Trastevere, Campo di Fiore, Piazza Navona – they are all the popular Rome neighborhoods and many of you have known them and probably have visited them. However, Rome has much more for us to discover and to enjoy. My favorite Rome neighborhood is Cavour and now I’m going to share with you my Cavour neighborhood guide.
As part of Monti area, Cavour is much more concentrated with many bars, restaurants, shops and workshops to be explored. Instead of tourists, it seems to be more attractive to the locals. It is only a small area among Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, Via Nazionale and Colosseum and the oldest and the original Rome neighborhood since Roman time. Look at those sampietrini (cobble stone streets)!
Cavour is perfect for those who love vintage and classic things but also always curious to discover new concepts and designs. I love both its vintage shop with a funky American spirit and the French-Italian inspired elegant fashion boutiques. The contemporary furniture shops are well blended with those classic Romanesque antique ones. It’s a place encouraging many different ideas and creations.
Another reason that attracts me is my connection to this tiny Rome neighborhood. Here has my very first Rome-living memory. I spent half a year studying Italian in Ciao Italia, which is one of the oldest language schools in Rome and it is in Cavour. Since that, I was a frequent bar visitor. My typical Rome day starts from a cappuccino before the class, followed by an espresso or a macchiato with my classmates in the break. I will not leave for home before checking in one of the cute bistros after class. Luckily, Cavour offers a lot of nice options for a solo diner like me and many others.
The best way to enter and to exit with a promised view
“Suburra” is an old name of this typical area which is basically behind the Roman Empire’s heart, Roman Forum. The place was where Caesar started his story and where much low-class community of Roman Empire lived. It was once the neighborhood with the highest population density.
Things to do in Cavour
Do people-watching 24/7
The fountain is at Piazza della Madonna dei Monti. The square is not big but surrounded by restaurants and bars. The most epic moment to enjoy people-watching there is in the summer when the cafes are crowded and the bars are more than just crowded. Night events and little parties take place frequently there. Oh, and also, I’m waiting for those flowers to come back to the walls outside La Bottega del caffe. It is probably the most floral Rome neighborhood!
Buy flowers if you can
Try a class and learn a new skill
I’ve got my eyes on Studio Cassio for a while as they host Mosaics workshops. It can be a very different experience to get closer to the most antique technic and art of Rome.
Walk around to discover the human-made arts and the natural beauty
Cavour is not only an antique place but also full of energy in this typical Rome neighborhood!
Have a walk, lift up your chins and look around, I promise you an entertaining journey! There are some interesting and hilarious arts and the amazing beauty sculptured by the nature. Via Urbana is my favorite street to walk as it has the most “overwhelming” plant walls, green in summers and orange in winters. The only one that can compete with it is the plant curtain on Via Panisaperna. Also, you might notice the funny neighbors’ talking scene on Via Urbana too.
Another side of Cavour is about its street arts. Near La Bottega del Caffe, you will find a pixel one on the wall. Walk up Via degli Zingari, don’t miss the graffiti near the stairs. Walk to the direction towards Arco dei Pantani through Via Baccina, you will find the famous street art by C215. I also talked about the special view of the Roman Forum from Via Baccina 4 months ago.
Go for a small-bite self-tour
Cavour is not big but it’s the paradise for a solo foodie. I never worry about eating alone in this area because it has plenty of small-bite options.
Gelateria dell’Angeletto and Fatamorgana is my favorite two places for a refreshing bite. Mari is the new place if you are curious about Rome’s famous maritozzi. They’ve got both salty options with salmon, avocado, meat or more, or a classic sweet cream version will be magnificent too. Sometimes I will grab a slice of pizza-from-the-oven when I pass by Pizzeria Boccaccia or Forno da Milvio. The later one also serves hot dishes in the rush lunch hours. Grezzo Raw Chocolate is another interesting place if you are a dark-chocolate person like me.
Talking about Food & Drink of Cavour, I have too many recommendations. So, I decided to write another post later on.
Bar hovering around sunset hours
Go shopping and let the credit card cry (I’m joking)
My favorite shops to stop by in Cavour are not only those boutiques for special clothes or pieces of jewelry but also interesting interior concept stores and antique shops. Among them, the most interesting ones are the Candle Store Roma, which I’ve shared a bit in my weekly note. They sell handmade candles and wax products and the most romantic story about man and woman.
LOL Roma has 3 locations in Cavour and they have the chic and feminine collection all the time. However, SUEDE is on the opposite side. I think they’ve got 2 locations which one is for women and the other is for men. It’s perfect for who wants the fashionable streetwear and IT pieces.
Pifebo Vintage and another few shops without a name on Via Leonina are for those vintage hunters. A pair of vintage Levis, charged as per weight? Sounds fancy!
There are many jewelry boutiques and special furniture shops on Via Urbana and Via del Boschetto, however many of them have “weird” open hours. My tips are to avoid the long lunch break which could start from 1 pm till 4 pm. Probably when you can see both the golden shades of sunset and the purple shades of 5 pm sunsetting hours, you are at the right timing to check out those hidden boutiques.
Stay with me, as next week I will have another post dedicated to Food & Drink in Cavour. See you there.
xx
28 Responses
Rome is such a wonderful city to spend time in! It has been years but I remember walking around that area and loved it. After reading this I would love to go back!
Hi Vanessa, I’m pretty sure you will still find it lovely! But maybe, some of the shops have been changed! 😀
This is so lovely! I love the sound of this neighbourhood. It sounds like my Gracia in Barcelona.
I’ve been to Barcelona, but it was quite a while ago when I was “young” and “naive” about how to travel! I think I definitely missed your neighborhood, Gracia!
What a pretty neighbourhood! When I visited Rome there was a heatwave and it was unbearable! I’d love to go back and explore it properly in a more reasonable temperature! I’m saving your guide for our visit!
Hannah
Europe is getting hotter and hotter in these years and it’s horrible, I totally agree! Rome… is somehow the worst, as in the summer and the city center, the fresh air cannot go throw. I will suggest to visit in late May (if it’s not raining like last year) or early June. You will encounter fewer tourists too.
I LOVE discovering the local neighborhoods. When I was there, I stayed in Municipal 2- near Villa Ada and I loved my experience there. Though, when I go back, I will probably try to explore other local neighborhoods like Cavour! Love all of your Rome tips.
Wow!!! You really stay in a neighborhood very different from the normal Rome that people know!!! Villa Ada area is huge ( I mean the park ) and it’s close to Villa Torlonia too, which is beautiful as well! I believe you’ve experienced the best nature and villa of Rome!
Rome is one of the few places on earth where I can go back again and again. In my last trip I spent some time around Cavour, eating and people watching. Your post took me down memory lane ❤️
I’m glad to hear that! What is your next Rome neighborhood on the wishlist? 😀
This sure is a side of Rome I hadn’t seen before. It’s so beautiful, and your photography really brought it out. So nice to get off the beaten path and read about somewhere new.
Thanks Rhonda, as living in Rome and I think I’ve got more chances to explore and bring out more beautiful sides (probably sometimes few ugly truth) of Rome to the world 😀
I’m just in love with Italy and ready to return there again and again, at least reading your blog about the trip. Rome is an amazing city … Thanks for sharing!
Hi Victoria, thanks too for supporting and commenting here.
I hope to bring more bright side and hidden gems of Rome so that the people like you (coming back again and again) can always have something new to see!
I love me some Rome and after this post…I love it a little more!!
haha, a little and then another little, you will become a big fan of Rome one day 😀
This neighborhood looks so charming! I really really would love to visit Rome one day! We went to Italy a couple of years ago but mainly stayed north of Florence. I need to go back ASAP!
North of Florence is not bad, you’ve got Bologna, Milan, Turin, Venice and Verona, and there are thousands of small towns as well. Oops, thousands maybe too much.
But, if you have chance, next time, please Roma! You will love it, and it’s so different from the north! as well as the people and the culture here.
Actually, I myself didn’t explore a lot of the south of Italy, that’s a big target for me in this year.
Nice, this is the first time I’ve heard of Cavour and I must say I’m enchanted with the place!
Hey Olga, glad that my post inspired you!!!
Cavour is beautiful, energetic and with a lot of fun to walk around and to explore!
Sounds like a charming neighbourhood. I’ve never visited Rome but hope to have the opportunity to in the future.
Hi Eunice, if you have chance, you must visit Rome. There are a lot of to see and to do here, and I’m pretty sure you will love it 😀
If you are planning something and have question, feel free to drop me an email or sign up my newsletter 😀
I don’t know if they are somewhat similar but based on your pictures – Rome gives me Paris vibes and that’s a reallllly good thing! I haven’t visited Rome before, it’s definitely on my list, and I love to know these neighborhoods to write down and visit. It’s so much easier to completely enjoy a city when you know the good stuff.
haha, maybe it’s because of my editing on the photos (I like Paris style, probably I capture and edit my photos the way similar to Paris’s feeling…).
Personally, I consider Rome very different from Paris. For example, the buildings in Rome are with warm tone and very colorful / Paris is mostly white and iron/bronze. Rome has much narrow, not straight, confusing streets in the centro storico, but Paris, I guess it is a bit easier? You have to visit Rome when you have the chance! I’m sure, you will love this city 😀
Cavour sounds like a wonderful place to visit! I always love the smaller neighborhoods that have the authentic feel of the country yet are not so touristy as the main cities. So much culture to explore! And as always I absolutely love the cobblestone streets. I must admit I had never heard of this neighborhood before, but I have added it to the list!
Same here!
I love the culture and the history of a place. And those small neighborhood is exactly where I can know more about the city! I feel that to write more content about this could help people switch their eyes to more beautiful things!
if something, than shopping in Cavour really made my credit card cry once hahah. Since, I’m going along Via Nazionale with bus. Nothing else. It’s dangerous place for me, with too many beautiful butique shops. Love it!
haha, you could hope those shops are not yet fully open :DDDD