Visit the Neighborhood of Testaccio to eat like a local in Rome

This blog post was originally shared fall of 2014:

While I was in Rome, my friend Adam of TRAVELS OF ADAM recommend I join Eating Italy for their Taste of Testaccio ROME TOUR that takes their guests away from the touristic part of Rome and into the kitchens of locals. A real treat for someone that wants to take the road less traveled while traveling.

By my third day in Rome, I thought I had seen everything there was to see from around Termini station, the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Vatican, and the neighborhoods of Monti and Trastevere. Little did I know, I was missing the neighborhood of Testaccio, an area that once was only working class and is now making a name for itself with delicious authentic Italian food and where to be when the sun goes down for dancing. A little something I learned from my tour guide Doug, an extremely charismatic guide who made sure everyone in the group didn’t have a question unanswered and was always fed.

On EATING ITALY’S TESTACCIO TOUR you are taken through 12 tastings at 6 different spots over the course of 4 hours, and are given a brief tour of the neighborhood. The tour through the neighborhood stops at Testaccio’s outdoor historical market, an old repurposed slaughterhouse, and a beautiful non-catholic cemetery. All of which are necessary breaks between eating, because at first I thought I would leave slightly hungry, but by midway at Testaccio’s outdoor market I quickly reconsidered how full I was getting. So putting on your stretchy pants is highly recommended because you won’t want to miss any of the tastings and will need the room for the most delicious gelato I had in Rome. 

Incase your mouth isn’t already watering, here is a photo-tour from my favorite stops: 

First stop: tiramisu that literally melts in your mouth from Barberini. 

Third stop: fresh prosciutto di San Daniele, salame al Barolo, pecorino al tartufo, and parmigiano reggiano. The shop is also known for having the most expensive balsamic vinegar, so watch out. 

Fourth: by far the BEST bruschetta al pomodoro, and I usually don’t like tomatoes. I went back for seconds these were so fresh and delicious! 

Fourth stop again: cannoli’s are meant to made fresh, and these were stuffed right in front of us. Delicious! 

Fifth stop: oh, incase you aren’t full yet, there is still a full meal waiting for you. Tasting of cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and carbonara with a little wine of course. 

Sixth stop: lastly, no Rome food tour would be complete without authentic gelato. This one is from Giolitti. So worth visiting! 

Incase you haven’t guessed, it’s best to arrive hungry and be ready to walk your way home. Enjoy Rome!