Rome pizza walking tour

Scout out the best pizza in town on this 3-hour pizza walking tour of Rome, led by a friendly food-expert guide! Discover the best family-run bakeries, popular pizzerias and real locals’ favorites, sampling various toppings plus ‘pizza al taglio,’ ‘alla palla’ and, of course, the crispy Roman ‘scrocchiarellas’! Hear the history of the humble pizza, sample traditional drinks and visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore – one of Italy’s largest churches – on this must-do tour.

Numbers are limited to twelve on this small-group tour, ensuring personalized attention from a guide.

Meet your guide in the Monti area of central Rome – near Piazza Venezia – and then stroll to a 100-year-old, family-run bakery for a late-morning breakfast of pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice). As you walk, your guide will talk to you about pizza in Italy; hear about its origins, the regional differences, and most importantly, pizza’s place in Rome.

Born in Naples, pizza is likely to have started out as focaccia (Italian flat bread) topped with fresh and readily available ingredients like tomatoes and milky fresh mozzarella – simple staples of Italian cuisine. Hear of Neapolitan pizzas today, characterized by thick doughy rims and elastic bodies, and learn of the Roman’s take on the dish – scrocchiarella pizzas with crispy-thin crusts.

Make your way to another local delicatessen and learn about the ingredients used on variations like capricciosa (made with mushrooms, artichokes, ham and olives), and discovering how the toppings are added at different stages of the cooking process. Sample mozzarella cheese, cold cuts of meat and pickled vegetables, washed down with a citrus-flavored soft drink called chinotto. Then, work your way further into the Monti neighborhood while learning about iconic Roman monuments like the Colosseum.

Stop in another family-owned bakery to sample pizza alla pala, a pizza cooked on flint rock rather than the usual tin surface. Continue your stroll, stopping at a family-run wine bar for an aperitivo (pre-dinner drink with snacks), and then pose for photos by the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore – one of Italy’s largest churches. Admire its architecture and hear how Pope Francis celebrated his first mass inside after becoming the new pope. Head inside to see the tomb of famous Baroque artist Bernini alongside other notable Italian dignitaries.

Finally, visit one more pizzeria, for – you guessed it – more pizza! Popular for its wood-oven specialties, the bakery is always packed; it’s a testament to its deliciously crunchy pizzas, baked with passion and pride. Watch the bakers work their magic in the kitchen, and then enjoy a slice of pizza washed down with a refreshing local beer. Your tour finishes inside the pizzeria, where you can stay longer, if you wish.

Special Offer - Introductory offer! Travel before August 31, 2013, and save 10% on the recommended retail price. - Book Now!