When in Rome, do as the Romans do and go to Frascati

Tourists in Rome head to Trastevere to try to get a taste of authentic Rome in the evenings. It is, after all, a place full of restaurants, wine bars and ice cream parlours. With old lanes, beer bars and shops open till late in the Summer. Romans will all have their favourite pizza place and pizzerias like Popi Popi have been there for decades, even though now, handsome and charming Italian waiters have been replaced with cheaper foreign labour. So where do the Romans go when Trastevere fills up with tourists in shorts-and-straw-hats--licking-ice creams? To Frascati of course. Just as they always have done. They know that it is at least 3 or 4 degrees centigrade cooler and that there is usually a lovely evening breeze. 350 meters above sea level, the ancient Romans used to go there for the same reasons as people do today: fresh air, good food, good wine and good company. Piazza San Rocco is the latest favourite Piazza (in the photo), and there are a host of great wine bars, restaurants and award winning gelaterie all over town. Tables outside with views and much less smog and cars than the center of Rome. The famous Frascati wines (only in bottle is DOC or DOCG ) taste wonderful al fresco. And unlike Trastevere you will hear people around you actually speak in Italian. 

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