Portrait of Rome:

Portrait of Rome: The people

Above: A vendor pauses and poses before handing me a cone of roasted chestnuts.

One of the things I love about Rome, and Italy in general, is that life is lived out on the streets. Friends gather, meals are shared, people sit and read on outdoor benches or steps. Artists and vendors of various sorts congregate in the most popular tourist spots hoping to make a few sales. Italian culture is gregarious. People are out and about. Sure, lots of the activity on the street is from tourists or related to the tourist trade. But like most world class cities, tourism is part of the very fabric of Rome. Rome without travelers wouldn’t really be Rome.

With that, through these photos, let me introduce you to a few of the people of Rome.

Priests and others walking in the pouring rain along Piazza di Spagna. I loved these umbrellas. They were everywhere in Rome.

A newly married couple make their way through the crowds near Fontana di Trevi.

An artist on the bridge to Isola Tiberina.

For the spontaneous declaration of forever love. A vendor on Ponte Sisto showing his product to a customer.

Enjoying a past volume of Dago, a black and white comic book.

An entertainer on the Ponte Sisto.

Out of frame, two friends are in a deep discussion but this guy is just enjoying his nicotine.

The street artists. Spray painting planets and moons and other worlds. Using forms and formulas but always with some personal twist. They are art machines. Always surrounded by an audience.

The woman on the right works at this butcher shop. Every day she would take a break with her friends when they dropped by.

Tourists discussing dogs with their owner.

L'aperitivo at a bar near the universities.

Travel Tip: As with many European cities, Rome comes alive a little later in the evening. Happy hour, l’aperitivo, is at the end of the workday and is popular throughout Italy, but especially in Rome. Many bars offer free small bites and snacks along with your drink. It’s a great deal for bargain hunters – although the food may or may not be as delicious as you’d hope. Later, people meet for dinner. If you prefer to dine early, it will be easier to find seating – although you may find your surroundings a little on the quiet side. After dinner, small groups may take a walk or linger in the piazzas or parks. It’s not uncommon to find people dallying until midnight, even on weekdays.

For more stories about Italy see:

Portrait of Rome: The people

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