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What to do in Rome during summer: magic cooking classes

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Rome in summer doesn’t just show itself—it reveals something deeper. The Eternal City gleams under the sun, yes, but step beyond the postcard views and you’ll find an experience rich in taste, history, and human connection. This isn’t just a destination. It’s a sensorial journey. Whether you dream of mastering pasta dough with a Roman chef, wandering quiet alleys drenched in golden light, or sipping wine while ruins glow at dusk, Rome in summer offers something unforgettable. So pack light, walk slow, and get ready to feel the city. Here’s how to do it right in 2025.

Learn to cook the roman way with Eat And Walk Italy

One of the best things you can do this summer is join an authentic cooking class. Look for experiences where the chef welcomes you into a real kitchen—not a tourist trap with induction stoves and laminated recipe cards. At Eat & Walk Italy, for instance, you’ll find hands-on classes right in the city center. Here, flour dust fills the air and everyone gets a wooden board, a rolling pin, and a glass of wine. You’ll make fresh pasta from scratch eggs, flour, hands, that’s it.

Then comes the sauce: carbonara with guanciale and pecorino, or cacio e pepe stirred just off the heat. Between stirring and sipping, you’ll hear stories about Roman cuisine, its Jewish roots, and why real tiramisù never includes cream. And then, of course, you’ll sit down and eat.

Coffee in Rome with view

After your meal, lace up your shoes. The best way to digest in Rome isn’t with espresso—it’s with a walk. Skip the crowded lines at the Forum and head toward the city’s quiet marvels. Start in the Jewish Ghetto, where the past clings to every stone. Listen for the echo of voices on Via della Reginella, one of the most peaceful streets in the city. Or explore Rione Monti, once the city’s slum and now a blend of hip cafés and forgotten ruins.

Still have energy? Walk up to the Orange Garden on the Aventine Hill. You’ll pass nuns watering roses and kids chasing pigeons. At the top, you’ll find one of the city’s most cinematic views, just before sunset. Nearby, the famous keyhole offers a perfectly framed view of St. Peter’s dome. It feels like a secret, even though it’s become an icon.

Summer in Rome: a golden hour

Bars fill with chatter, locals sit back with spritz in hand, and time softens. This is the hour of aperitivo, and it’s sacred. Find a spot in Piazza della Madonna dei Monti, where everyone shares steps and stories. Or climb to Pincian Hill, just above Piazza del Popolo, and sip a chilled glass of white while the city begins to glow. Roman aperitivo often includes small bites—olives, mortadella, maybe a slice of focaccia—but the real pleasure comes from the view and the company.

For something more immersive, book a wine tasting. In 2025, enotecas are blending tradition and innovation, pairing Cesanese or Trebbiano with seasonal Roman fare. These experiences bring the vineyards of Lazio right into the city.

Spend the summer’s evening under the stars

In summer, the Tiber banks come alive with pop-up bars, art installations, and live music. The Lungo il Tevere festival stretches through the warmer months, offering craft beer, handmade goods, and views of the river from under the sycamores. One of the most magical experiences? Isola del Cinema. Each summer, Tiber Island becomes an open-air cinema, with films from around the world projected under the Roman sky.

Grab a glass of wine, find a seat, and watch cinema blend with history. For something grander, check the schedule at Terme di Caracalla. This ancient bath complex transforms into a stage each summer, hosting opera and ballet in a setting that defies time. Seeing La Traviata beneath the stars, with ruins as your backdrop, is something you won’t forget.

summer in rome

A summer to savor: discover Rome through a 3-in-1 cooking class experience

In Rome, food is never just food. It’s history, gesture, ritual. When summer arrives, bringing long golden days and evenings soaked in wine and warmth, there’s no better way to feel the city than by stepping into a kitchen. So, forget the souvenir magnets.Instead, if you want to take home something truly Roman—something you can relive at every dinner party for years to come—then tie on an apron and join one of the city’s most immersive culinary experiences.

The 3-in-1 Cooking Class by Eat & Walk Italy. After all, it’s not just a class—it’s a window into the Roman soul. Located right in the beating heart of Rome, just a short walk from Piazza Navona or Campo de’ Fiori, the cooking class begins. There are no fancy kitchens or show-off chefs. Instead, you’ll find authentic Roman warmth, wooden tables, fresh ingredients, and a glass of wine to welcome you.

Fresh pasta, true love

First, you’ll learn how to prepare fresh pasta. Not from a packet, but from your own hands. You’ll mix flour and eggs, knead until your forearms ache, then roll and shape tagliolini, fettuccine or ravioli, depending on the day’s mood and your instructor’s advice. It’s tactile, simple, and surprisingly calming—like a kind of edible meditation.

Then comes the main course of Roman sauces: cacio e pepe, amatriciana, or carbonara. Your chef will explain why timing matters, why cheese emulsifies only at the right temperature, and why pancetta has no place in a real carbonara. These aren’t just recipes—they’re acts of cultural preservation.

The sweet Finish: tiramisu with a personal twist

Once your pasta rests and the sauce simmers, the final act of this Roman trilogy begins: tiramisu. However, this isn’t the soggy version you might have tried elsewhere. Instead, in this class, you’ll build your tiramisu layer by layer—soaked ladyfingers, rich mascarpone, espresso that smells like morning in Trastevere, and just the right dusting of cocoa. Most importantly, you’ll prepare it with your own hands, and that’s the secret ingredient you’ll taste in every bite.

Ultimately, what makes the 3-in-1 class unforgettable isn’t just the food. Rather, it’s the energy. You’ll laugh. You’ll mess up your dough and learn how to hold a fork the Roman way. And in the end, when you sit down with the others to eat what you’ve made, you’ll feel like you’re at a family table—not in a school. So, why choose this cooking class over all the others? Because it gives you three authentic Italian dishes, yes. But more than that, it brings you into contact with something real.

(credits: Freepik)

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