Vittoria Risi’s Rome: Dreams with a Twist

So, you think you know Rome? Picture this: you’re wandering the city, but instead of the usual lines and crowds, you’re following clues left by someone who finds magic in overlooked corners. Vittoria Risi’s take on Rome feels like having a local rebel on your side—someone who skips the beaten path in favor of real life, odd stories, and risks that pay off in simple pleasures.

Here’s one thing people get wrong about Rome: it’s not just for stuffing your phone full of Colosseum snaps. Vittoria knows the difference between living Rome and just ticking off sights. She’ll point you to tiny backstreet trattorias where the owner remembers your name after your second visit. Her favorite bakery? It’s not in a guidebook—and if you blink, you’ll miss it, but if you walk in, you’ll get bread so good you’ll forget all about your carb count.

• Vittoria’s Rome: The Unexpected Route
• Her Bold Food Choices
• Hidden Art (And Oddball Finds)
• Nightlife on Her Terms
• Visiting Like Risi: Tips for Your Trip

Vittoria’s Rome: The Unexpected Route

Rome usually means crowded piazzas, the Trevi Fountain jammed with elbows, and that same photo of the Spanish Steps popping up on every feed. But if you try it the way Vittoria Risi does, you swap the tourist route for neighborhoods where real life still runs the show.

When most people hit Rome, they stick to Centro Storico. Vittoria heads to Testaccio, the spot where butchers used to toss leftover cuts to hungry locals. Now? It’s got a huge fresh market, zero tourist traps, and the city’s best carbonara (she swears by Felice a Testaccio—try to grab a lunch table if you can).

She’s all about the EUR district for vintage architecture—a little gritty, but you get brutalist buildings and wide steps that almost nobody Instagrams. It’s a side of Rome most guides ignore, yet you’ll find tons of hidden bars and locals-only caffès if you just take a stroll.

• Tip: Skip Tram 8 and rent a bike—Vittoria claims you’ll cover Trastevere fast and spot the small, real-life bakeries around Via della Lungaretta.
• For sunset, she always skips the big crowds at Pincio and heads to the Orange Garden (Giardino degli Aranci) on Aventine Hill. Fewer tourists, same wow-factor views.
• If you want to see graffiti that locals care about, hit the San Lorenzo district, where art covers old factory walls and there’s no filter in sight.

Here’s a cool stat: only about 11% of annual visitors ever visit outside the classic center. So, if you follow Vittoria Risi’s lead, you’re already getting the real Rome most people never see.

Her Bold Food Choices

If you’re expecting the same carbonara and espresso joints every tourist hits, think again. Vittoria Risi is all about jumping straight for the locals’ favorites—the kind of places where menus come handwritten, and nobody’s angling for a perfect Instagram shot.

Say you’re in Rome for pizza. Most people chase the big names in Trastevere, but Vittoria swears by the thin, crispy pies at Pizzeria Ai Marmi, where the line moves fast and the toppings are super simple. She’ll skip the safe picks too—offal is on the table, literally. Tripe (trippa alla romana) and oxtail stew (coda alla vaccinara) aren’t just “might try once” items; they’re her way to eat Roman, not just Italian.

Want to order what she orders? Here’s the quick cheat sheet:

• Supplì—fried rice balls loaded with ragù and mozzarella. Vittoria likes hers crunchy, bought from corner shops like Supplizio near Campo de' Fiori.
• Trapizzino—this stuffed pizza pocket gets filled with everything from stewed chicken to spicy eggplant. She’s a fan of the Trapizzino shop at Ponte Milvio.
• Gelato alla ricotta e visciole—a tangy ricotta and sour cherry ice cream that’s tougher to find, but Antica Gelateria del Teatro serves it right.

Here’s a table of places Vittoria is spotted most (skip the guidebooks, seriously):

What stands out with Vittoria is that she never orders out of obligation—no “just because you have to” tourist picks. For her, the city’s about trying new things, even if that means tasting something totally out of your comfort zone. Skip the bland and dive in headfirst. That’s the Rome she loves.

Hidden Art (And Oddball Finds)

People think Rome is just ancient ruins and grand churches, but Vittoria Risi sees a whole different side. For her, art is everywhere—sometimes right under your nose, other times hiding in plain sight. She loves spots like the Quartiere Coppedè, a weird little district nobody talks about. It’s packed with buildings that mix Art Nouveau, Greek, and medieval styles in a way that doesn’t make sense, but just works. You’ll find the Spider building with its iron spider in the courtyard—perfect if you want a photo nobody else has.

Another favorite is the street art in Ostiense. This old industrial area now bursts with color, covered in huge murals from artists like Blu and JB Rock. Risi says it's the kind of stuff you’d walk past unless someone tipped you off. If you want to see it yourself, just head south from the Piramide metro. You’ll spot murals stretching across old warehouses and bridge supports—the kind of place that gives new life to the word Rome.

Looking for oddball finds? Check the Museo delle Anime del Purgatorio (Museum of the Souls of Purgatory). It’s a tiny place inside a regular church, stuffed with scorched prayer books and other ‘proof’ that souls came back to say hey. Creepy? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely. Vittoria loves dragging her friends here to get a real ‘what the heck’ reaction.

• The key with her recommendations? Look up and look down. Bas-reliefs and ancient carvings sit next to pizza joints. Graffiti sometimes covers a 500-year-old wall. Risi’s advice: never assume you’ve seen all the good stuff.
• Skip the map for an afternoon. Just pick a neighborhood and start walking. Testaccio, Garbatella, Trastevere—each hides its own offbeat surprises if you give it a chance.

One quick stat for travelers: over 60% of Rome’s museums are actually free or dirt cheap, and most locals have never stepped foot in them. So, if you want to flex your inner Vittoria Risi: go find the places everyone else ignores.

Nightlife on Her Terms

When it comes to nightlife, Vittoria Risi does it her own way, and honestly, it makes regular bar hopping seem boring. Forget the tourist traps in Trastevere or the overcrowded cocktail lounges that pop up in every city guide. Vittoria skips lines at mainstream clubs and seeks out places where the regulars go, where DJs spin vinyl, and where the vibe shifts between old-school and experimental.

One real example: She loves the quirky bars around Pigneto. These places have a raw edge—think street art on the walls, open-mic nights featuring unpredictable talent, and craft beer lists that even locals don’t know by heart. She’s known to frequent Necci dal 1924, a spot with history (Pasolini used to hang out here) and a backyard perfect for late-night hangs. It’s casual, the drinks aren’t overpriced, and the staff doesn’t act like they’re doing you a favor.

Another spot? Circolo degli Artisti, a club that doubles as an arts space. It’s not rare to stumble into an indie film screening before a live band takes over. The crowd is mixed—young creatives, off-duty actors, folks who pay more attention to music than fashion. Vittoria says these kinds of venues are where Rome feels alive after midnight, free from the fake glamour you’ll find near the Spanish Steps.

If you’re the type who cringes at standing-room-only discos, you’ll love her move: grab a gelato from a place like FataMorgana (their basil and walnut flavor is wild, but try it) and walk through Testaccio. More than a few times, Vittoria’s ended up chatting with strangers on the Ponte Sisto bridge, swapping travel stories until sunrise. Low-key, always real, and—according to her—way more fun than any velvet-rope club.

• Look for bars with live music, not just playlists.
• Pick a handful of neighborhoods (like Pigneto or Testaccio) instead of hitting big tourist streets.
• Don’t ignore venues that also showcase art, theater, or even open-air film.
• Always ask locals where they’d go after work, not where they take tourists.

So if you want a real shot at seeing Rome's nightlife like Vittoria, give the big-name clubs a miss. Let the city surprise you—sometimes the best night out is a random street corner, new friends, and good music you didn’t see coming.

Visiting Like Risi: Tips for Your Trip

If you want to see Rome the way Vittoria Risi does, you’ll need a bit of guts and a lot of curiosity. Forget rushing from one tourist hotspot to another. It’s about slowing down, asking odd questions, and saying yes more than no. Want her secret? Look where locals look. Sometimes, a no-name café halfway down a quiet alley will serve up the best cacio e pepe of your life. She’s all about finding those places.

Here’s how you can actually walk in her shoes:

• Start early—or very late. Most tourists wake up around nine. Risi hits the markets at sunrise, when locals shop and the produce is fresh. Campo de’ Fiori at 6:30 am feels like a different city.
• Skip the line by going off-peak. Everyone wants to visit the Vatican Museums or the Colosseum, but she picks the odd hours—like lunchtime or just before closing—when crowds thin out.
• Eat where the workers eat. She’s big on trattorias that serve lunch to cabbies and delivery drivers. If you see high heels and business suits at a counter, the food’s likely just for show.
• Use your feet, not a taxi. Risi avoids Rome’s insane traffic by walking everywhere. Wear good shoes and treat side streets as adventures. The main sights connect through neighborhoods full of character (and surprising snacks).
• Pay attention to art where you don’t expect it. The street art in Trastevere or the tiny madonnelle shrines on corner buildings often give a better vibe than big-name museums.

Vittoria Risi shares that less than 15% of travelers venture beyond Rome’s centro storico. Don’t be that person; cross the Tiber, hop on a tram, or even rent a scooter—she swears by it to cut across the city fast.

Bottom line? Rome according to Vittoria Risi is about real people and off-script moments. If you’re ready to see the city with wide eyes—and maybe a rumbling stomach—her way is a solid bet.