http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36999 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36999 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36865 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36865 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36764 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36764 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36433 I've only visited once, a few years ago but was blown away with how relaxing and enjoyable this bar was. Despite being so close to Piazza Navona, the prices were, in the main, reasonable and the welcome was warm. This wasn't the case in all bars we visited in the area.
The bar is enjoyable both inside and out - where you can watch cooler people than me enjoying the evening!
I've recommended Della Pace to many people and they have always been happy with the recommendation.
I remember there being an excellent wine list with a great choice by the glass. The coffee was as good as it should be.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36433 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36011 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36011 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34847 We arrived with no reservation, were warmly welcomed, and the service was the best I can remember in a long time. Over a glass of prosecco we considered the menu (just one dish was not available and we were informed right away). Though artichokes were only listed as a side vegetable, I am fond of them and the chef said they had just come out of the oven and would be great as a starter (and we were only charged the side veg price!). A tiny chef's salad arrived as a bonne bouche and meanwhile we had to choose wine: we enquired about something red, less usual, perhaps a less known region or grape variety. Six(!) bottles were brought to our table for a delightful discussion about the relative merits - and we were told right from the start that none of the bottles cost more than €25. We chose a Lacrima di Morro d'Alba which was terrific.
All courses served were excellent - the amount of tuna served sashimi style was so generous it was hard to finish. So there was no room for dessert, but the chef insisted on presenting his newest creation, an ice-cream of parmigiano cheese and kumquat marmelade, which was extraordinarily delicious. We declined further wine, but were nonetheless served a perfect vino generoso (sticky and dark, served chilled).
None of the extras appeared on the bill, a very reasonable €80 for two. We left a big tip and still felt we had enjoyed a bargain.
Recommended without reservation.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34847 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34625 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34625 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33971 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33971 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33921 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33921 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33886 The church above ground dates from 1100 and is simply beautiful; one of the most lavishly decorated in Rome. A €3 entrance fee will take you down to the other two levels. There is a fourth-century church below which still houses the remains of ancient frescoes. Below that is the dark and intriguing house of Mitra (the Roman god of the equinoxes), which dates from the first-century, and was later used as a secret meeting place by early Christians. Amazing to think that this labyrinth of tiny rooms and corridors is hidden below two other churches and has still survived.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33886 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33150 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33150 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33037 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33037 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32342 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32342 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32128 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32128 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31461 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31461 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31427 The beach and sea at Sperlonga are cleaner, prettier and quieter, and only take an hour(ish) to get to by train from Termini, Rome's main train station. The beach is also shallow for quite a long way out to sea so it's a nice paddling spot for children or people with short legs.
Take the Naples slow train, which is at 49 minutes past the hour every hour from 8am and costs 6.20 Euros. Get off at Fondi Sperlonga and then get the beach bus (1 Euro) to the seafront itself.
It's worth leaving the beach for a couple of hours and wandering up to the hilltop town for a drink or a spot of lunch and a gawk at the view.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31427 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31426 It's a lovely excuse to take an evening walk long the river starting at Castello S. Angelo and heading to Isola Tiberina. You can book tables at some of the restaurants in advance or just turn up but you may have a wait if you do so between 8-11pm at the weekend.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31426 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31396 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31396 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29893 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29893 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29853 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29853