Discovering “the great beauty” of Rome: la Veranda restaurant

I get bored very easily of many things in life but I am 100% sure that I will never get tired of travelling with Fede  (doesn’t really matter if for a day or for a lifetime). I hate to prepare and to undo my hand luggage but there is a specific moment that makes everything so worthwhile and that is when I close the old, creaking blue door of what I call home and I leave everything behind.

In my recent past Rome has been the destination of frequent trips.

As an Italian I didn’t know this city as much as I should have but I can definitely say that there Is something about this place: it might be that sense of stillness so lively and powerful at the same time…

Rome is loud and quite noisy; Romans (as we call the inhabitant of Rome) are sharp, funny and irreverent. They are capable of wording sentences (that would sounds horrific if only used by a non-roman) and make you laugh for hours,  they are able to create a warm atmosphere that drags you into the bowels of the city itself.

It reminds me of a mature woman, still very attractive, deeply sensual, occasionally lazy. In the blink of an eye she will wake up and hit you with her breath-taking beauty and her confident certainty that no one will ever be like her.

There is definitely a spot that conquered us on our last trip there and it is called restaurant la Veranda (Borgo Santo Spirito, 73), located right next to the Vatican and surrounded by a luxurious garden that hides this gem from the eyes of the most.

As soon as you step in you will feel part of a movie, Jude Law in the vest of The Young Pope could be sitting right next to your table and Jep Gambardella (main character of the Great Beauty) has for sure been there a while ago!

What makes this place so magical are the paints that decorate the huge hall (that dates back to the 1490), everything is infused with a sacred atmosphere that you will not won’t be able to find anywhere else.

The menu is rich and elegant: from the Sunday brunch to a refined dinner this is surely the ideal place if you want to surprise your beloved ones!

The wine list is unforgettable, it spaces from Valle d’Aosta to Sicily and it will be able to satisfy the most difficult palates too.

We paired our generous brunch – lemon chicken basmati rice, soft scrambled eggs and potatoes gratins- with an unforgettable Verdicchio di Matelica Cru La Monacesca 2010. This dreamy white wine will make you want to order a second bottle straight away: powerful yet delicate on the nose, hints of roasted almonds and citrus on the palate that ends in a beautiful long lasting mineral finish. After a visit to the Vatican Museums and Castel Sant’Angelo this is surely a spot that cannot be missed!

Piazza Navona is just a stroll away and with a pit stop at caffè della Pace (Via della pace, 3/7) for a real Italian espresso you will dive in the Great Beauty of Rome!

Image courtesy La Veranda.
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