Take a Gelato Break
If you're craving luscious gelato, our top choice is Giolitti, Via Uffici del Vicario 40 (tel. 06-6991243; www.giolitti.it), the city's oldest ice-cream shop, open daily from 7am to 2am. You'll find the usual vaniglia (vanilla), cioccolato (chocolate), fragola (strawberry), and caffé (coffee), but you'll also find great combinations like gianduia (chocolate hazelnut), plus such treats as cassata alla siciliana (orange-flavored sponge cake with canola cream), zabaglione (light custard flavored with marsala-sweet wine), mascarpone (crème fraiche, double cream, and buttermilk) and maron glace (chestnuts in a vanilla and butter glaze). The preposterously oversize showpiece sundaes have names such as Coppa Olimpica (made with sponge cake, zabaione, nougat, chocolate, and a touch of liquor flavoring). Other ice-cream flavors include Stracciatella, Ricotta, Champagne, Yogurt, Coconut, Peach, Apricot, Grape, Mandarin, and Blackberries.
Another favorite is the Palazzo del Freddo Giovanni, Via Principe Eugenio 65-67 (tel. 06-4464740). More than 100 years old, this ice-cream outlet (part of a gelato factory) turns out yummy concoctions and specializes in rice ice cream. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 12:30am.
If you're fond of frothy frullati frappes, head to Pascucci, Via Torre Argentina 20 (tel. 06-6864816), where blenders work all day grinding fresh fruit into delectable drinks. It's open Monday through Saturday from noon to 1am.
Prices at these shops range from 1.75€ to 8€ ($2.10-$9.60).
