Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
character of the piazza changes towards the evening when its bars become busy, tak-
ing over corners of the square. Pedestrianised Via del Pigneto (
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), to
Rome's northeast, follows a similar trajectory: market in the morning, bars and cafes
creating a party atmosphere in the evening. In the historic centre, locals and tourists
gather to rest and people-watch on the Spanish Steps (
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), but these empty
as night falls. Day or evening, the stadium-sized Piazza Navona (
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) ebbs
and flows with people-watching entertainment.
La Passeggiata
In the early evening, the
passeggiata
(an early evening stroll) is an important part of
Roman life, as it is elsewhere in Italy. Locals will usually dress up before heading
out. Like many other parts of everyday life, such as coffee-drinking, Italians have el-
evated a seemingly simple practice into something special.
Romans will usually head to the area that's most convenient for them. Trastevere (
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) tends to be a broader mix of tourists and young people. Villa Borghese (
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) and the Pincio Hill Gardens (
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) attract more families and are
more tranquil. Via del Corso is popular among younger window-shoppers, while
Rome's smartest shopping strip, Via dei Condotti (
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), attracts a mix of
ages. In summer, there's the Lungo il Tevere festival (
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) on Isola Tiberina,
and stalls along the riverside create a new area for early evening wanders.
Many people out on the stroll will opt, instead of paying €5 or so to sit and drink at
a bar, to stop for a more affordable gelato, which they can eat on their way. In sum-
mer, you'll see lots of people enjoying
grattachecca
- flavoured, crushed ice - along
the banks of the Tiber.
The
bella figura
('beautiful figure', better explained as 'keeping up appearances')
is important here, and the
passeggiata
is as much about checking everyone else out
as it is about enjoying the atmosphere. The
passeggiata
reaches its height in summer,
as 5pm or 6pm is when the heat of the day subsides. There's not much else to do, so
why not head out into the street?
