ROME, ITALY BY SHU GARBUGLIA:
“One of my favourite films about Rome is Nanni Moretti’s Caro Diari,” illustrator Shu Garbuglia says. “In a very famous scene, the main character, played by the director himself, wanders around Rome in the middle of August with a Vespa, going as far as the most suburban areas. Most of the Romans are at the sea and the city isempty, beautiful and at the same time surreal.”
Born and raised in Rome, Garbuglia spent a lot of her childhood playing in Villa Ada, one of the largest parks in the city. As an adult,she still lives here and can sometimes be found at a restaurant with a bowl of pasta – Amatriciana (tomato, guanciale, pecorino cheese) –and a glass of Grattachecca (scratched ice and syrup).
“Rome is a chaotic and stressful city, with many problems that do not make it very liveable,” Garbuglia says. “However, sometimesI take long walks in the city centre – where the city reveals its ancient beauty – and it always makes me feel reconciled with this place. It reawakens my love for it.”
When the pandemic hit, Garbuglia and her family were unable to walk around as freely as they would like and were instead, like therest of the world, confined to their home.
“I tried to admire it anyway,” she says. “I often used webcams to see the streets. It was really impressive to watch it empty without touristsand locals.”
For the beauty girl, Garbuglia recommends Essenzialmente Laura, a perfume-maker located on one of the most beautiful streets ofRome, via dei Coronari. “Inside, you can find perfumes but also products for the body and for the home, expertly mixed by Laura whocreates perfumes for the major cosmetic houses and customised mélanges,” she says.
When night falls, the artist suggests getting out of the city centre and heading to the Trastevere district for dinner. “You can stroll andstop in several classic trattorias for a typical pasta dish, such as the Tonnarello restaurant,” she explains. “Then you can hang around fora drink. The neighbourhood is usually very animated in the night. Admiring Rome at midnight is not to be missed. You can do it from the Gianicolo, where you have a stunning panoramic view. Afterwards, if you are still hungry, youcan stop into an open night bar for a croissant or a freshly baked doughnut.”
Follow Shu Garbuglia @shugarbuglia
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