Trastevere conjures up many emotions for travelers to Rome and there are many things to do. First, there are the restaurants with red and white checkered tablecloths and the accordion players serenading diners as they enjoy steaming plates of spaghetti carbonara. Next, you have the ever-present lines of laundry weaving through sunny alleyways as if a remembrance from days past. Finally, you have the bustling squares where Italians rub shoulders with tourists, expats and study abroad students. One thing is for certain, no matter how many times you visit Trastevere there is always something new to discover.

#1 Chocolate Shots

Just around the corner from Piazza Trilussa sits the infamous Rivendita Libri Cioccalata e Vino. This place sells exactly what it claims: books, chocolate and wine. As if those were not enough reasons to visit this place, why not experience the real reason that Italians spill out the door every evening? The store makes shot glasses out of chocolate, which come filled with your choice of liqueur and topped with whipped cream. This decadent item is enough reason to visit Trastevere for us! If you are unsure of what to order a saucy list of suggestions is provided by the staff.

#2 Antica Pesa

Looking to splash out on a fancy dinner and rub elbows with celebrities? Look no further than Antica Pesa. This classic upscale dining restaurant on Via Garibaldi has been owned and operated by the Panella family since 1922. The food is innovative, the atmosphere is beautiful and there is something about the decor that combines modernity with the “dolce vita” era of Rome in the 1960s. The sommelier boasts an impressive and curated wine list and the chef cooks using seasonal ingredients and re-interpreting Roman cuisine. Book a table and see for yourself!

#3 Visit The Cannonball

Above Trastevere is the beautiful Gianicolo, a well-heeled neighborhood that exudes Roman charm. At the very top of the Gianicolo is Piazza Garibaldi, and in Piazza Garibaldi there is a cannon. Every day at exactly noon a single cannon shot is fired into the distance in remembrance of Italy’s Unification in 1870.

How to get there:
Take the 115 bus from either the Vatican or Trastevere or…
strap on comfortable shoes and climb up the beautiful hill from Via Garibaldi.