One Moment, Three Reasons to Love Rome

A short walk around Rome this evening reminded me of why I still feel so lucky to live here. Below, three reasons that hit me at the same time:

The fact that piazzas as beautiful as this one can still be so empty, regardless of all the jabber-jawing about how inundated by tourists Rome is. (And yes, this looks quite similar in the summer, too). This one is Piazza Farnese, but don't tell anybody.

Okay, I know it might not look like much, but this castagnaccio (a heavy cake made of chestnut flour) is deceptively delicious. Like most other Italian desserts, not too sweet, but filling and just nutty enough. I bought this at Antico Forno, the bakery on Campo dei Fiori, as a little winter's-arrival treat.

Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Rome's only Gothic church. It boasts the body of St. Catherine of Siena, a (supposed) Michelangelo sculpture, the tomb of Fra Angelico, and some gorgeous frescoes by Filippino Lippi, but I also just love the view as soon as you walk in. So different from everything else in Rome.

So: Sitting on that piazza, eating a castagnaccio, and contemplating my stroll over to see Santa Maria Sopra Minerva -- one moment, three reasons why I feel lucky to live in Rome. As frustrating as it can sometimes be.

 

 

Comments

[Julie Gilley]

You are lucky to live in Rome, and I am soooo jealous!! I created 10 Reasons I Love Rome list you might like (and, believe me, it was hard to keep it to just 10!): http://juliegilley.typepad.com/my_far_and_away_blog/2009/03/10-things-that-make-me-happy-in-rome.html

I'll have to try the castagnaccio next time I visit. It does look delicious!

[Amanda]

Hey Julie,

Love your list, and your blog - I've been "lurking" on it for a while now! Thanks for stopping by.