working in its vicinity heard a voice begging them not to hurt the child. Precisely in this spot a fresco representing the Virgin and Child was found; today in this area we find an altar. The church was designed by the famous Giacomo della Porta in the sixteenth century and is considered a true architectural masterpiece in two orders. We find rises also a characteristic fountain known as the Fountain of the Catechumens, a seventeenth-century construction located near the square where there is also the College of Catechumens, which gives the fountain its name. The fountain also was designed by Giacomo della Porta and commissioned by Pope Sixtus V.

Another particularly interesting church is the Basilica of Saint Praxedes, dating back to the first century AD. The church, which all art lovers should visit at least once in their lives, has three naves divided by columns and pillars and houses some really magnificent mosaics. The theme developed by the mosaic in the apse is that of the apocalypse, with the Christ and the golden halo and the roll, the lambs, Saint Paul, Santa Praxedes and the city of Jerusalem.

Alongside these tiny streets, palaces and religious buildings, there are also other places of cultural interest. Among these there are various theatres in the district that are among the most famous in the city. The Eliseo theatre and the Opera House are located very close to the Rione, and in general, this neighbourhood is very close to Rome’s major attractions. From here everything can be easily reached, so even with just a short walk we can admire monuments and sites of interest.

A curiosity related to this neighbourhood is the fact that it seems to be particularly popular with celebrities, so, if we were to head for this area, perhaps, while shopping around the many stores or craft shops or while sipping a coffee in one of the bars, we might meet a show business celebrity!

Vittoriano.

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Spring, Easter time: Roman recipes and traditions

scuolaromit — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 05:30:17 +0000

Can you smell that scent in the air? That warm climate, full of expectations, the blue and still capricious skies, the blossoming flowers and blooming fields? Well yes, spring is here and it is one of the most beautiful seasons in Rome, to be enjoyed in many different ways; Walks around monuments or parks, eating outdoors, trips to the beach to enjoy the first warm sun of the year. Along with spring comes Easter, co-protagonist of the saying “Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi”, meaning “Christmas with your family, Easter with whom you wish”, a holiday that mixes tradition with greater freedom of interpretation and experience.

What are the traditions, rituals and the typical traits of a Roman Easter? Certainly of great importance are the religious rites related to two key moments: the Palm Sunday, with its processions in various districts of the city and its surroundings and Good Friday, with the Via Crucis to the Coliseum walked by the Pope in person in a context to define suggestive would be simplistic.

In addition to the religious aspect, another certainly fundamental element of Easter is the culinary one, with the unusual breakfast of Easter Sunday’s morning; not a typical breakfast by Italian standards, but rich and abundant, a surprise for you if you were to be hosted by a family that respects the traditions.

No tea, cookies, cappuccino and croissant, but, rather, the green light to a wide variety of dishes which come as a “reward” after the forty days of the “lean” Lent diet.

What is on the table? The Colomba (an Italian cake in the form of a dove), boiled eggs, painted with food colours or decorated with stickers, “Corallina”, a type of salami, a salty cheese cake, the “Pasqualina” cake made with rum, alchermes and vanillin and the inevitable Easter chocolate eggs, all of which conceal inside a surprise gift; the opening of the eggs remains one of the day’s favourite moments for the children and non.

A very rich breakfast at which you do not stop, but which is rather a prelude to Easter lunch, which has certainly nothing to envy to breakfast. So prepare yourself to eat a lot again, if you are invited to lunch at someone’s home. What is on the menu? The choices are many but usually, in honour of the ancient tradition from the region of Lazio, land of shepherds and farmers, you might taste lamb prepared in various ways (as chops, “in brodettato”, in broth with egg and lemon juice, in sauce chasseur or in the Roman way), roasted kid, artichokes in the Roman or in the Jewish style, re-grown pizza and of course desserts such as the Pastiera, of Neapolitan tradition, the Colomba and the chocolate eggs.

What do you do with the leftovers? Obviously nothing is thrown away and it can be used for Easter Monday picnics, a day traditionally dedicated to trips to the beach, or a lake, the countryside or simply to the park of one of the many villas in Rome. You can have a barbecue, eat, have fun and then simply return to normal daily life and the beautiful Roman spring days ahead.

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Erasmus in Rome: an exciting experience

scuolaromit — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 13:00:55 +0000

The choice could have fallen on the Netherlands, on Spain, on England, on France, on Germany and many other countries, European and non. Very attractive and interesting destinations, each one for various reasons, but, in the end, you decided (or destiny did or the University’s secretariat) to come and do the Erasmus in Italy, in Rome. Excitement, euphoria, expectations, study plans that you should respect, but do not know if you will succeed in following, given the million things you plan to do and see. All this will follow you along on this adventure. An experience and a challenge that will last a few months and that will surely be a milestone in your life, unforgettable no matter what.

If you have seen the film “The Spanish apartment” (released in 2002 and directed by Cedric Klapisch) or heard the stories of friends who have already left, you have an idea of how stimulating and fulfilling this experience might be. Openness, friendliness, knowledge of the language (or at least of English), adaptability and the skill to change habits and learn from others are the needed requirements: Are you ready? Rome is a good choice and you will not regret it.

The first step – that should be taken with ease and attention – is to find an apartment to share with other students like you, who will be your fellow adventurers, who will support you and are likely to become a memorable part of your future life. The most popular districts where to find an apartment are San Lorenzo, Piazza Bologna, Pigneto, Ostiense, Tor Vergata, dpending also on the university you will refer to.

Familiarizing with the university is in fact another key step to take in order to live a positive and peaceful Erasmus experience. The challenge may reveal not to be so easy, considering the chaos that reigns in some degree courses, but then again adaptability was one of the basic requirements, was it not?

A good tip would be to have an ESN card, the oldest Erasmus association in Rome, active since 1993, which allows you to enjoy many events and services organized for Erasmus students in the capital. Fun parties, trips to nearby towns, cocktail evenings, movie forums, sports, cultural activities of various kinds will allow you to socialize, make new acquaintances with people of different nationalities, settle in, discover new things and expand your horizons; one of the fundamental objectives of Erasmus, here in Rome or, actually, everywhere else as well.

What to do if you are in Rome as an Erasmus student, besides studying? The list is really long and goes from art, to architecture, to food, to various kinds of events, to parks and even the nearby sea (where you will obviously take your exam books!). From St. Peter’s to the Sixtin Chapel, from the Janiculum to the Pincio, from the charming views of the Appian Way to the romantic bridges over the Tiber , as well as the gelatos and the pizza feasts, the eternal city will stay in your heart.

Enjoy your Erasmus!

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The Cats of Rome: from Largo Argentina to the Pyramid

scuolaromit — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 06:35:03 +0000

The Eternal City boasts an ancient love for cats that goes back to Imperial Rome, when cats were considered to be a pet and a loyal companion of the earthly life and the afterlife. Many names and surnames in ancient Rome derived from the Latin word “cat” and the worship of the goddess Isis (patron of all animals and especially of the feline par excellence) to whom temples were dedicated in every city of the Empire, helped to strengthen the love for the cat as a sacred and very important animal. Over the years even poems were dedicated to Rome’s cats, such as the Roman poet’s Trilussa’s poems.

Even today Rome devotes great care and attention to its feline inhabitants and walking around the city, from the centre to the suburbs, you will meet various cats colonies, protected, supported and cared for by citizens and sensitive animal lovers.

The largest and perhaps most famous colony is the one located in the striking excavations of Largo di Torre Argentina, a sacred area with a thousands-year old history where the Theatre and the ancient Curia of Pompey were found and where it is believed Julius Ceaser died by the hand of Brutus and the other conspirators.

Immersed in the ruins of ancient temples, a large colony of cats slowly developed over the years: it is in fact since 1929 (year in which the ruins of Largo di Torre Argentina were brought to light) that the strays of the capital have begun to find shelter among the ancient temples and many Romans developed the habit of bringing here abandoned cats. The “gattare” and “gattari” of Rome, citizens with a passion for these wonderful cats, take care of them and willingly devote them their time and attention.

Another charming place where you can find cats, protected and cared for by dedicated and available volunteers, is the Protestant Cemetery or English Cemetery located near the Pyramid of Cestius in the Testaccio district. A magical and perhaps little known place of the Capital, that houses, among others, the tombs of great poets such as John Keats, Percy Shelley, Antonio Gramsci, and one of Goethe’s five children.

It is definitely a place to visit for its spectacular view of the pyramid, some wonderful sculptures and the silence that pervades it. Walking among the famous and less famous graves, you will meet all sorts of different cats; chubby, clean and with very different colours and at the entrance of the cemetery you can also make an offer to support them.

Besides the cats of the Pyramid and the ones of Largo Argentina there is also a small feline colony in the gardens of Piazza Vittorio, which houses the “magical door”, another must-see destination for those who are truly curious of the Capital’s hidden treasures. Walking around the city you will most certainly encounter cats dozing on the most suggestive monuments and ruins, adding an even more fascinating touch to the treasures of Rome.

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How to choose an Italian language school in Rome

scuolaromit — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 09:00:58 +0000

Choosing to study a language in its country of origin, where it evolved and is constantly spoken, is always a good choice as it allows you to experience a full immersion in the everyday and cultural life of the place. Moreover, if the language that you are about to study is Italian and you have the opportunity to stay in Rome, the capital of the Bel Paese (beautiful country – Italy, as described by Dante), well in that case, there will be considerable benefits from this choice.

You will be able to study the language and also have the opportunity to visit monuments and places, have glimpses of the Eternal City, and live in person all those positive experiences that come through being in touch with the people and the all Italian habits and customs and traditions. From the standpoint of the arts, film, theatre and even the culinary art, the cultural life in Rome is very lively throughout the year and you will not be disappointed. There are many places where you can put into practice what has been learned from your Italian classes, so it is easy to imagine how important it is to choose the right learning environment.

By choosing a good Italian language school it is possible to learn the language actively, in other words “learning Italian by living it”. A good course should ideally integrate linguistic and grammatical aspects with activities aiming at developing conversational skills. listening and understanding. If you are thinking of studying Italian in Rome, then you will no doubt find a thousand good and valid reasons to do so, but how to choose the right school?

A good school should begin by considering the requirements and the needs of the student, and create a course based on his expectations. Why does one choose to study a language? This question reveals that there are a thousand different reasons, depending on the person who feels the need or just a simple curiosity to learn a foreign language. To ensure that the knowledge of the language be functional, it is, however, necessary that it can be practiced through an interactive method, especially if we take into account the evolutionary changes of the idiom and its developments.

In fact, a good language school has a specialized staff, professionals in the field, who are passionately devoted to teaching. A good team of teachers is capable of encouraging the student through an educational approach that would also include the simulation of everyday situations which request the ability to put into practice what was previously learned. In addition, several institutions may offer the opportunity to prepare for specific tests such as CILS, CELI and PLIDA.

Another aspect that should not be underestimated if you are about to choose an Italian language school in Rome is the atmosphere felt inside the school. A atmosphere that is conversational, professional and yet friendly and familiar, will undoubtedly help the student feel better valued and followed and encouraged to get in the game. Bright classrooms, environments that transmit optimism and encourage socialization, are factors that should not to be overlooked.

If you are searching online for an Italian language school in Rome, there will certainly be many offers, however, it is undoubtedly a good idea to go and visit personally the school’s environment, meet the teachers and let yourself be guided and advised by your own instincts. It will certainly be easier to choose!

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What to do to study Italian in Rome

scuolaromit — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 17:00:19 +0000

The decision was finally taken. We had thought about it so much, we had asked ourselves a thousand questions, evaluated pros and cons of such a choice but in the end, studying Italian in Rome, in the heart of Italy, became our goal.

If we have chosen to stay in Italy for some time and learn the language but we still do not know what to do in order to study Italian at its best, nor how to orient ourselves around Rome and how to choose the school that best suits our needs, but not panic!

Looking for a school that specializes in teaching Italian and with several years of experience, up-to-date and capable of offering students specifically formulated courses while providing excellent learning environments, is a necessary step!

Searching through the Internet, we would certainly come across different results, but what to do and how to choose? We can start by consulting the websites of the various schools to try to grasp all the information we need.

What are our learning needs, or, in other words, our motivations and expectations? On the basis of these questions, it will certainly be easier to understand if the school in question can meet our needs. Learning a language is not just a simple matter of linguistics, the memorisation of syntactic and morphological aspects; learning a language means getting in touch with its more active and dynamic nature, with the life of the country where it is spoken and with the way it is used from those who speak it regularly.

For the Italian language, which certainly has aspects that may appear complex, it is necessary to have the opportunity to actively experience what we learn in class with the help of the right professionals and the right support. If we believe we we have chosen a good school, we can make contacts, introduce ourselves, specify our needs with the qualified staff and initiate a study plan.

Ok, I have chosen the school, but I still have no place where to stay! Again, let us not panic! Again, a good school also offers, for example, solutions for accommodation, or however, does not hesitate to act as an intermediary, helping you find a room, an apartment, or, if you prefer, accommodation in a family. Surely your new teachers will not hesitate to offer practical help with appropriate and precise information.

If you chose to study Italian in Rome, you will not regret it. If you should prefer to stay in an apartment, you can choose to share it, if you like, in order to amortize the costs, also considering that all notorious sights are well connected by public transport. In addition, in Rome you will find many opportunities to socialize and share and you certainly will certainly not be bored: music, cinema, theatre and sightseeing tours to the famous and to the less known areas of the city, because the city often hides many less known but still very fascinating sites.

Starting, however, by choosing a good school is the best way to proceed and to be sure to have entrusted one’s course of the study of Italian in the “right hands”. Is it not true that “a good beginning makes a good ending”? Precisely so!

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Where to study in Rome? A few libraries where to be in peace

scuolaromit — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 14:24:41 +0000

You feel like brushing up on your textbook, doing your homework, studying the grammar or simply reading in peace, but your roommates are doing the cleaning, the neighbours are listening to music at full volume and the phone keeps ringing and not leaving you in peace.

Staying at home is pointless. What can one come up with then? If the weather is nice, the city offers many villas and parks where to go and study in peace, but if it’s winter, it’s cold and raining you have to find other solutions. How about a quiet library? In Rome there are lots of libraries and you just need to consult Google or the Internet site of the Municipality of Rome to find them all and choose the closest and most convenient one. We will mention some of the most important or characteristic ones.

One of the largest libraries in Rome where you can find countless books and panels to consult and study in complete peace and quite is the National Library in Castro Pretorio, very close to the Termini station (easily accessible with metro line B). The number of volumes preserved in the library is considerable as well as the space dedicated to studying without being disturbed.

Moving towards the suburbs and in a smaller reality, you will find the Library-theatre Quarticciolo, a recently born multipurpose centre where, beside the library, you will also be able to dedicate yourself to studying as well as find a theatre, an exhibition area and a refreshment area; A cultural centre as well as a simple library, because, perhaps, after studying you might feel like relaxing and watching a nice play. What do you think?

If you want to combine the studying, the concentration and the books with a good cup of coffee, tea or something to eat with an aperitif, it will be hard to avoid the Caffè Letterario in Via Ostiense. It is a library, a bookshop, a coffee place, a co-working space and a place where artistic and cultural events of various kinds are held. A huge multifunctional space set in an old garage that houses a public library where you can choose from over 7,000 documents, including books, magazines and audio-visual material (DVDs with Italian and foreign art films and music CDs). Something to experience.

If you feel like studying in a library surrounded by a park, here are a few where you will be able to focus while enjoying a nice view over the green: the Library Villa Mercede, situated in the quiet park of Villa Mercede in the district of San Lorenzo, the Library Casa del Parco located inside the park of the Pineto and the Library Villa Leopardi within the park of the same name in the Trieste district.

Have you chosen your library? Are you finally ready to study in complete quiet?

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From Chagall to Matisse: new exhibitions opening in Rome

scuolaromit — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 14:00:10 +0000

Rome is an open-air museum and offers a lot of free cultural opportunities of enrichment and entertainment, even by just walking around, if you keep your eyes open and are ready to grasp all the details. If you have been staying in the city for a while now, you will have probably already realized that. Moreover, if you are fond of art shows, the eternal city has nothing to envy to other European capitals, and in February and March pulls out its trump card. There is really plenty of choice!

Beginning with an exhibition dedicated to Giorgio Morandi, to be held at the Vittoriano complex from February 27th to June 21st, which will display a large number of works by the painter and engraver born in 1890 and died in 1964 in Bologna. A very large number of his works will be gathered for this exposition among the paintings and engravings made throughout the artist’s life. He was one of the greatest representatives of Realism in the Italian twentieth century. A great way to experience this artist if by any chance you still do not know who he is.

From March 3rd to May 24th arrives “Bernini designer-lab genius” at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica in the Barberini Palace. The exhibition will include over 200 canvases (from the collection of Leipzig) representing many of the major projects implemented during the life of the great exponent of the Roman Baroque. A refined and unique exhibition ranging from figure drawings to architectural drawings and decorative arts to discover the secrets of Bernini’s art.

It will then be the turn of Matisse; this exhibition will be held at the Scuderie del Quirinale from March 4th to June 21st, offering a wonderful opportunity to the admirers of the great painter, illustrator, engraver and French sculptor, born in 1869 and died in 1954. He is one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century as well as exponent of the Fauves. The exhibition, taking place in the beautiful setting of the Stables of the Quirinal Palace, gathers more than a hundred works by the French artist from the major European (especially Moscow and St. Petersburg) and American museums: paintings, drawings and theatrical costumes made by Matisse during his entire life. It promises to be an opportunity not to miss!

Shortly after there will be the opening of: “Chagall – Love and Life” from March 15th to July 26th at the Cloister of Bramante, a unique place next to the church of Santa Maria della Pace, near Piazza Navona. The exhibition offers the public more than 150 works, including drawings, paintings and prints of the great Russian artist of Jewish descent, analysing the relationship between the painter and his wife, Bella Rosenfeld, the artist’s great inspirational muse throughout his life. We find references to Jewish culture, the influence of the French avant-garde and the presence of symbols that represented a constant in Chagall’s entire artistic production, such as the goat, the donkey, the violin player and the lovers. A wonderful opportunity for all the admirers of the great Russian artist born in 1887 and died in 1985.

Are you ready to start a Roman tour through its art exhibitions?

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The “big noses” of Rome: a heritage to preserve

scuolaromit — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 09:24:57 +0000

One of the many peculiarities and beauties of the eternal city are its noses. “Sorry? What are you talking about?” You’re probably wondering, not be aware of having seen them around many times and to have probably also used them with pleasure in the hottest days in and around the city. We are talking of the public drinking fountains in Rome (made of cast iron, around 1,20 m high and with a cylindrical shape) from which gushes always drinking water available to all for free, and whose name comes from the curved shape of the faucet that looks just like a big nose.

Rome is the only city in the world to have fountains made only for the purpose of quenching the thirst of the people and it has been estimated to have about 2,500 of those “noses” scattered throughout the territory. There is a little fountain more or less everywhere, in the streets, in public parks, close to markets or post offices or just along the street of a peripheral neighbourhood: you must have noticed them! Recently a free app was created in partnership with Acea (a multiservice company active in the management and development of networks and services in waterworks, energy and the environment), to pinpoint the “big noses” scattered around the city and, in case of need, to quickly find the closest one.

The “nasone” is one of Rome’s symbols; but when did it appear in the city for the first time? The famous “big noses” were realized for the first time in 1874 at the behest of Mayor Luigi Pianciani: the City Council approved the creation of a lot of fountains in cast iron with three nozzles decorated with dragon heads, from where the water flowed down, then through a grate, into the sewer conduct. Subsequently, the model was slightly modified by removing the three openings in the shape of a dragon’s head and installing only a simple curved and smooth faucet. For the rest of the model, the “big noses” have remained unchanged over time, maintaining their charm.

One of the oldest fountains, dating back to the original batch and still working, is located in Piazza della Rotonda, near the Pantheon, and is one of the few vintage “big noses” still working in Rome. The others are located in Via delle tre Cannelle (near Palazzo Colonna), in Via di San Teodoro (near the Mouth of Truth), and in Piazza San Giovanni della Malva and Piazza Priscinula in Trastevere. How about getting up and going to have a look and to take a step back in time (as well as a drink of really fresh water)?

The Municipality continues to produce these peculiar little fountains and to install them also in the new neighbourhoods, so, for many years to come we will not remain short of “big noses” gushing fresh and drinking water, free for all. One of the symbols of Rome, in other words, still enjoys pretty good health!

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