Antico Forno ai Serpenti - the best pane, pizza and biscotti in town!

Rome’s Monti district is becoming increasing known as one of the best food area's of the city with many food shop openings recently. The most notable opening was that in December of Antico Forno ai Serpenti, a new bakery opened on the corner of Via dei Serpenti and Via Panisperna. The owner, Mr Alessandro Santomauro, a friend of Bellarome Italian Holidays commented:
"It’s a longstanding personal passion of mine, I’m a lawyer by training and I’ll continue practicing. After deciding to open the forno, my challenge was to find a bread maker/baker who could create the high quality traditional products that I envisioned and an architect to restore the space.  Luckily, I met the Conti family who agreed to work with me in this venture. The Conti family are very well known and talented in the art of bread and pastry making. They own the “Antico Forno di Trastevere. Sergio Conti is onsite daily testing and retesting his family recipes making sure our customers receive consistent delicious baked goods while his sister, Elisabetta, supervises the counter."

The name Antico Forno ai Serpenti was the name of the old original forno that was located in the same building, but closed a few years ago. The sign on Via Parnisperna speaks of a time past, of the old forno, so Mr Santomauro decided to keep the name but create a interior space that is visibly different. The forno is chameleonic; you can enjoy cornetti (croissant) for breakfast, lasagna for lunch or a quick after-work aperitivo. The specialities of the forno include pizza bianca (Roman style pizza usually topped with olive oil and salt and sold by weight), pizza rossa (Roman style pizza topped with tomato sauce) and traditional breads from the region of Lazio including cioriola romana (individual size bread) and lariano (loaves made from whole wheat, a natural yeast starter, simple yeast dough, salt and water). For sweets cornetti, ciambellone (bundt cake) and brutti ma buoni (ugly but good gluten free) cookies and of course panettone for the holiday season. 

Antico Forno ai Serpenti uses the the best local products, such as prosciutto di Bassiano and ricotta romana cheese which are both from the region of Lazio.  The forno aims to deliver an all around positive experience to its clients; high quality products, outstanding and friendly customer service and a warm atmosphere.  You can visit Antico Forno ai Serpenti on the corner of Via Parnisperna and Via dei Serpenti, Monday – Saturday from 7:00 am to 10:00pm and Sunday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm.
If you would like to book a trip to Rome and a chance to see the most exciting new forno in town, please call one of the Bellarome dedicated team members 0844 993 4139 or Click here to send us an enquiry.

Spending Christmas and/or New Year's in Rome

Rome is where Christmas originated and has always been a top city to visit during the Christmas holiday season. The first Christmas mass took place at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and the earliest known permanent nativity was created for the Rome Jubilee in 1300. The rich and colourful Christmas season officially opens on 8th December. Visiting Rome during the Christmas season is a whimsical and enchanting experience. You will discover just how pleasurable it is to stroll along the decorated streets of the eternal city; how heart-felt it is to take part in the papal audience on Christmas Day; and how filling it is to taste the scrumptious traditional fare on offer in the city's characteristic osterie. Thanks to the sunshine and the mild climate, it can be a pleasant winter treat to sit outdoors with a steaming cup of vin brulé (mulled wine). Click here for more information on Bellarome’s Rome Christmas package.

Also in Rome, the term "New Year's" just isn't big enough to encapsulate the level of excitement that builds after a joyous holiday season. For Italians, New Year's is the culmination of holiday merriment that has already been underway for weeks. It represents a time for family, a time for community, a feast of holiday food and drink, and symbolizes a time to wash away the past year in the hope of a prosperous New Year. Holiday celebrations in Rome extend through all of December until the 6th January, when the Festa della Befana signals the close of the holiday season. New Year's celebrations usually include open-air concerts, markets, festivals and all night activities in piazzas throughout Italy. At the stroke of midnight, tradition requires that lentils and cotechino are eaten to bring about wealth and prosperity in the New Year. Click here for more information on Bellarome’s Rome New Year’s package.

Rome is not the only great place to spend Christmas or New Year’s in Italy, with Bellarome you can also celebrate in many other locations, including Venice, Milan, Verona, Genoa, Naples, Florence, Turin and many more.
If you would like to book a Rome Christmas or New Year’s package deal, please call one of our dedicated team 0844 993 4139 or Click here to send us an enquiry.