Gelato
Italian ice cream - gelato - is second to none. Nothing could be more refreshing on a hot day, and tourists and Romans alike get through an awful lot of it.
When looking for good gelato, try to find a gelateria that makes their own gelato on the premises. As with cafés, the usual rule is to pay a cashier first, and then take your ticket to the counter to be served. As well as the usual choices of cups and cones, you're also likely to be offered a smear of thick whipped cream - "panna".
Recommended:
Giolitti, Via Uffici del Vicario 40. Tel. 06 6991243. One of the great gelaterias. They have a second shop at Via le Oceania,90.
Ping Pong, Piazza della Radio, Viale Marconi, Trastevere. Some say it's the best in Rome. You can also buy their gelati by the kilo; if there's a group of you, you can get a box, fill it up with different scoops and take it home.
