Old Bridge Gelato

How I have gone two weeks writing this blog and not mentioned gelato I'm not entirely sure but now is as good a time to start as any. Rome has an endless supply of gelaterie, some better than others, but a general rule to abide by is only to eat gelato artiginale (home-made). Another trick is to look at the banana flavor, if it is greyish-brown you're good to go, if it's very yellow try somewhere else. I don't think you can say any one particular place serves the best gelato in Rome, but there are certainly degrees of quality, and I will only include those of the highest.

One the most popular gelato spots in the city happens to be a few hundred feet from my front door right across from the Vatican walls. It is called Old Bridge because of the bridge, not fully a bridge any more but the remains of which still stick out of the Vatican wall, on the other side of the street. As the line to get into the Vatican seems to be endless, the line at Old Bridge tends to be similar at the high points of the day, generally the early afternoon as people are leaving the museums. However, it is worth the wait, or better yet, try it in the late afternoon or evening when the line has diminished, a great way to fight off your hunger if you haven't quite adjusted to 9:30 dinner times.

They serve in either cones or cups (Romans would almost never eat a cone) and have massive portions. The smallest size is 1.30 euros and give you a good amount. For 2 euros you get something that will certainly take the edge off your hunger. Their gelato is deliciously creamy, my favorite flavor there is probably the nutella which goes very well with a coffee or maybe hazelnut (nocciola). If you aren't in the mood for gelato (not quite sure why that would be, but I suppose it could happen) at the little bar next door they serve delicious nutella crepes for 3 euros (3.50 if you sit down).

Via Bastioni di Michelangelo, 5; open until 2:00am, closed Mondays