Summer Getaway: Santa Marinella Beach

If you are in Roma during the summer months the weather may take you by surprise. The temperature in June and July can be well into the 90's. On top of the weather the crowded peak season for tourism can be very draining. If your time isn't too limited in Roma try taking a day trip to the beautiful pristine beach of Santa Marinella. Here you can escape both the crowds and the heat. The crystal clear water of Santa Marinella makes it one of the most inviting around Roma!

Santa Marinella 

Another charming aspect of Santa Marinella is the close proximity to Roma. A short 50 minute train ride from Termini station takes you straight to Santa Marinella. To top it all off the beach is literally a quick 5 minute walk from the station! Because of my limited Italian I was a little nervous heading to the beach the first time, but all you have to do is follow the swimsuit wearing crowd and they will lead you right to the beach. It's nearly impossible to get lost.

Beware that during the summer Santa Marinella can get very crowded. There is a small public section, but the majority of the beach is divided up into private sectors. Renting an umbrella can range from 10 to 20 euro, depending on the location. If you get tired of sunbathing by the beach then head in to the small town right off the coast. The town is lined with small boutiques that sell little trinkets perfect for a souvenir to take home! 

Piazza Navona

Being in Roma for two weeks now I can say with certainty that I still have not figured out the winding narrow alleys of this city yet. If you are directionally challenged like me then the winding alleys and streets of the Eternal City are not your friends. One day as I was lost and wondering the streets of ancient Roma, I stumbled upon a breathtaking open space. I did not know where I was or what this place was called, but I was captivated by the magnificent fountain in the center of this piazza. Even with the hot sun blazing down on this unshaded piazza there was still a very big crowd, I was clearly not the only one captivated by the beauty of this place.

Piazza Navona

After a few attempts of using my broken Italian to ask around I found out this place was called Piazza Navona. The piazza was originally the Stadio di Domiziano (Stadium of Domitian), the ancient Romans used to come here to watch the agonies (games). A kind hostess by a local cafe told me that in the summer the ancient Romans even used the Piazza as a pool! I wish I could see this massive Piazza filled with water.

My gaze was immediately drawn to the center of the Piazza where the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi ( Fountain of the Four Rivers) with the Egyptian obelisk stood. The four rivers represented the four continents known at the time. The Nile for Africa, the Ganges for Asia, the Danube for Europe and the Plata for the Americas. 

Piazza Navona is a great resting spot for hungry tourists. There are numerous cafes and restaurants surrounding the Piazza. As for me I thoroughly enjoyed my people watching experience here. Some times it's nice to take a break, slow down and soak in your surroundings!  

Roma Open Air Markets

When in Roma there are many things that can't be missed such as a visit to the Colosseo or a tour of the Vaticano, but rising to the top of my list are the open air markets. When I think of Italia cuisine the first thing that comes to mind is pizza, pasta and gelato. These three items have been the staple of my every meal here in Roma for the past week. But in order to dig a little deeper into the culture and cuisine of Roma I ventured out in to an open air markets, Campo de' Fiori.

Campo de' Fiori

Campo de' Fiori is located right in the Piazza Campo de' Fiori. This market is perhaps one of the oldest in town. The market started off a meeting place for farmers to sell their herbs and vegetables, but eventually expand to meat, fish and flower stalls. Campo de' Fiori is open Monday to Saturday. The market offers a wide array of fruits, vegetables, meats and flowers along with clothing and accessory stalls. The first thing that visitors see when they arrive is the colorful fruit and flower stalls at the end of the Piazza.

The beautiful site of the fruit and flower stalls is a must see for every tourist, but beware that the prices can be quite high at Campo de' Fiori, but no worries if you are getting hungry make sure to stop by the Forno Campo de' Fiori. 

This is a small bakery in the corner of the market right off of Via Del Cappellari. The bakery is known for their Pizza Bianca, a simple snack that is crispy, oily and salty on the outside with a hint of rosemary while soft and light on the inside. The bakery also serves a wide variety of pastries and sandwiches. 

The Campo de' Fiori has now transformed in to a mix of both Roma natives shopping for their daily meals and tourists looking to enjoy a taste of the old Roma. Although the Campo de' Fiori can get crowded at times, it certainly is a must see for anyone visiting Roma.

Piramide di Caio Cestio

When in Roma, the main attractions many tourists that have on their lists of things to see will most likely places include: such as La Basilica di San Pietro (St. Peter's Basilica) Il Colosseo (The Colosseum), and the Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain), but there is one That is often overlooked by tourists and usually you unknown to them. A site to see in Roma is the Pyramid of Cestio. It is the only pyramid still standing in Roma and dates back to 12 BC when emperor Caio Cestio ruled the city and the Romans were which was tremendously inspired by Egyptian architecture. It now serves as a tomb for Cestio. 

This pyramid is quite easy to find as it is located right at the metro stop on the B line called Pyramid and also located at the heart of Piazza di Porto San Paolo. 


The best part about Piazza di Porto San Paolo is that there is even more to see than just the pyramid. The pyramid of Cestio is surrounded by the Aurelian wall that encloses the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Roma. There are famous people buried here Inglese: such as the  poets John Keats and Percy Bysse Shelley. Amongst These poets, the ones buried here include notable painters, scientists, and diplomats. meadows There are nice as well, Especially stunning colorful in the spring time when flowers and beautiful scenery engross the  area. Additionally, it  is home to a cat sanctuary, a place for cats to meander about undisturbed. 

The Pyramid of Cestio is one of the many things you can see on Tram Tracks adventure through Roma. It is definitely worth the visit!

Capuchin Crypt

Probably one of the strangest yet most intriguing sites to see in Roma is the Cappccini Crypt. The Cappuccini Crypt is a display of the skeletal remains of 3,700 Capuchin friars. For only 6 Euros, you are able to see the Ossuary Crypt in addition to Cappuccini Museum. In the museum, there are paintings of Cappuccini saints such as San Francesco del Caravaggio, San Francesco of Assissi, and San Lorenzo of Brindisi. Following these rooms are paintings of ancient relics of the friars including books from Their library that dates back to the 15 ^th  century. Other relics include crucifixes, wooden altar cards, sculptures, and chalices.

The end of the museum marks the beginning of the crypt. The theory of the creation of the crypt Is that in the late 1700's a large amount of Cappuccini from France took refuge in Roma during the French Revolution. They brought them with carts of hundreds of deceased friars. One of the friars began to arrange the bones in the crypt and it continued throughout the years.

It was kind of eerie walking into a dark and very ancient chamber. The bones covered every inch of wall and ceiling. The crypts are each arranged by body parts. There is the crypt of shin and thigh bones, the crypt of pelvises, and the crypt of skulls. It seems almost unreal, like walking through an inside-out cemetery. It is hard to believe that every single bone belonged to a real human being, of almost 4,000 people.  

Not only can you see the museum and crypt on a visit there. A crypt is defined as being a chamber below a church, and the church above the Cappuccini Crypt is Santa Maria Immocolata. It is a beautiful 15th century church dedicated to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. Arcangelo Michele (The Archangel Michael) is only one of many stunning paintings adorning the walls of the church. 

Santa Maria Immocolata is easy to find as it is located right at Piazza Barberini. 

Aperitivos in Roma

Different from going out to eat in the United States, Italia is known for their "aperitivos". Restaurants will provide an aperitivo from 6-9 p.m in the evenings, It is Italy's "happy hour" of relaxation and catching up with friends while enjoying the most delicious Italian appetizers. Most come with wine and other beverages. The food includes different types of pasta, vegetables, cold cuts, pizza, and a variety of side dishes to enjoy.

Miscellanea: My own personal favorite aperitivo in Roma, a perfect example of a Roman aperitivo. It is one of the easiest restaurants to find as it sits directly to the right of the pantheon. Enjoy a night of unlimited wine and some ridiculously amazing Italian food. This restaurant will start you off with some cold cuts that include slices of prosciutto, ham, and salami provided with of course an endless amount of freshly baked Italian bread. Next, the servers will bring out slices of pizza. Who doesn't love real Italian pizza? Following the pizza, assuming you are still hungry for more, (you are in Italia after all), prepare yourself for a plate of penne, gnocchi, spaghetti, or whatever type of pasta served on the menu that night. You may think you are full after all these appetizers, but get ready for dessert! Typical desserts served at Miscellanea include the infamous tiramisu and lemon cake. Finish off the night with a sparkling wine and a belly full of marvelous Italian cuisine.

This is only one example. You can have a satisfying aperitivo around almost any corner as you stroll through Roma. Even better is enjoying an aperitivo as you tram your way through all the top Roma attractions. Tram Tracks provides a top notch Aperitivo throughout the night. What better way to experience one than with Tram Tracks, listening to live music, and going through Roma all at the same time. As the Italians say before every meal, "Buon 'Appetito!"

St. Patrick's Day in Roma!

 Looking to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Rome? Tram Tracks will be having Their St. Patrick's Day themed tour on Monday, March 17th. Ride the tram through historic Rome while enjoying Guinness and Irish music. It will be in St. Patrick's Day to remember! If you're looking for even blackberries Irish fun, Rome definitely Has a lot to offer. There are a variety of Irish pubs in Rome That are worth the visit, Especially on St. Patrick's Day 

The most popular bars include Scholar's Lounge, Abbey Theatre, Druid's Rock, and Druid's Den. Live music, plenty of Guinness, and authentic Irish dishes will be available at the Abbey Theatre. This popular pub is located just around the corner from Piazza Navona. At the Abbey Theatre, you can enjoy appetizing cuisine: such as Irish Irish lamb stew, cottage pie, and Guinness chocolate cake. 

The Scholar's Lounge is another Irish pub also in. the area just a few blocks from Piazza Venezia. Do not miss out on classic Irish music and folk songs performed by Finnigan's Wake Band as well as Clan Ri Liamo. Clearly there are a lot of opportunities to have an exciting St. Patrick's Day in Rome. Especially with Tram Tracks, look forward to an endless amount of Irish fun and excitement! Happy St. Patrick's Day!