The True Rome? | National Geographic

Trastevere is one of Rome’s most ancient

Trastevere is one of Rome’s most ancient neighborhoods founded during the reign

neighborhoods founded during the reign

neighborhoods founded during the reign of Emperor Augustus its name means

of Emperor Augustus its name means

of Emperor Augustus its name means literally across the Tiber but more than

literally across the Tiber but more than

literally across the Tiber but more than a river separates the people of

a river separates the people of

a river separates the people of Trastevere from the rest of the city

Trastevere from the rest of the city

Trastevere from the rest of the city Trasolini have always been proud of

Trasolini have always been proud of

Trasolini have always been proud of their origins believing themselves to be

their origins believing themselves to be

their origins believing themselves to be the only true Romans for Romans of Rome

the only true Romans for Romans of Rome

the only true Romans for Romans of Rome in the Middle Ages the neighborhood

in the Middle Ages the neighborhood

in the Middle Ages the neighborhood became a center for working-class

became a center for working-class

became a center for working-class fishermen and artisans even though the

fishermen and artisans even though the

fishermen and artisans even though the Vatican owns a lot of property here and

Vatican owns a lot of property here and

Vatican owns a lot of property here and even with the monasteries and convents

even with the monasteries and convents

even with the monasteries and convents hidden behind high walls it still has

hidden behind high walls it still has

hidden behind high walls it still has that spirit of a medieval port town

that spirit of a medieval port town

that spirit of a medieval port town whether to enjoy home cooking get lost

whether to enjoy home cooking get lost

whether to enjoy home cooking get lost in winding alleys or just escape the

in winding alleys or just escape the

in winding alleys or just escape the chaos of central Rome visitors have

chaos of central Rome visitors have

chaos of central Rome visitors have always come here in search of the

always come here in search of the

always come here in search of the authentic Italy now in increasing

authentic Italy now in increasing

authentic Italy now in increasing numbers the visitors are moving in

numbers the visitors are moving in

numbers the visitors are moving in driving up housing prices and displacing

driving up housing prices and displacing

driving up housing prices and displacing many old-time residents some people fear

many old-time residents some people fear

many old-time residents some people fear that recent developments have changed

that recent developments have changed

that recent developments have changed the neighborhood for the worse

Giancarlo bisso has been serving clients

Giancarlo bisso has been serving clients at this cafe for 35 years his old

at this cafe for 35 years his old

at this cafe for 35 years his old customers are disappearing and they’re

customers are disappearing and they’re

customers are disappearing and they’re taking the spirit of the place along

taking the spirit of the place along

taking the spirit of the place along with them as far as more than 70 years

with them as far as more than 70 years

with them as far as more than 70 years ago in the old days people would buy

ago in the old days people would buy

ago in the old days people would buy milk here and carry it home in 10

milk here and carry it home in 10

milk here and carry it home in 10 buckets women used to come down and

buckets women used to come down and

buckets women used to come down and their nightgowns to have breakfast today

their nightgowns to have breakfast today

their nightgowns to have breakfast today it has become a modern bar like the rest

but not everyone is so negative about

but not everyone is so negative about the change

the change

the change Giovanni Amelie has been selling

Giovanni Amelie has been selling

Giovanni Amelie has been selling newspapers on Piazza Santa Maria for the

newspapers on Piazza Santa Maria for the

newspapers on Piazza Santa Maria for the past 18 years from his booth he has

past 18 years from his booth he has

past 18 years from his booth he has witnessed the restoration of the church

witnessed the restoration of the church

witnessed the restoration of the church the cleaning of the neighborhood and a

the cleaning of the neighborhood and a

the cleaning of the neighborhood and a big increase in business I would say

big increase in business I would say

big increase in business I would say crest ever day has changed for the

crest ever day has changed for the

crest ever day has changed for the better before it was a lot more on stage

better before it was a lot more on stage

better before it was a lot more on stage there was crime poverty and unruliness

there was crime poverty and unruliness

there was crime poverty and unruliness today the type of community is

today the type of community is

today the type of community is the neighborhood is safe but it still

the neighborhood is safe but it still

the neighborhood is safe but it still keeps its characteristic many people say

keeps its characteristic many people say

keeps its characteristic many people say it is it’s very charm that has led to

it is it’s very charm that has led to

it is it’s very charm that has led to trust of a race transformation the glory

trust of a race transformation the glory

trust of a race transformation the glory of Rome lies in its ability to retain

of Rome lies in its ability to retain

of Rome lies in its ability to retain layer upon layer of history even as the

layer upon layer of history even as the

layer upon layer of history even as the present creates an entirely new city

present creates an entirely new city

present creates an entirely new city trust via Ray’s ancient ruins medieval

trust via Ray’s ancient ruins medieval

trust via Ray’s ancient ruins medieval alleys Renaissance churches and baroque

alleys Renaissance churches and baroque

alleys Renaissance churches and baroque palaces are all part of that timeless

palaces are all part of that timeless

palaces are all part of that timeless process