Christmas Romance in Rome

The other day I went for a quick Christmas-shopping in the center and took my camera with me. First of all I went to the fancy italian food boutique called Castroni. Castroni was first opened in 1932 on Via Cola Di Rienzo, just around the corner from the Vatican. You can find absolutely everything in Castroni - from oriental spices to scandinavian gingerbread! And, as I discovered this time, also english shortbread, which my mum insanely loves! I bought the ingredients for the cookies I planned on making later on and then I head to Via Del Corso, the main shopping street that links to the Spanish Steps. Once my shops were made I continued on wondering around the small streets, or vicoli, as they are called in italian, and taking some pictures.

"Torrone in vetrina" - torrone is the typical italian Christmas white sweets. It's made with honey, sugar and hazelnuts.






Via Cola di Rienzo.



Via del Corso. It wasn't as crowded as I expected it to be.. I even managed to take a picture of it!

The piazza that links Via del Corso to Via Condotti, the most exclusive shopping street in the city, at the end of which there is Piazza di Spagna. There were, strangely, two Christmas trees. The nice and fat one you can see on the picture, and then the taller, skinnier tree which you can sightly see from the left edge of the image.. I wonder if the shape of the tree has something to do with the fact that it was infront of the huge Fendi department store... hah!

The chestnut seller! I love chestnuts!! They taste like potates only they're sweeter. In Italy chestnuts are a typical Christmas treat.




Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina had this very strange christmas decoration.. Huge christmas packs with names of the shops on the piazza on top of it.. function? ...

Ciampini is one of the most famous Caffès-bar-ice-cream shops in the center. It is known for its very "prestigious" clients like politicians &co.

Oh how kitsch!











Via Condotti.




Via Condotti towards Piazza di Spagna.

This is a parallel street to Via Condotti. This is the back-entrance, which hasn't been in use for years, of the famous and probably one of th emost expensive bars in Rome called Il Caffè Greco. The coffee is told to be served in golden cups.. probably a myth but apparently a good one as it results to be in the top twenty tourist attraction list.

Piazza di Spagna.




And finally at home...



Preparations for my bisquit-cooking-mission! (Never have I done it before in my life... )



Almonds.. chocolate..






Cooking time boreness...

And tadaaa!! They seem delicious - I haven't tasted them properly, have to wait until the 24th!
These bisquits are called in italian "i fiorentini". You can find different recipes, I read four different ones and at the end invented my own version. I used cream instead of eggs and powder sugar instead of normal sugar. Also I added some grinded orange peel in the mixture which goes perfcetly together with dark chocolate!

Quick visit to the cinema withmy little sis! The Puss in Boots is such a hilarious cartoon, i recommend it to everyone! I think it was great that Antonio Banderas did the dubbing in italian too so it didn't lose its initial groove..







And finally here I am with my family enjoying our Grinchy Christmas!







Some real gingerbread cookies from Estonia which look better from the actual taste..

Oh how I had missed my home and Rome... it feels so good again walking around the city, discovering new and old, eternally charming small streets and piazzas, especially now in the holiday spirit! And then those cozy moments at home with family, friends and with your loved one!

I'm wishing you all, my dear readers and followers, relaxing, happy and warm Christmas! Eat, drink and laugh a smuch as you can!!