My new neighbourhood in Rome

I've found a new apartment here in Rome - unfortunately, far from my present digs in Monti, which is a fantastic neighbourhood that I've grown to love.

Sadly for me, so many other people have also come to love Monti and that has driven rents up too high for my budget. 

So, as of Oct. 31 I will be discovering a new part of Rome, north of the Vatican and near the Cipro metro stop. 

My new 'hood teeters on the edge of the more posh Prati region. It's still considered part of the historic center but really (to my mind) it's on the fringes of the center.  (Of course, for someone living in the suburbs, this would still be considered very central.) 

A few things about my new neighbourhood: it's named Trionfale for a Triumphal Arch somewhere nearby that was erected in the days of the ancient Roman Empire. Apparently, victorious Roman generals entered the city after their battles through this Arch. 

My apartment is a 10-minute walk from the entrance to the Vatican Museums, which isn't too shabby. Unfortunately, as visitors who have made the long walk around the walls enclosing the Vatican City-State, that means it's likely about a 25-minute walk from my place to Piazza San Pietro! Or, an hour's walk to Piazza Navona. 

But there are many pluses: it really is a Roman neighbourhood, since not that many visitors venture past the Vatican. And I've been told the Mercato Trionfale, near my apartment, is fantastic. Among its 273 stalls is a porchetta place (I love that roasted pig); and butchers and pizza places as well as plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Here's Roman food historian Katie Parla's take on the place.

Also, I'm near one of Rome's best pizza places - a tiny, takeout joint called Pizzarium. Yum - good eating for long winter nights in Rome!