If you are going on a pilgrimage to Rome, and you don’t want to pay a ridiculous amount of money to sit in some tourist trap, stay away from conventional restaurants and give street food a well-deserved chance: you will discover unexpected, unique flavors. In fact, your experience will be much more rooted in Rome’s millennial history than you can imagine.
Street food in the Roman Empire
Selling “street” food is probably as old as mankind, but the ancient Romans definitely took it to a different level. As Apicius’ De Re Coquinaria shows, ancient Rome already considered gastronomy a high, refined art.
The Romans also built multi-story public buildings without kitchens to prevent fires. So, unless you were rich and had a villa (and a cook working for you) you had to buy take-away food every day. You could also go and have your meal in thermopolia (a kind of bar where ordinary citizens went), popinae (rather humble huts) or cauponae (the great-grandparents of medieval inns, offering lodging and food).
A short walk through the archaeological site of Pompeii can give you an idea of how big this food trade once was. The latest discovery of an almost intact thermopolium (there are more than eighty in the city) in December 2020 showed the kitchen still had traces of food in its vessels and containers.
Food production also reached industrial proportions. For example, garum, the favorite sauce of ancient Romans, was produced in Hispania and transported by land and sea throughout the empire.
Walking and eating: what pilgrims need
For two millennia, even after the fall of the Empire, Rome remained the center of the Catholic world. As such, it has never ceased to welcome pilgrims from all over the world in need of lodging and food, especially around St. Peter’s Basilica
Today, as in the past, after a day of pilgrimage, there is no better way to recharge your batteries than with some of Rome’s delicious street food. Here are some of the must-try stops:
- Pizza al Taglio
Pizza al taglio is an institution in Rome. It is sold by weight, and offers an endless variety of toppings, from classics like margherita to more innovative combinations with fresh seasonal ingredients.
- Supplì
These delicious morsels of fried rice stuffed with meat sauce and mozzarella cheese are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. You can find them mainly in the pizza al taglio joints that are scattered all over the city. Perfect for snacking on while exploring the Città Eterna.
- From the Tramezzino to the Trapizzino
Everyone knows the tramezzino, a triangular sandwich made with two slices of bacon, without no crust, filled with mayonnaise, sliced meat or vegetables. A recent addition to this delicious finger food is the trapizzino, a triangle of stuffed pizza dough. Some add coleslaw, others chicken and vegetables, or even meatballs and sauce.
- Gelato
No visit to Rome is complete without a taste of artisanal ice cream –gelato. With countless gelato parlors scattered throughout the city, you can enjoy classic flavors or try some other combinations –like lemon and basil. The choice is yours!
- Carciofi alla Giudia
This traditional dish of Rome’s Jewish community consists of artichokes fried until crispy and golden. It is a must-try specialty in Rome’s Jewish quarter –the Ghetto.
Rome is a city where history, faith, and flavor intertwine literally everywhere. The four great basilicas are silent witnesses to centuries of devotion and art, while the city’s street food offers a pleasant sensory experience. Discover Rome, and experience its spiritual and culinary riches.
