Interview with Tiziana, guide in Rome

Professional tour guide in Rome, Tiziana has been leading original and private visits in Rome since 11 years. She knows every corner of her city and enjoys meeting people from all around the world. She accepted to answer our questions to reveal the secrets of the italian capital.

Why Rome?

I am a true Roman: born and raised in Rome, I lived there my whole life. To me, Rome is the most beautiful city in the world. I traveled a lot so I could say that Rome is special and unique compared to other cities!

To you, what is the main quality a guide should have?

A guide should be patient, smiling, always in a good mood and positive. A good guide should hide his bad mood and do everything to make the clients happy so they can have the best time! The clients are here to spend good time, so the guide should meet their expectations.

I guess you have to do a lot of researches to create your tours. How do you find these little details that will make them unique?

I always search for details that are important to help visitors understanding the city and blend in it. I look for things and facts that show the background of Rome, and are less technological; the life of a Roman emperor for example.

What is your favorite place/monument/neighborhood in your city?

All places are beautiful! I love walking in the city center of Rome which is full of people, shops and life… I also enjoy walking in the surrounding neighborhoods where there are groceries, artisans and authentic lifestyle.

Something you really like about your Rome?

Is there a way of life, a particular lifestyle in Rome we could not find anywhere else?

People in Rome are warm and helpful. They try to speak your language. In fact, when some visitors have difficulties to express themselves in English or Italian, the local people will try to understand with few vocabulary and answer the best they can.

What do you like to do during your free time?

I like staying at home as I am always outside the rest of the time. I also like watching new movies and, going to a concert. I also spend my free time to look for new places and new areas where I could bring my clients. I look for hidden places less known but as beautiful as famous places.

Is there something that, according to you, should be known about Rome? (not something famous, something only somebody living there knows)

There are lots of museums not really famous but important for local people:

• The Palazzo Massimo: very important Roman art museum
• The gallery Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj
• The National Etruscans museum
• The Ostia Antica
• The Nécropole de Cerveteri

According to you what is Rome known for? What made its reputation? (food? drink? Sport?…)

Rome is known for its food, fashion, soccer, Ferrari but also its Colosseum and Vatican.

What are the clichés?

People think that Italians are always relaxed and Italian lifestyle is wonderful, but that’s not true. Another cliché regards the weather: always sunny, warm, blue sky…

What is your favorite food?

I love the Gnocchi (type of raviolis) a typical Roman food. But also The Pajata, Trippa, Coda alla Vaccinara.

What is your favorite local wine? Is it your favorite wine?

I really like the wine from Castelli Romani, as well as the Est! Est! Est! wine from Montefiascone, a blend from the Roma area. With cheese, the Cerveteri wine is also delicious.

Is Rome region’s wine really different from wines from other places?

Each region has its own wine: In Italy, there is Tuscany, Sicilia, Veneto etc… Rome is different from other cities because local producers do not have huge production and produce usually mainly for locals. In Rome, we favor the quality to the quantity.

Any famous story that happened in Rome and that you particularly liked, that you are proud of ? Or something that left a mark on you or shocked you?

One of the stories that marked me is the one of the guy who went to the Trevi fountain during the night to collect the coins inside. 

And also the fact that tourists believe that if they throw money in the fountain they could come back to Italy once again.

To you, what does it mean to be a typical inhabitant of Rome?

On the good side: we are proud of our city, history, emperors, and glory, knowing we were the centre of the world before.

On the bad side: Our behavior is terrible because we are not so polite. For the parking, even if  there is no place, we will manage to fit our car between two cars in a small place! Drivers are not patient.

Is there a rivalry or competition between Rome and another city? Are you taking part in it?

There is a competition between Rome and all other Italian cities: Florence, Naples, Milan etc..

Milanese think we are in the South of Italy so for them we are inferior but for me, we are in the center. What do you think? Are we in the center of Italy or in the South?

And of course, I am taking part in this competition, I am Roman so I am proud of my city!