Discover Rome: One of the most authentic districts of Rome, Garbatella

One of the areas you absolutely have to visit during your holidays in Rome undoubtedly is Garbatella district, rightly considered a slice of the true Roman spirit.

Garbatella: a little bit of history and how to get there
Garbatella has unfairly been considered a village like many others for some time, but it actually is one of the most authentic districts of Rome, a true symbol of what you mean when you hear about the "Roman world". The district was created in 1919, and as it was the last subdivision of the Eternal City, it is also the youngest one. You should know at the time of its creation, the will was to create an area to reproduce the idea of the English City Garden in Rome. At the beginning, many workers of the commercial port nearby lived there.
Today, the neighbourhood still has its original architectural appearance, undoubtedly one of its strengths. There are very interesting explanations about why the district took this name. According to many of them, the name Garbatella should be connected to the nickname the owner of a cafe used to give to some of his regular customers, so they began calling it "Garbata Ostella" - gentle ostella - for his kindness, so becoming Garbatella. The other hypothesis usually explaining the origin of the name of this district, symbol of Romanity, is linked to the methods of cultivation of the vine, there defined as "a garbata" - politely.
However, beyond the discussions about the origin of the name, something you will immediately see walking through its streets is the area is quite charming and very different from the Rome most tourists are accustomed to see and admire. But how can you get to the Garbatella from your hotel, if you don't stay nearby? A first solution could be to take the subway, as the neighbourhood is served by a stop called "Garbatella".

The places to start from to discover Garbatella
Once you arrive in Garbatella, it will be easy to realize how this reality of Rome will be able to remain in your memory even after a long time. Your tour in this symbol of Rome can start from Piazza Benedetto Brin, rightly considered the most important square of the neighbourhood: if you love history, you will be pleased to know King Vittorio Emanuele III himself started the works of the district there. In the square, you will see a small fountain, a mandatory point of passage to gain access to a small park known as "er Pincetto".
Also the Plinio Marco stairs are very important, connecting the district to the famous Via Ostiense. We can't miss to tell you about what citizens consider the most important street of the environment where they live: Via delle Sette Chiese. If you're wondering why it took this name, the answer is not only interesting from a historical point of view, but also very fascinating, because the reason lies in the fact that in the middle ages, this road was the main connection to "seven churches" of the Eternal City, the stages of the pilgrimage known as the "tour of the seven churches".

Other symbolic places in Garbatella
Concerning the symbols of Garbatella, you can't miss the church of Santi Teodoro ed Eurosia, as the locals call it "Chiesolotta". It is one of the most important places of the district, and its construction dates back to the beginning of the first half of 1800. We can't miss to quote "Scala degli Innamorati" - the Lovers' stairs -, one of the landmarks of the area: among the several reasons making it interesting is the fact after the end of World War II it was the area of the neighbourhood where lovers went for spending some private moments.
About the squares making Garbatella one of the most authentic neighbourhoods of Rome, you have to definitely dedicate some time to Piazza Bartolomeo Romano: walking in this square, you will immediately realize it is considered the "historical centre" of the neighbourhood. There are several reasons, and among them, one is the presence of the Palladium theatre, built to pay homage to the architectural style of the ancient Rome. In the past, films used to be shot and theatre shows took place there: the structure is currently managed by the University Roma Tre, strengthening of the role of cultural pole of the district.

The places in Garbatella famous thanks to sport and TV
Another public square symbol of Garbatella is the one everybody knows even if never been in Rome. If you are among them, you have already understood we are talking about Piazza Giovanni da Triora: the "I Cesaroni" last year famous TV-series was shot there. In this square, there is one of the symbol of the Roma Club fans, the Roma Club Garbatella. If you want to get in touch with the Roman soul, you have to visit it.

The latest unmissable Garbatella attractions
The last but not least place we absolutely recommend you to visit is a residence dating back to 1500, called "the Scoletta" by the people living in the neighbourhood: its fame is due to the fact it was the background of several films and television series. However, beyond this aspect, it is worth to admire it for its fascinating architectural structure, capable of conquering those who are not usually interested in architecture.
These are the places you should visit in Garbatella district, but if you will have more time and you like the cinema, returning towards Piazza Benedetto Brin, towards via Pantero Pantera, look at the house where Maurizio Arena - actor you surely remember as one of the main faces of the film "Poveri ma Belli" by Dino Risi - was born.