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TRANSPORT

The rail and metro closures to expect in Rome this summer

The capital’s transport network is facing closures throughout summer 2024 amid major works ahead of the Jubilee.

Published: 6 June 2024 10:26 CEST
The rail and metro closures to expect in Rome this summer
The site of the new metro line C station at Piazza Venezia on May 23rd, 2024. Considerable building and maintenance work is underway across Rome's transport network this year. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP)

Rome’s train, and metro and tram lines are set to undergo considerable maintenence work between June and August this year, according to transportation companies ATAC and Trenitalia.

The latest announcements came after Rome transport councillor Eugenio Patanè in January confirmed tram line closures between May and October as part of extensive maintenance and construction works taking place across the Eternal City ahead of the 2025 Jubilee.

READ ALSO: Rome’s public transport fares set to rise this summer

“The trams are currently being replaced by buses for the duration of the works and stored at the Porta Maggiore tram depot,” said Patanè.

With the trams out of service, visitors and workers may be planning to rely on metro and rail services instead – but several of these will also be suspended or limited due to maintenence work during summer 2024. Here are some of the main closures planned:

Trains

Rome to Tivoli (FL2) – the regional transport line will be completely suspended from June 10th to June 28th. The railway passes through Tiburtina station through to Ponte di Nona, Tor Sapienza, La Rustica and finally Tivoli.

Replacement bus services are expected to run instead. You can find out more information here

Rome to Castelli Romani (FL4)  –  From July 23rd to August 31st the Castelli Line, which travels from Termini and passes through Ciampino, Frascati, Albano Laziale and Velletri, will not be running. 

The rail line will be closed to install a technology named ERTMS which will allow a greater frequency of trains to run. 

A bus replacement service has not yet been confirmed.

Metro

Line A – All stations have been closed since April from 9pm Sunday to Thursday due to track replacements between Ottaviano and Battistini. The line is expected to reopen on December 5th.

Complete closures at some stations are also planned.

READ ALSO: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in summer 2024

Spagna will be shut from July 15th to October 3rd and Ottaviano will be shut from July 22nd to September 9th. Vittorio Emanuele, which is currently closed, is expected to reopen on June 30th.

Line C – Work is set to continue throughout the summer on Rome’s newest metro line, which has been under construction since 2007 and is not yet operational.

Ongoing work on the new Metro C Venezia station, at Piazza Venezia, means continued disruption to traffic and surface-level transport this summer. The station is set to be completed by the end of December 2024 and is expected to open to passengers in 2025.

Meanwhile, the opening of new Line C metro stations at Colosseo and Porta Metronia has been pushed back to mid-2025, meaning they will not be running in time for the start of the Jubilee year as hoped.

For more information on Rome’s public transport closures, check the Trenitalia and ATAC websites when planning your journey.

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FOOD AND DRINK

15 typical Roman foods you need to try at least once

Rome’s 2,000-year-old food scene has something to make everyone’s taste buds tingle. So what are the typical dishes you really must try?

Published: 20 June 2024 15:20 CEST
15 typical Roman foods you need to try at least once

It almost goes without saying that Italy is a very regional country when it comes to food. From pesto in Liguria to tortellini in Emilia Romagna, Italy is chock-a-block with regional specialities. Rome, and wider Lazio, are no different. 

If you try a carbonara in Lombardy, you’ll more than likely be told by the Laziali (people from Lazio) that you haven’t tried a real one. This is the same for most regions in Italy. 

READ ALSO: Seven surprising Italian food rules foreigners fall foul of

While breakfast in Rome is made up of coffee and some form of cornetto, there are plenty of specialties to try and things to know, such as pork being as abundant as vegetables, or the two popular types of artichoke you’ll want to try.

A carby affair

Pasta reigns supreme in Italy, but Rome has its fair share of options. The city’s key four pasta dishes are: cacio e pepe, amatriciana, gricia, and carbonara.

Word of advice, skip the restaurants that include cream and ham in their carbonara; if they’re getting that wrong, imagine what else they’re getting wrong.

The traditional Roman carbonara is supposed to be a blend of guanciale (pork cheek), eggs, and pecorino. There are lots of legends as to where carbonara came from, but the most well-known is that it was invented during World War Two when Americans came to Italy during the liberation of Rome. Legend has it that the Italians supplied the eggs and the Americans the guanciale.

READ ALSO: Do Italians really eat pasta every day?

Amatriciana is a bit more tomato-based. Originating from a Lazio town named Amatrice, the guanciale-tomato blend of this pasta dish is a firm favourite. It is known locally as ‘matriciana.

Cacio e pepe is perhaps the most simple in terms of taste but not necessarily in terms of preparation. The dish only includes pecorino and black pepper, but the right technique is needed to make the sauce perfectly creamy.

Then there’s pasta alla gricia. This is said to be the ancestor of Amatriciana, as it doesn’t have the tomato base, but some say it’s the ancestor of all four of the pasta dishes, cacio e pepe included. 

Spaghetti alla carbonara being prepared. Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP.

Gnocchi Thursdays

A special mention goes to gnocchi, the potatoey pasta. Romans have gnocchi Thursdays, and you’ll see many tavole calde (a type of Italian diner) serving it up.

The common custom is due to eating a high-calorie meal before Friday, which according to Catholic tradition is the day to abstain from meat or fast.

The quinto quarto

Most parts of an animal is eaten in Rome. Dishes with the quinto quarto, or fifth quarter, can be seen on most menus. It just means offal and no organ goes to waste. Tripe (trippa) is a popular meal, as is oxtail (coda alla vaccinara) . It’s also not uncommon to see tongues or brains on the menu. 

READ ALSO: The essential vocabulary you’ll need to dine out in Italy

If offal is not your thing, there are meat options without it. For example, saltimbocca alla romana which is veal wrapped in prosciutto, flavoured with sage and cooked in butter and wine. Lamb is also another rustic delight as is often on menus as abbacchio alla cacciatora. 

Is it all meat?

Strictly speaking, no, although it’s hard to come by a traditional meatless option for a second course in Rome. Artichokes are extremely popular here with carciofi alla giudia and carciofi alla romana being the favourite two.

Carciofi alla giudia (Roman-Jewish artichokes) are entirely fried twice making them crisp and then sprinkled with salt. Carciofi alla romana (Roman artichokes) are braised and seasoned with salt, pepper, parsley and garlic.

Though not strictly from Lazio, friarielli, a type of leafy green, is also a popular topping on pizzas and a constant side dish.

Artichokes are used frequently in Roman cuisine. Photo by JOEL SAGET / AFP.

Street food galore

Rome is pretty big on street food and fried fare. Supplì, little balls of stuffed rice bread-crumbed and fried are beloved. They’re usually filled with mincemeat and mozzarella. If you buy one, see if you can make a cheese bridge also known as supplì al telefono. 

READ MORE: Do Italians really hate all spicy food? 

Pizza cut into square slices is also very common. This is known as pizza al taglio. The dough is thin and crisp, which is very common for Roman pizzas even if you get a circular, whole one. They are the opposite of pizzas from Naples.

For the sweet tooth

Lastly, what is a guide to food without a bit of sugar at the end? Light, sweet, cream-filled buns named maritozzi are the go-to in Rome. They can be enjoyed any time of day. 

If you’d prefer something cooling, other than gelato, try grattachecca, an iced drink full of flavour and occasionally topped with fruit. Lemon and cherry are popular favourites.

Do you have another favourite Roman dish or a story about trying one? Let us know in the comments below.

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