Rome on a Budget: Inexpensive Meals

"The best things in life are free.  The second best things are very, very expensive." Coco Chanel

When there's a will, there's a way; and there is certainly a way to visit Rome without spending a fortune, at least on meals.  Here I'll give you some insider's tips on how to plan your Roman vacation ...on a budget.

Pizza Al Taglio

I'm sure one of the "must eat" items on your list is pizza.  Pizza in Rome is a must, even though it is very different to what you have probably tried outside of Italy.  Roman pizza has a thin crust and the budget-friendly way to eat it is "al taglio". What does that mean?  By the cut.  There are chains (like "Alice") or just small places where they have the oval pizzas on display.  They put out several flavors and you pick yours and pay by weight.  Most likely the server will have a pair of scissors and will point to what is a normal portion.  Use hand signals to express you want a bigger or smaller piece and  they'll make the cut where you indicate.  A regular portion of Pizza Margherita (cheese pizza) goes for around 4 euros.

Panini

A "panino" is a sandwich, but again, it's somewhat different to an American sandwich.  In Italy, they don't really mix lunch meats.  You can find a salami and cheese panino or a mortadela panino, but you will not find a salami/mortadela/turkey-ham panino piled up with sauces. A nice panino will set you back around 4 euro.

Tavola Calda

Tavola Calda literally means "hot table".  These cafeteria-style eateries are all around Rome and they offer home made meals and pizza by the slice.   They normally have a sitting area but you can also ask for your meal to go.  

Lunch Buffets

Many places around office buildings offer a lunch buffet that normally goes around 10-12 euro per person.  Some include wine.  A couple of my favorites downtown are Gusto, located at Piazza Augusto Imperatore 9, Roma 00186, and Elle Ristorante located at Via Vittorio Veneto 8, Roma 00187  Note: In some lunch buffets you are only allowed to serve yourself once.

Of course you have to enjoy a nice meal at a nice restaurant too.  Just stay away from the ones that say "Menu Turistico" or "Tourist Menu" and you'll be alright.  Enjoy eating in Rome and "Mangia, mangia!" (eat, eat!).  Do you know of a great and inexpensive restaurant in Rome?  Let us hear about it!

Until the next time.

Things to Do While in Rome: A Visit to Cinecitta

“Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.” Jim Henson

Are you a fan of #Italian #movies?  Do you get Fellini's cinematic style?  Then a visit to Cinecittà is a must for you.  #Cinecittà is the Italian version of Hollywood. Their studios are still in use and they have tours that will show you around the sets and tell you movie trivia with which you can later impress your movie fanatic friends.

Cinecittà is easily accessible by metro.  Take the metro A to the Cinecittà stop, and voilà, you made it.  It's better to take the tour as you can only access the studios with the tour.  You will still have time visit on your own the #Fellini House and another pavilion where they have small displays about the different stages of movie making magic.  It will take you a couple of hours to visit Cinecittà and if you love movies, it's time well spent.

There is a very cute caffè inside the grounds of Cinecittà that it's all decorated with a cinematography theme.  Food is also good, as you can imagine.  The store is located adjacent the caffè; there you'll find    t-shirts, coffee table books and all kinds of merchandise that will make you remember your visit to this magical place. 

Tip: Next door to #Cinecitta there is a mall (with parking), if you feel like doing a little shopping while you are there.

Arrivederci,

The Saddest Month of the Year

“Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” Albert Camus

There is one thing that makes it easy for a friendship to start, common ground.  When you arrive to a new city and are trying to figure things out, and someone says "I know how you feel" or "me too, I also moved around a few times…" you just met a new friend.  

The one thing I've learned about the #expat community is that it is a very generous and caring one.  We all know what it is to be the new kid in town and not knowing where to start.  Helping each other out just comes naturally.  Sharing fun times, discovering your host city and keeping each other sane, create a special bond. 

As we are all miles away from  our  family, we become our own mismatched family, the one we chose.

Unfortunately, for an expat, when June comes around, before you start looking forward to your summer plans, you know you'll have to say goodbye to some of your friends.  June is the saddest month for an expat family.  There is no easy way about it, only to think that true friendships withstand time and distance and can pick up where they left off, no matter how long it's been.

To all my expat friends leaving this year, I wish you the best of luck and I really hope our paths cross again very soon.  I'll miss you but I'll take you forever with me, in my heart.

As usual, I'm scheduling visits with friends with whom we parted before and now just happen to be on the course of my summer vacation.  It gets easier with time...

Arrivederci, in Italian, means until we see each other again.  Just the word I was looking for.

Things to Do While in Rome: Trastevere

“Happiness, not in another place but this place...not for another hour, but this hour.”  Walt Whitman

Looking for a fun place in Rome to dine "al fresco" or just hang with your friends in a piazza? You'll have to look beyond the Tiber river and into Trastevere. 

Trastevere is a neighborhood in Rome, south of the Vatican.  It is a 20 minute walk from the Vatican, so if you go to Saint Peter's Basilica early in the morning, you can make you way to Trastevere for lunch.  Just follow the river until you reach the bridge called Ponte Sisto, and Trastevere will be on your right.

This neighborhood has a unique personality. Narrow cobble-stone streets, restaurants and bars all around, clothing lines hanging from the windows, it has it all.  I even appreciate the graffiti on the doors, despite their transgressive nature, they're part of this neighborhood's laid back and fun atmosphere. Trastevere feels vibrant at any hour of the day, but specially at night.  There are a few foreign universities nearby so it always attracts a young crowd.

Whether you want to savor a good gelato on a hot day, have a dish of pasta at reasonable prices or enjoy a few beers at night, you can make Trastevere your destination.  A couple of good gelaterias are "I Dolci Di Checco" at Via Benedetta 7 and "Gelateria del Viale" at  Piazza Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli 9F.

Street performers, specially on weekends, come out to entertain the crowds.  So, wear comfortable shoes and go take a walk around Trastevere.  You may just find your favorite spot in Rome.

Arrivederci,

Nemi: The Town of the Wild Strawberries

“But don't forget, in the meantime, that this is the season for strawberries. Yes.”  Clarice Lispector

Last weekend I was looking for a destination near #Rome and my #Italian friends recommended I visit #Nemi, the town of wild strawberries or "fragoline".  I was so lucky my visit coincided with the town's annual strawberry festival.  Every town in Italy has some kind of special day for their culinary specialty, called "Sagra" so you have the Sagra of the Truffles, Sagra of the Ricotta, Sagra of the Roses, you name the food item, there is a Sagra somewhere for it.  If I could, I would go to all of them!

Nemi is a small town overlooking a lake of the same name, a volcanic lake located 40 minutes south of Rome.  The lake is small compared to others in the region but was favored by Emperor Caligula who built two luxurious vessels that after his death were sunk into the bottom of the lake.  For three euro you can visit the Museum of Roman Ships opened daily from 9am to 6pm except on Sundays when it closes at 2 pm.

But what brought me there were the wild #strawberries!  Small in size but full of flavor.  Of course I had to try the wild strawberry tart, the crepes with wild strawberry toping, the strawberry liquor....

Next time I will go on a hike in the forrest near the lake, and that will be my reason to go back to Nemi.

Arrivederci,

How to Pack for Your Weekend Trip

"One never realizes how different a husband and wife can be until they begin to pack for a trip." Erma Bomberk

After many years "on the road", if there is something I've gotten good at is packing.  As an expat, I have packed countless times for many different situations, but here I'm going to talk about the fun kind of packing, packing for a weekend trip.

Depending on your destination and the season, you'll have to make some wardrobe adjustments, but the following rules apply to all kinds of situations:

 

1. Make sure everything matches! If you are packing two pair of pants and 4 tops, make sure the pants will go with any of the tops, so you can mix and match almost limitlessly.

2. Pick a base color (black or brown) and stick with it.  If you like to color coordinate, picking a base color will save you on having to pack both a black and a brown belt, black and brown shoes, a black purse and.....you get the idea.  I normally choose black but I can go for skin tones during the warmer weather.

3. Unless you are going to a super informal destination, always pack a nice dress, you never know when you're going to need it.

4. Make sure you choose very comfortable outfits.  Nowadays, with ballerinas and cute sandals, you can look charming and be comfortable at the same time.  Remember that you most likely will do a lot of walking.

5. Pack your accessories!  Depending on how you use them, you can change the look of an outfit by simply adding a statement necklace and changing your shoes.  Think a black t-shirt and jeans for the day; adding a jacket, a scarf and heals, and you're ready for the night!

6. Prefer wrinkle-free materials.  Silk and jersey items don't take any space in the suitcase and don't wrinkle as much as other natural materials.

7. Pack you belts open, bordering the perimeter of the suitcase.

8. Fill your shoes with small items like socks or sun glasses in their cases, that way the shoes will not loose their form and you'll be utilizing all of your precious space.

9. If you are traveling by plane and checking in your suitcase, and your suitcase does not arrive at your destination, what will you need the most? (an extra t-shirt, underwear, make sure to include them in your carry-on)

10.  If you are traveling with infants or young kids, carry with you an extra outfit for the kids and one for yourself.  I can't tell you how many times I had to pull the extra shirt out of the carry-on when I traveled with my (motion-sickness-prone) little ones.

But most of all, enjoy your trip!!

A Couple of Reasons to Visit SOFIA

"Bulgaria has many secrets, many layers."  Annie Ward, The Making of June

I had the opportunity to visit Sofia, Bulgaria last week.  I really didn't know what to expect and had absolutely no time to read about my destination before the trip.  I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised!  A couple of full days will give you a taste of what Sofia has to offer.

Here are my recommendations:

Start by joining the Free Sofia English Tour.  The  tour starts everyday at 11 am and 6pm in front of the lions of the Palace of Justice in the corner of Vitosha Blvd. and Alabin Street.  Just show up at the meeting point and you'll be greeted by the tour guides.  They will take you around for two and a half hours showing you the most important landmarks of Sofia and telling you all about their history and traditions.  With this tour you will not enter the buildings that are part of the circuit but once you learn about them you can later visit the inside of the wonderful churches and museums the city has to offer.  The tour is free! but a donation is greatly appreciated.

Walk the pedestrian Vitosha Blvd. and have a drink or two in one of its many restaurants.  Another great stop is a visit to the Arena di Serdica hotel which houses the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater, part of what was the city of Serdica.  Their spa shares space with the ruins and scheduling a massage on such a setting is a wonderful treat.

The city center is not big and you'll walk from one attraction to the next in no time.  The streets are clean and I was able to communicate in english with people working in the city center.  Bulgaria is known for its rose-growing industry and they sell countless products made out of roses.  I've learned that rose jam is good for the stomach.

I had a great time in Sofia.  I enjoyed visiting the Orthodox churches and walking the city's yellow pavers which give Sofia a unique look. Their Tolerance Square, which houses a Mosque, a Synagogue and a Catholic Cathedral within a few minute's walk from each other made me finish my visit with a great appreciation for this city.

Arrivederci,

Rome on a Budget: How to Shop in an Italian Supermarket

“Rule No. 12: shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle.”  Michael Pollan

This post is for those who have recently arrived to the Bel Paese (the beautiful country = Italy) and are trying to figure out how to shop in a local super market.  It will be also helpful for those traveling on a budget and who will do some grocery shopping during their stay in Italy.  

Bring your own shopping bags to the supermarket, it is the green thing to do or you'll be charged for plastic or paper bags if you didn't bring your own bags.  Everyone brings their own bags.

First, in order to get a full size cart you need a one Euro coin, which you have to insert in the coin slot in order to release the cart.  When you return the cart after your shopping, simply push the Euro out with  the lock/release piece and you'll get your Euro back.

On the produce department you'll be provided with plastic gloves, they are worn for hygienic purposes.  Pick a bag and place your fruits/veggies in the bag.  Notice that the fruit and vegetable bins are marked with a number, memorize it!  You'll have to go to the scale and weight your fruit.  Place your produce on the scale, select the bin number and a label with the name and the price of the product will be printed for you.  Stick the label on your bag and your merchandise is ready for the cash register.

Most butcher, bread and salumi sections have a number system in order to keep track of people's turn.  If the supermarket is not crowded, there is no need to pick one.

No one in Italy will sell you fish on Mondays.  All fish stores and fish sections on supermarkets are closed on Mondays.

If you find yourself shopping at the same supermarket all the time, get their fidelity card called Tessera.  You accumulate points which later can be exchanged for merchandise or a coupon with a certain monetary value.

Most people shop for one or two meals at a time, so they have only a few products to buy.  If you are used to buying in bulk and overflowing your cart, it will take you a long time to bag your groceries (which you have to do yourself), making you the recipient of disapproving looks by the other shoppers.   If figuring out how to pay and bag your groceries at the same time sounds like a stressful activity, recruit the help of a friend the first few visits to the supermarket.  I know I waited for the weekends to go with my husband if I had a specially long grocery list.  Don't forget to pick up a bottle of wine, you may need it the first few times after check out ;)

Words to know when you go to a supermarket:

TASTO: The bin number that you will have to press on the scale.
TESSERA: Your fidelity card.   Is the first thing a cashier asks for.
BUSTE?: the cashier is asking you if you want to buy shopping bags.  If you didn't bring any, estimate how many you will need.
SPICCIO: They are asking you for change, coins, which they always seem to be short of.

Happy Shopping!

Artichokes, Get them Before They're Gone (with recipe!)

"Expose them {your kids} to the widest variety of vegetables and fruits, showing them how good things can be in season.  Tasteless fruits and vegetables won't win them over for life."  Mireille Guiliano

Artichokes are in season right now, and the price has dropped significantly since I first spotted them at the supermarkets.  In Rome you normally see them showcased at the Jewish Ghetto served as their famous Carciofi alla Giudia (Artichoke Jewish Style), but now they are all around town.  As a kid I ate them boiled.  It was a fun and messy appetizer, eating the tip of every leave dipped in an olive oil, lemon juice and salt dressing, but the best, the most fun part was arriving to the heart.  

Now, I have tried more sophisticated ways of cooking and serving them to visiting friends, but once in a while I go back to the simple way, for nostalgic reasons.

Yesterday I saw them, staring at me at the supermarket and I decided to try a new recipe.  Here is what I did:

• Fill a bowl with water and add a squirt of lime juice.  Set aside.
• Discard all the thick outer leaves of the artichoke by folding them back (which makes them crack at the bottom leaving the edible part still attached) and pulling.  Once you arrive to the tender more reddish leaves at the center stop ripping them off and just cut the top 1/2 inch. **
• Slice them in half and discard the fuzzy part right at the center of the artichoke.  Peel outer part of stem (see video here).
• Chop them in bite-size pieces and drop them in the bowl with water. This will prevent oxidation.  
• Once you've cleaned all your artichokes cook them in a pan with olive oil, add half an onion (chopped small) and one garlic clove (which you can leave whole and then remove or chop small).  After five minutes add half a cup of white wine and cover until they are soft.
• Make a béchamel sauce with added parmesan cheese to taste. 
• Line a pie dish with phyllo dough (sfoglia).  Add a bit of béchamel, then the artichokes, cooked chicken in bite size pieces, more béchamel and then cover with another sheet to phyllo dough.
• Bake for 35 minutes in a 400ºF oven (200º C). 

Do you have a good artichoke recipe?  Would love to learn some new ways of eating this great veggie.  Buon Appetito!! 

** TIP: When cleaning the Artichokes use plastic gloves.  For some reason they will dirt your fingernails and you'll look like a kid who has been playing with dirt all day.  That was me yesterday :(  I'm wearing gloves next time...

A Couple of Reasons to Visit MARCHE

"As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.  I wish you all very good lives" J.K. Rowling

We had been driving for a couple of hours before we finally arrived at our destination in the Marche region.  We made a quick stop at a local coffee bar before our final drive to our friend's house.  As I entered the bar I saw a group of a dozen man, all in their 80s, playing a game of cards, drinking coffee, and having a great time.  Had I discovered a place that has found the secret to long lives?

Then, I met signor Giovanni, 94 years old, no cholesterol, no high blood pressure, still sharp as a whip and with a great disposition. Is living in Italy the secret to a long life?  Statistics certainly seem to support this fact and signor Giovanni is the living proof.  During our Easter meal he ate salami, pasta dishes, meet, desert and washed it all down with a nice red wine!  Maybe the secret is the fresh air of Marche!

Marche is an Italian region not as renowned as Tuscany, but with enough going for it to make a visit worth your while.  It is situated east of Rome and its terrain is dominated by hills.   As our friends drove us around several hill-top towns it seemed to me that on top of every hill there was a medieval city to be discovered.

Here are some points of interest in Marche:

1. The Fiastra Abbey (Abbazia di Fiastra) in Urbisaglia is a great spot to enjoy nature, visit historic sites and have a picnic on the Abbey's ground.  It is a wonderful place to visit with children!

2. Fermo, with a great duomo this medival town is a perfect stop during your trip to Marche.

3. The Tod's and Prada outlets of course! Via Garibaldi 134, Sant'Elpidio a Mare.  Several other shoe outlets are listed here.

I was impressed by Marche and now I want to return and see if I can learn the secret to their long and healthy lives!  And that is all for now.  Arrivederci,

Off the Beaten Path: Lake Garda

“Who could be so lucky? Who comes to a lake for water and sees the reflection of moon.” Rumi

 

Most tourists visiting Italy concentrate on Rome, Florence and Venice.  There are some other spectacular places that are worth visiting, one of them is Lake Garda.  The closest big cities are Verona and Trento, both amazing stops also.  Click here for information on how to reach Lake Garda.

On the way to Lake Garda all you see are mountains and valleys full of vineyards.  Needless to say, the area produces several types of wine, the most famous ones being the Chiaretto, Bardolino and Lugano.  Stop at one of the cantinas to do a wine tasting!

It takes one hour to drive the length of Lake Garda, and on its shores you will find one town after the other, all offering sailing lessons, small camping parks, restaurants and more.  We chose to stay at Riva del Garda, oh what a wonderful spot!

Riva del Garda, as many other towns in Norther Italy, is very organized and it attracts tourism from Germany, Austria a Switzerland.  The walking and biking trails along the river are all well marked and divided for pedestrians and bikers.  Most hotels provide free bicycles!  So set off to bike your way around town.  The old town area has enough charm to capture any traveler.  And the lake provides you with endless entertainment and amazing views.  The water of the lake is super clean and there are several pebble beaches and parks all around it.

A trip to Lake Garda offers fun for the entire family.  I was fortunate to visit it and wanted to share this great experience with you.  Arrivederci,

 

Happy Easter!!

“When Good Friday comes, these are the moments in life when we feel there's no hope. But then, Easter comes.”  Coretta Scott King

 

This shot was taken in Taormina, a hilltop town in Sicily.  In its cathedral, this carving serves as the base of the altar.  I love finding the not so famous art all around this country.  (Read more about Sicily here)

 

 Happy Easter to all!

A Day in Florence: Where to Go, What to Eat

"...how much intelligence Man once imposed upon the forms of the earth, when he set up the stones of Florence in the billowing expanse of the Tuscan olive-groves." Andre Malraux

Florence, the capital of the Tuscan region, is one of the most visited cities in Europe.  It is synonymous with works of art and good wine, and has inspired artists for centuries.  If you are a Renaissance enthusiast or just want to walk the streets of Michelangelo and Botticelli, Florence (in Italian: Firenze) will captivate you in no time!

Of course with more than one million works of Renaissance art housed in over 70 museums and countless churches, you will have to pick and choose what you want to see.  Depending on the time of the year, the museums can get very crowded so it's better to book your visit ahead of time.  Click here for the official reservations page.  Please note that state-run museums close on Mondays.  The famous David statue by Michelangelo is housed in the Galleria dell'Accademia museum, even though replicas of the David can be found all around town if you want to see the original you need to plan ahead and make a reservation.  The famous painting by Botticelli "The Birth of Venus" is housed in the Uffizi Gallery.  Booking your tickets in advance will help during high tourist season.

There is so much to see in Florence it's hard to narrow down the list of places to visit, however the following are landmarks of the city you cannot miss:

Il Duomo: Located in the heart of Florence, its colors differentiate it from other cathedrals in Italy.

Piazza della Signoria: The main square of Florence where you will find a replica of Michelangelo's David as well as Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's town hall.  You will also find the Loggia dei Lanzi a building with an open facade composed of arches that was originally design to hold public meetings.   The arches give the traveler a perfect shaded place to pause and view the statues with which it's adorned.  My children engaged in their own art/history discussion while contemplating the statue of Perseus holding Medusa's head.  The open spaces of the Piazza della Signoria make it a perfect spot to regroup while taking it all in.

Ponte Vecchio:  Crossing the Arno river, Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), is a symbol of the city.  The sidewalks of this pedestrian only bridge are occupied by jewelry stores and souvenir shops.  On the other side of the river you'll find good neighborhood restaurants with reasonable prices.  

Of course while in Florence don't pass the opportunity to try their most famous dish Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Steak, Florence-style).  My husband, a recurrent patron, recommends Perseus at Viale Don Minzoni 10.  It's a 20 minute walk from the historic center, but after eating a monster steak the walk is always welcomed.

Arrivederci,

Eating Healthy: Thai Beef Salad

“Tout est question d'équilibre” (It's all a matter of balance) Mireille Guiliano

I just made this recipe for a get together with friends.  I had a little bit left over and gave it to my teenage son, who loved it! And that is the toughest test a recipe can pass.  It came out so yummy I had to share the recipe here, with you!  I used ingredients that were easy to find in Rome (if you live here, you know how hard it can be to find international ingredients).

I started with regular salad greens and vegetables.  In order to make it Thai, I added mint from my terrace planter and chopped up peanuts.  I had to mention that the mint is from a pot on my terrace because I am terrible with plants and to be able to have a healthy growing herb under my care is something to celebrate (and brag about).

I then pan-fried two veal steaks seasoned with salt, pepper, minced garlic and minced ginger. Once the steaks had cooled down I chopped them in bite size pieces and added them to the salad.

DRESSING:

one table spoons of soy sauce

two table spoons of lemon juice

two teaspoons of sugar

a couple of drops or hot peperoncini oil

And that was all, a perfect salad for the warmer weather and with enough protein to hold you until your next meal.  Enjoy!

Dressing Like an Italian (Or What to Pack for Your Trip to Rome)

“ The Roman woman has spent a lot of time thinking about how to put herself together, how to please, to attract, to allure, to intrigue, even perhaps to seduce. [Italian women] are always ready to receive a special but unexpected invitation to dine in elegant splendor in a seventeenth-century palazzo without having to change clothes.” Alan Epstein

I have several friends and family visiting Rome this summer, some of them for the first time, so I thought about putting together a list of tips on what to #wear while in #Rome. Of course had to share it here with you!

Italians are a very stylish bunch, most regular people on the street look put together, and I don't mean those dressed head-to-toe with designer brands, I am talking about normal people out doing their groceries.  On my first weekend here I took the bus to #PiazzaNavona, and knowing that I was taking public transportation, I dressed down, only to find myself surrounded by Sofia Loren look-alikes all done up, in the bus.  Dressing up is not exclusive for when you receive a dinner invitation, dressing up is part of their DNA.  You never know what could happen today...

So here is the list, from the bottom up:

1. Wear comfortable shoes!  This is my number one suggestion when traveling anywhere but it needs especial consideration here since you will be walking on uneven cobble stone roads.  I know you must have seen several movies of classy Italian women strolling around the city in stilletos, but unless you have been born here and can navigate the "sanpietrini" (square stone bricks of which roads are made - see picture below) with nine inch heels, stick with wedge soles.  Of course sneakers are the best, but not so stylish... The locals wear chic walking sneakers, not your regular running shoe.  During the winter months, flat heel boots, motorcycle booties and oxford shoes are perfect for walking around Italy.  Ballerinas are great in warmer weather, preferably ones with a thicker sole.  Flip-flops = not stylish.

2.  Locals dress warm during the winter months, even though the winter in Rome is very mild.  If you are coming to Rome during the colder months and you want to blend in, don't go around wearing shorts and t-shirts.  You will be stared at and sometimes scolded for putting your life at risk by not covering up.  Dressing has more to do with the calendar than the actual weather.

3. Don't wear tops with spaghetti straps!  I know this is the land of spaghetti, but bare shoulders are a big No-No when you are trying to enter a church.  Some won't let you in or will very kindly sell you a paper cloth for you to wear as a shawl.  Be respectful and plan for a proper attire when touring religious places.  Shorts are also banned from some churches.  

4. Wear a scarf.  This is the one piece of clothing that I admire the most.  #Romans, both men and women wear scarves almost year round.  They are all colorful and wrapped in the most creative ways.  I've heard that Italians cover their necks from a sudden wind that may hit them and send them unavoidably to bed, sick for a few days.  Whatever the reason, scarves are a must here.

5. Wear playful earrings (leave the expensive ones at home).  True Roman ladies wear big earrings.  They are just what your outfit needs to be Italian-perfect.  And you can throw on some red lipstick if you really want to shine...

6. Favor a messenger bag.  Since you have to be careful with your belongings (please read my article about the 10 Things You Should Know Before Traveling to Italy) messenger bags are a great accessory for keeping your belongings in front of you where you can see them and being chic at the same time.

7.  Don't be afraid of color, Italians are not.  And of course, color coordinate!

8.  Lastly, this one is for the younger crowd, don't go walking around drinking wine straight from of the bottle.  It's like wearing a big red flag that says: I'm a tourist, I'm drinking and I'm an easy target.  

Happy packing!