Rome Hostels
So it’s a bit colder in Rome now that we’ve reached November, but hey, that’s no reason to pass up on a melt-in-your-mouth gelato. Worried you’re going to get an ice-cream headache? No worries. Chase the gelato with a cafe macchiato to warm you up.The beginnings of gelato date back to the times of the caveman. Most likely, it was the act of storing milk, honey, berries and other dried fruits in the snow that evolved into being eaten as frozen foods.
Today the craft of gelato has been finely tuned and is an art in it’s own right. Gelaterias display deliciously colourful tubs of the good stuff in the entrance of their stores, so the fresh and fruity smell wafts out on to the street to entice you in. And it does. Before you know it, you’re hooked and finding yourself trying to decide between the many flavours on offer.
Artisan gelato is characterised by the use of fresh, high quality ingredients. Raw fruits produced and picked from nearby orchards are favoured and the fruit used will depend on what is in season. The texture of the end product is smooth and creamy and the flavour tastes more defined than the less skillfully made industry gelato. Any possible flavour you could think of is available: peach, chocolate, triple chocolate, lemon, pistachio, caffe, banana, raspberry, strawberry, mulberry, (every berry!) melon, yoghurt, vanilla. The list goes on.
Prices vary for your standard cone of gelato and there are gelatarias and gelato carts to be found on nearly every street corner in Rome. In fact, they are as prolific as pizzarias and United Colours of Beneton stores. Some places will charge €9 per cone with a few bright (and tacky) flags, and will be half melted by the time it has been constructed and handed to you. While other places will give you a serving that will melt before you manage to eat the whole thing – and it will only set you back €1.80. Note to the uninitiated… avoid gelaterias dotted around the tourist attractions. You will usually pay more than double, sometimes triple the price found elsewhere, and the quality of gelato will more often than not, be average. The sign of a good gelateria? Ques of people lining up outside the store…
To Book your place to stay it is easy, just go to
M&J Place Hostel Rome Dorms and Private rooms.
