La Vita Roma's most popular posts of 2018

The 2018 roundup of La Vita Roma’s top 10 posts, which run the gamut from Italian love stories and a secret Carbonara recipe.

ItalyAbigail StarkJanuary 4, 20192018, best postsComment

Day Trips from Rome: Ostia Antica is the new Pompeii

One of Rome’s most compelling and accessible historic sites is also one of its most underrated. Ostia Antica, Rome’s ancient port city, is full of ruins and monuments, some in even better condition than the famous Pompeii and easily accessible from the center of Rome.

Day tripsAbigail StarkDecember 16, 2018day trip, ostia antica, roman ruinsComment

Celebrating Thanksgiving in Rome

I’m always surprised at how interested Italians are Thanksgiving, and how rewarding it is to celebrate this typical American holiday in Italy. Every year, I always have Italian friends asking me what my plans are for Thanksgiving and who are always willing to join in and try out the strange American dishes that both repel and fascinate them at the same time.

Living AbroadAbigail StarkNovember 21, 2018thanksgiving, turkey, holidays in rome, italian food Comment

Visiting a family-run vineyard in Le Marche, Italy: Vitivincola Marani

This Le Marche winery has been producing their own DOC verdicchio wine since 1938 and welcomes visitors to take an intimate look into their wine-making and tasting process.

ItalyAbigail StarkNovember 9, 2018vineyard, wine, winery, marche Comments

What to Pack for Fall in Rome

Today I’m answering a question that I get so often from people visiting Rome—“What should I pack for fall in Rome?” To help in packing for this crazy season, I’m putting together a list of what I would bring to Rome in the autumn, focusing on the clothing pieces that will be the most versatile.

RomeAbigail StarkNovember 2, 2018packing list, packing, packing for rome, fall in rome Comments

Sharing Pictures from our Trastevere Photoshoot

To celebrate our five-year anniversary, I’m sharing the photos from a photoshoot done in the place where we first met, Trastevere. It felt so special to get some gorgeous photos done in the same place it all started five years ago.

LifestyleAbigail StarkOctober 20, 2018trastevere, photoshoot, anniversaryComment

Hidden Gems in Rome: Al Cantuccio Restaurant

The stand out features of Al Cantuccio have to be the decor and the service, followed closely by the lovely, homemade food that you can just tell is made with love.

Rome, Food, Best ofAbigail StarkOctober 12, 2018rome restaurant, restaurant, al cantuccio Comment

What I Would Eat and Do on My Perfect Day in Rome

To celebrate my 3-year anniversary of moving to Rome and living in this crazy, beautiful city, I’m sharing what my perfect day would look. From my favorite breakfast/pizza/pasta/gelato options to where I would visit and what I would do, this is what I would consider a perfect day.

RomeAbigail StarkOctober 5, 2018perfect day rome, rome activities, rome restaurant Comments

What to see (and eat) with one day in Bologna

With a nickname like “La Grassa”, in reference to its many culinary specialties and authentic foodie culture, I knew it would be love-at-first-taste for me with Bologna.

ItalyAbigail StarkSeptember 28, 2018bologna, day tripComment

The Italian Sunday Lunch

After moving to a different country, I count myself so so lucky to have traditional, Italian Sunday Lunches with Edoardo’s family, where it’s completely next level in terms of the time spent preparing and eating food. In the spirit of sharing more about what life in Italy is actually like, for the people who live and work here, I wanted to write about what a typical lunch for us.

FoodAbigail StarkSeptember 21, 2018sunday lunch, italian life, italian foodComment

August Recap and Our Engagement Story

This summer was crazy for a variety of reasons but it was also amazing. We spent plenty of time around Rome and its nearby beaches, I got to see my family after 10 months away from the States and my FIANCÈ proposed to me while surrounded by my family. It really couldn't get much better. Today I'm sharing that whole story along with some photos from the amazing 2 weeks we spent stateside.

LifestyleAbigail StarkSeptember 7, 2018engagement, august trip, United StatesComment

Custom Italy Itineraries and Trip Planning

Today I’m talking about a new service I've added to my blog, a personal travel planning package that includes my recommendations for what to do, eat and see in Rome and Italy. I'll get into why I've decided to start offering this service, how I think it can help anyone looking to make the most out of their Italian experience and the logistics behind these packages.

Mexican food Guide: Where to Find the Best Mexican in Rome

Eating out in Italy involves a lot of pasta, pizza and predominantly Italian dishes. Besides supplementing their diet with the occasional burger or sushi, many Italians have no problem eating only Italian food day in and day out. So, while finding places that do decent Thai, Indian and Mexican food can be a real challenge, there are a few spots that I love. Keep reading for my Mexican budget picks, a Chipotle dupe and full-on restaurants with a mean margarita.

RomeAbigail StarkJuly 20, 2018restaurant, rome restaurant, rome food, mexican, la punta, maybu, tacos & beerComment

Rome Neighborhoods: Ponte Milvio Guide

What to expect out of this classic Roman neighborhood, including where to eat and drink among locals.

RomeAbigail StarkJuly 13, 2018ponte milvio, rome nightlife, restaurant, bar, brunch, stadio, burger, sushiComment

The “Real” Dolce Vita: What it’s really like living in Italy

There are so many misconceptions when it comes to living in Italy and the stereotypical dolce vita is both an exaggeration and underestimation of what living in this country is like. Obviously there are positives and negatives to living in every country, but in this post I wanted to address the stereotypes that leave people wanting to move to Italy so badly, without a real idea of what it’s like living here. So here is my list of what makes up the “real” dolce vita in Italy, at least for this American ex-pat.