Roman Culture – Rome today is a very modern place, despite its backdrop of ancient ruins, buildings and infrastructure.

The youth are as keen to identify with the New Millennium world as any Americans, Canadians or Brits, and as such, follow the same musical and recreational trends, as well as embracing their home-grown ones.
Families tend not to live in the centre of the bustling city but make their homes as generations before them did, on the outskirts.

The Roman culture of daily life is similar to that of other civilized cities and countries around the world, but their schedule is understandably very European and not so much a 24/7 shopping mecca that you would find in the U.S. or England.

In fact, adjusting to Roman culture is as much about fitting in with a daily agenda than it is about using olive oil instead of mayo as your salad dressing.

Romans love to begin their day, waking up to the aroma of fresh coffee wafting around their compact apartment. Cereal is somewhat of a fascination here and you will be more likely to be offered fresh brioche or panini (small bread rolls) with exquisite Italian jams or cold meats for breakfast.

The enjoyment of food is a large part of Roman culture; understandably so when you consider the wonderful delights that flow in from the Tuscan countryside, the farms of Naples and the Mediterranean surrounding Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia.

Taking coffee while reading the newspaper in a piazza is as Roman as watching gladiators battle it out in the Coliseum centuries ago. It may seem stereotypical but it’s a part of daily life nonetheless.

Housewives on their daily quest for fresh produce and table wine may not linger for an espresso but businessmen and women in fine suits carrying immaculate attaché cases can be found in great numbers in the bars during the day.

The rhythm of the city pulses to a crescendo by mid-morning when Roman culture turns into a mission to earn the lire in order to live a fulfilling life. Buses, trams and taxis fill the air with noise and people rush about like ants trying to reach their destinations.

Lunch compels the population, tourists and locals alike into bars, trattorias and restaurants to fill their bellies with soups, pizza, a “bello piatto di pasta” or a steak, and set them up for the afternoon siesta period that arrives inevitably to lull the city into a somewhat quieter phase.

Many shop owners pull down their security screens and close up after lunch then reopen at around 4pm. This is the time of day for rest, to catch up on chores or to sit in a picturesque park and enjoy the ambience of modern day Rome.

The pace picks up late afternoon and businesses crank back into action for another few hours, but by 7pm, the daily commute turns frantic and trivialities such as road rules are ignored completely. Honking horns and colorful hand gestures punctuate the dusky air and the piazzas again fill with excited masses gathering for social encounters.
Roman culture is extremely convivial and there is a palpable joie de vivre that is evident wherever you look.

Dinner time is around 9pm and Romans will either settle in for the evening, go out visiting friends or relatives, or dress to take a walk through the city or see a movie. Roman culture is different, yet not so different from many others, except there is an emphasis on family, good food and old-fashioned socializing.

The arts are appreciated and enjoyed and Romans are very proud of their ancestry and cultural beginnings. As such, it may appear that there is a measure of arrogance or elitism to their collective personality, but make the effort to assimilate and you will see they have every reason to display their pride.

Travelling to Rome is a trip of a lifetime. It’s the real deal, the big one, the vacation on which you will learn, laugh, love and live more in a week than in a year at home. Pack your bags and a healthy appetite and off you go.