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The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Italy and the UAE are forging the future together
Today, Italy celebrates its Republic Day – a time to reflect on the values of freedom, the rights of the person and labour that underpin our Constitution. It is also a moment to honour the partnerships that allow us to project those values on to the global stage. Few are as vibrant and future-oriented as the one between Italy and the UAE. This year, our celebrations take on special significance. Just a few months ago, Italy welcomed the first-ever state visit by a UAE President. The visit of President Sheikh Mohamed was, in every sense, historic. It marked the beginning of a new strategic co-operation between our nations. Italy and the UAE are no strangers to each other. For centuries, Italian and Arab merchants crossed the spice route, trading goods, ideas and talent. Even in a time without trade insurance, Swift codes or arbitration mechanisms, Italians came to the Gulf driven by trust in their partners. That trust endures. In an uncertain world, our ability to rely on one another is what makes us, truly, unstoppable together. Its legacy continues to surface even today, as shown by the recent exhibition 'From Sharjah to Rome via the Spice Route', held at the Roman Forum, which celebrated our long-lasting exchanges and mutual influences. Our bond is more than historical. It is visionary. A vision we now encapsulate in this year's Republic Day motto: 'Forging the Future Together.' Over the past months, that vision has turned into reality. Trade between our countries has reached record highs, with Italian exports to the UAE exceeding those to Egypt, Morocco and Libya combined. Remarkably, we export more to the UAE than to India – a nation with more than 140 times its population. Over 600 Italian companies now operate in the UAE, and Italian investments in the country have grown by more than 50 per cent in the past five years. It is no surprise then that Italy was the first country to ask the European Commission to start negotiations for a free trade agreement with the UAE. Now that these negotiations have started, we hope they will be finalised soon. Italy and the UAE are also partners in the new India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor, a crucial link to connect our continents and create new opportunities for growth. The UAE's decision to invest up to €40 billion (Dh167 billion) in Italy reflects a deep level of trust and alignment. These investments focus on shared priorities: artificial intelligence, energy transition, real estate, digital infrastructure, space exploration and rare earth supply chains. Our co-operation stretches across every frontier, from the depths of the sea to the vastness of space. New ambitious partnerships have been recently launched, such as the construction of a next-generation data centre in Italy with advanced carbon capture technology; a massive project to use Europe's largest supercomputer cluster in Italy; new co-operation programmes on space. Our relations are grounded not only in strategic interests, but also in people. In the strength of personal relationships, family ties and social bonds. Over 20,000 Italians live and work in the UAE, fully integrated into a society of more than 200 nationalities. They bring expertise, innovation and the Italian way of life. Among them, more than 160 Italian researchers and academics contribute daily to cutting-edge projects across UAE institutions. Together with the UAE, we feel responsible for helping those in need with humanitarian aid Our partnership has also a global reach. Italy and the UAE are conducing efforts in Africa with a common approach. We co-operate with African governments and peoples to foster prosperity in this dynamic continent full of opportunities. This same spirit shapes our global diplomacy. Italy and the UAE stand for dialogue over divisive agendas, hope over despair, and tolerance over extremism. Together with the UAE, we feel responsible for helping those in need with humanitarian aid. We have provided significant assistance to the civilians in Gaza who have been suffering for far too long. It is the children, the elderly and the sick who are suffering the most. Now, as Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani clearly stated, the bombings in Gaza must stop, humanitarian aid must resume as soon as possible, and respect for international humanitarian law must be restored. In particular, we share the words of peace of Pope Leo XIV, echoing from Rome to the world, and we remain inspired by the Document on Human Fraternity, signed in Abu Dhabi in 2019, which guides our commitment to interfaith dialogue. The message of this Republic Day is clear: Italy and the UAE have a long history in common based on mutual trust. However, our strength lies not only in our past, but also in our forward-looking partnership. By building on our mutual trust and our common vision, we can 'Forge the Future Together'.
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Pope Francis' final resting place: Pontiff wanted to be 'in the earth' and with just a simple tombstone carrying his name in Latin
The details of Pope Francis' final resting place have been revealed, as some 400,000 mourners turned out for his Funeral in Rome on Saturday. The Argentine pontiff, who died on Easter Monday, aged 88, wanted his grave to be within the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, four miles from the Vatican, and which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. His will said he wanted it to be 'in the earth' and with just a simple tombstone carrying his name in Latin, Franciscus and a black cross for decoration. As the converted Popemobile hearse wound its way past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, thousands turned out to line the streets. For one last time Pope Francis made his way from the Vatican, symbolically crossing the River Tiber, as he made the 30-minute journey to the church in the Esquilino district. In his will, Pope Francis specifically asked that his final resting place be 'in the niche of the side nave between the Cappella Paolina and the Capella Sforza'. Above his is the marble memorial plaque of Paul V, who died in 1621 and who was Pope at the time of the Gunpowder Plot. The Cappella Paolina holds the Salus Populi Romani icon, which according to tradition was painted by St Luke and shows the Virgin Mary holding the baby Christ, and which was also brought to the altar for his funeral yesterday. Before each international trip Pope Francis would visit the chapel and spend time in quiet prayer and he is said to have visited the Basilica 100 times in 2023 alone. Pope Francis is not the first Pope to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore but he is the first to be buried outside the Vatican in more than 100 years. The last Pope not to be buried in the traditional 'papal cemetery' under St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican was Leo XIII, who lies in in St John the Lateran church. Several other Popes are buried at Santa Maria Maggiore and the last to be laid to rest there was Pope Clement IX who died in 1669. In his autobiography Pope Francis wrote: 'I've always had a great devotion to Santa Maria Maggiore, even before I became pope.' He visited the church more than 120 times and returned there on his way back from the Gemelli hospital on March 23, after his 38-day stay, to lay flowers and he was there on April 12 to pray one final time. The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is particularly significant to Catholic faithful this year as Pope Francis had decaled 2025 to be a Jubilee year. According to tradition those that pass through the Basilica's Porta Santa (Holy Door) on the left-hand side of the building, will have 'redemption and forgiveness.' Santa Maria Maggiore means St Mary Major in Italian, and the church is a spectacular building with a ceiling covered in gold, brought back by from the Americas by the explorer Christoper Colombus. It is one of the oldest in the city of Rome and dates to AD358, where according to tradition the Virgin Mary told Pope Liberius in a dream to build a church where snow would fall. Earlier on Saturday hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders including Donald Trump packed St Peter's Square today for the funeral of Pope Francis. Some waited overnight to get a seat for the ceremony, with final estimates stating some 400,000 people packed into the square and surrounding streets. The crowds, packed with young people, applauded as the pope's coffin was carried out of St Peter's Basilica by white gloved pallbearers, accompanied by more than 200 red-robed cardinals. Francis was 'a pope among the people, with an open heart', who strove for a more compassionate, open-minded Catholic Church, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said in his funeral homily. There was applause as he hailed the pope's 'conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open'. Guests included Argentina's President Javier Milei and Britain's Prince William as well as Ukraine 's Volodymyr Zelenskyy - who met with Trump shortly beforehand, their first encounter since February's Oval Office clash. Prince William was also seen arriving on Saturday, attending on behalf of King Charles III. His appearance continues a tradition set in 2005 when the then-Prince of Wales attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. The British delegation included Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, as well as Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, led the service, addressing thousands gathered in St Peter's Square. But it will be prisoners and migrants who ultimately usher the pope into the basilica where he will be buried, reflecting his priorities as head of the Catholic Church. Francis is breaking with tradition and will be buried in the St. Mary Major Basilica, where a simple underground tomb awaits him with just his name: Franciscus. Pope Francis died on Monday, aged 88, from a stroke and irreversible heart failure in his beloved Casa Santa Marta residence. In his final hours, he had joined crowds for an Easter Sunday blessing at St Peter's Square. The pontiff had only recently been discharged from hospital, after five weeks of treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia. Britain's Prince William (L) arrives ahead of the late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony on April 26 Donald Trump (back) waves as he leaves with US First Lady Melania Trump after attending Pope Francis' funeral ceremony, in Rome on April 26, 2025 Hundreds of thousands of people turned out in St Peter's Square, joining world leaders and special guests to mourn and formally mark Francis' passing. Bells tolled as the last of leaders from more than 150 countries took their places on Saturday. The massive crowd was largely silent, watching proceedings on several large screens around the square. Applause then rang out at the start of the ceremony as 14 white-gloved pallbearers carried the coffin, inlaid with a large cross, out of St. Peter's Basilica and into the square. The pope's casket was placed on a carpet in front of the altar, with the book of gospels laid on top, as the Vatican choirs sang. Choirs sang Latin hymns and prayers were recited in various languages, including Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese and Arabic, reflecting the global reach of the 1.4-billion-member Roman Catholic Church. Massed ranks of red-robed cardinals sat to one side of the altar, facing rows of black-suited world leaders on the other side. In front of them were hundreds of priests in white vestments and then thousands of ordinary mourners. 'I'm touched by how many people are here. It's beautiful to see all these nationalities together,' said Jeremie Metais, 29, from Grenoble, France, ahead of the ceremony. 'It's a bit like the centre of the world today.' 'We want to say goodbye because he (was a) living saint, very humble and simple,' said Mary James, a Franciscan nun, who had stayed up overnight to guarantee a good place. 'You can feel a lot of energy, yes, a little bit of despair because we are tired, but ultimately we want to come and say 'thank you', thanks to Pope Francis for all he did for his church,' said Eduardo Valencia, visiting from Mexico. US former President Joe Biden (C) and his wife Jill arrive for the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square The coffin bearing the body of Pope Francis is seen on the parvis of St. Peter's Basilica during his funeral service in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on April 26 Prisoners and migrants will later usher the late pontiff into the basilica where he will be buried, reflecting his priorities as pope People attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis at the Vatican, on Saturday April 26 Tens of thousands of people are gathering in St Peter's Square in the Vatican City to bid farewell to Pope Francis after his death at 88 The crowd broke into applause when Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re spoke of Francis' care for immigrants, his constant pleas for peace, the need for negotiations to end wars and the importance of the climate. 'Rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today's challenges, Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings and hopes of this time,' Re said. The open-air ceremony, which will be celebrated by 220 cardinals, 750 bishops and more than 4,000 other priests, was due to last 90 minutes. Among the other heads of state who flew into Rome were the presidents of Argentina, France, Gabon, Germany, the Philippines and Poland, together with the prime ministers of Britain and New Zealand, and many royals, including the king and queen of Spain. The British Government delegation includes Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria, as well as Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Prince William is also in attendance to represent King Charles III. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived on Saturday morning and will attend with his wife Olena Zelenska, following uncertainty over where he could, after his travel plans were disrupted by air strikes in Kyiv. A spokesperson said Zelenskyy had met with Trump in Rome, after the White House said Kyiv and Moscow were 'very close to a deal'. 'The meeting took place and is already over,' Zelenskyy's spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov told journalists without elaborating. Trump also shook hands with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen at the funeral. Former U.S. president Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, were also pictured arriving on Saturday, joining president Trump and his wife from the United States. A seating order was published on the eve of the funeral, showing Francis's birth country of Argentina, then Italy, take precedence. Thereafter, leaders are seated 'in alphabetical order' in French - considered the language of diplomacy. Ireland's delegation comes ahead of both Prince William and the British Government delegation in the official order of precedence, because it is led by head of state Mr Higgins. Haakon, the Crown Prince of Norway, and William follow soon after in a category set aside for crown princes. Iran's culture minister Seyed Abbas Saleh Shariata, center, arrives for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square A member of the clergy attends the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 26, 2025 The rite of the Velatio before to seal the coffin of Pope Francis on the eve of his funeral at The Vatican U.S President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk to attend the funeral Mass US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump arrive ahead of the late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square at The Vatican on April 26, 2025 Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden walk ahead of the funeral Mass of Pope Francis, at the Vatican, April 26, 2025 Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrives at the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on April 26, 2025 in Vatican City The pope shunned much of the pomp and privilege usually associated with the papacy and will carry that desire for greater simplicity into his funeral, having rewritten the elaborate, book-long funeral rites used previously. Francis also opted to forego a centuries-old practice of burying popes in three interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead and oak. Instead, he has been placed in a single, zinc-lined wooden coffin, which was sealed closed overnight. The funeral sets off the first of nine days of official Vatican mourning for Francis, who took over following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. After the mourning, cardinals will gather for the conclave to elect a new pope to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. The Pope will be ushered into his final resting place by prisoners and migrants - in a nod to his focus on the needy and the poor during his time as leader of the Catholic church. Scaffolding has been erected to provide international media with the best vantage points overlooking St Peter's Square while there is a strong Italian police presence managing numbers and security. The complex security operation, estimated to cost five million Euros (£4.3m), comprises 8,000 security staff members, including 2,000 uniformed police officers and 1,400 plainclothes officers. The Vatican has a small ceremonial army of Swiss Guards and there is also the Vatican Security Service, the Pope's bodyguards. But the main security will be provided by the Italian government and there will be thousands of police and soldiers in and around the Vatican and along the four-mile route from St Peter's to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica where Francis will be buried. Anti-drone technology is being deployed to jam any UAVs that attempt to film proceedings from above. The operation also includes special forces sharp-shooters on rooftops, undercover units, security teams on horseback, helicopter patrols and boats on the nearby River Tiber. Tens of thousands of people are expected to pack out St Peter's Square - with thousands more lining the streets of Rome Former US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill are seen within Vatican City ahead of Pope Francis' funeral Faithful gather at the Vatican obelisk in St Peter's Square on Saturday ahead of Francis' funeral People on Via della Conciliazione - the long thoroughfare in Rome that leads to the Vatican - ahead of the service A nun takes a photograph on her mobile phone as she arrives for Pope Francis' funeral Crowds gathered early on Saturday for Pope Francis' funeral, which starts from 9am UK time Pope Francis died on Monday aged 88, hours after greeting the faithful to mark Easter Sunday (pictured) Following the funeral, Francis will be taken through the streets of Rome in a break with tradition as he is carried to his final, unconventional resting place. Rather than in the Vatican, where popes are typically buried, Francis will be laid to rest in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in the centre of Rome, where he regularly prayed before and after trips overseas. Francis' simple coffin will be entombed in an alcove that had previously been used to store candlestick holders. Per his request, it will not be decorated and will be inscribed only with his papal name in Latin, Franciscus. It is another departure from tradition for the liberal Pope, who held progressive views on the rights of immigrants and LGBT rights, as well as climate change and the ethics of modern technology such as social media and artificial intelligence. The last pope who asked to be buried outside of the Vatican was Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903. And while today marks the first of nine days of mourning, speculation regarding the next pope is likely to begin shortly after the funeral. Conclave, the secret meeting of cardinals to elect Francis's successor, is thought likely to begin on May 5. Slovakia's President Peter Pellegrini, center, and Slovakia's Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, left, stand in front of their seats ahead of the funeral A nun holds a rosary as she sits waiting for the service to begin, flanked by other faithful A woman is seen praying in St Peter's Square ahead of Pope Francis' funeral mass on Saturday Cardinals walk through the Vatican ahead of Francis' funeral Clerg arriving at St Peter's Square on Saturday morning. The service was due to start at 10am local time A complex security operation has been rolled out at an estimated cost of five million Euros, including anti-drone technology (pictured: a soldier with a 'drone gun' alongside a spotter with binoculars) One Vatican expert has said she thinks it is 'totally unpredictable' at this point as to who the next pope might be. UK theologian Professor Anna Rowlands said: 'That's partly because the process is genuinely both secret, so it happens in private, but also because the make-up of this College of Cardinals is very different from anyone that's been here to elect a pope before. 'It's going to be, I think, a surprise conclave, that is totally unpredictable at this point, but I think will produce, potentially, a really interesting candidate who possibly none of us will know.' Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell - the camerlengo or senior Vatican official - has been responsible for carrying out the administrative and financial duties of the Holy See until a new pope takes over. He had the role of announcing the Pope's death on Easter Monday, coordinating meetings with the cardinals ahead of conclave and ensuring the Sistine Chapel is ready to accommodate them when that process begins in the coming weeks.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- BBC News
Where to savour Rome's hidden Jewish food
Chef Ruben Bondì knows that Rome's Jewish restaurants serve some of the best food in the city. Here are his picks in the historic Jewish quarter. In 2025, millions of pilgrims and tourists are flocking to Rome and the Vatican City, the historic seat of the Catholic Church, in honour of the Jubilee year. But less than a mile from St Peter's Basilica, Europe's oldest Jewish community is thriving – and continuing a rich culinary tradition dating back to when Jews first settled in Rome in the 2nd Century BCE. For Ruben Bondì, an influencer chef and member of the city's Jewish community, the tradizione giudaico-romanesca (Judaeo-Roman tradition) is not just a subset of Roman cuisine; it's one of its cornerstones. "Jewish cuisine is the true Roman cuisine," says Bondì, famed for filming his cooking videos on his balcony in Rome's Monteverde neighbourhood. "Our food is very poor and simple. But it's incredibly flavourful." Developed over the centuries and influenced by waves of Sephardic migration when Jews were exiled from Spain and Portugal over the 15th and 16th Centuries, Roman Jewish dishes are often fried and typically feature almonds, artichokes, sour cherries, cod and preserved fish. Among these are some of the Eternal City's most beloved recipes – expressly kosher yet iconic throughout largely Catholic Italy – from carciofi alla giudia (fried artichokes) to stracotto (braised pot roast). Today, they can be savoured in the string of Roman Jewish restaurants clustered near the southern banks of the Tiber River, in what was once the city's Jewish ghetto. "Every family has their own recipe, their own way of making a dish," Bondì says. "Food is a strong presence in my home. Every Friday, before Shabbat, my grandmother would prepare the same thing – typical [Jewish] dishes like concia di zucchine [marinated fried courgettes] and abbacchio [roasted lamb] with potatoes." But behind the delicious recipes and family traditions is a tragic history. As a target of persecution throughout history – from 1st Century CE purges by Roman emperors Tiberius and Claudius to almost three centuries of ghetto confinement under Papal rule from 1555 to 1815 – Roman Jewish identity was forged in response to oppression, and its food is no exception. "In the ghetto, Jews were forbidden from trading, and this influenced many of our dishes," Bondì says. "Like how ricotta cheese is hidden in our tarts [so] the Pope's Guards wouldn't notice. Or our famous fish soup [brodo di pesce] made of sardines, was because we weren't allowed to buy prized fish, only anchovies and sardines." Today, Rome's former ghetto – sandwiched between heavily touristed landmarks like the Roman Forum and Campo de' Fiori marketplace – is a picturesque, lively Jewish quarter of meandering cobblestone alleyways, bakeries and restaurants, but it still emanates the joy and pain of its roots. Here are Bondì's top ways to savour Rome's hidden Jewish soul. 1. Best for a quintessential Jewish Roman experience: Ba'Ghetto Located at the Jewish quarter's heart, near the Tempio Maggiore synagogue and Porticus Octaviae – the 1st-Century BCE ruins of an ancient Roman portico that eventually became a fish market, and the neighbourhood's symbol – Ba'Ghetto is just about as quintessentially Judaeo-Roman as it gets... with a twist. "They do a mix of cuisines, a bit of everything," Bondì says. "Jewish Roman, of course, but also Middle Eastern and Arab Israeli food." Among its Roman Jewish staples is carciofi alla giudia – a delicacy that balances both freshness and fried heartiness. The restaurant's menu features Middle Eastern and North African Mizrahi dishes, like hummus, falafel, couscous, Tunisian binik, tabbouleh, lahmacun, kebab and baklava, as well as kosher takes on pork-based Roman pasta recipes like spaghetti alla carbonara and bucatini all'amatriciana, made with dried beef. "Their aim is to unite these [foreign] cuisines with the Jewish Roman tradition," Bondì says. Ba'Ghetto, which opened in 2007 and abides by strict kosher rules, now has branches in Venice, Florence and Milan. Its main restaurant – a chic, minimalist eatery covered in Hebrew inscriptions and black-and-white pictures – does not serve any milk-based products, preparing its desserts with vegan alternatives. For dairy delicacies and desserts, you can try the nearby Ba'Ghetto Milky. Website: Via del Portico D'Ottavia, 57, 00186 / Via del Portico D'Ottavia 2/A (Ba'Ghetto Milky)Phone: +39 06 9674 0389 / 06 6830 0077 (Ba'Ghetto Milky)Instagram: @baghettorestaurants/ 2. Best on the go: Rosetteria Renato al Ghetto Roman food is simple and unfussy by nature and its Jewish variant is no exception; often best savoured on the go. So when local institution Renato al Ghetto – where Bondì worked as a waiter in his younger days – realised it could replicate its success with street food, its hole-in-the-wall "Rosetteria" was opened, serving the best of the Roman Jewish tradition in a bun. "Rosette are a type of Roman bap," Bondì says, referring to the popular rosebud-shaped bread with a distinctively crusty exterior and soft, fluffy heart; the perfect vehicle for hearty sandwich fillings. "I'd recommend beef stracotto or Roman artichokes." Among the other sandwich topping options at the takeout spot, squeezed between the neighbourhood's multitude of restaurants, are the tomato-braised chicken alla cacciatora, beef jerky, lemon escalope and even a sweet soy chocolate variant, all of which come in under €12 (£10). "It's very good," Bondì says. "I advise it for anyone who wants a quick meal." Address: Via di S. Maria del Pianto, 63, 00186Phone: +39 338 859 3395Instagram: @rosetteria_renato_al_ghetto 3. Best for meat dishes: BellaCarne "Meat is a strong part of our culinary tradition," Ruben says. "And for meat lovers, I recommend BellaCarne." Located a mere block from the ruins of the Porticus Octaviae, the restaurant's name itself is particularly promising – translating literally to "Beautiful Meat" – and its dishes definitely live up to expectations. "I can especially vouch for their grilled meats," Bondì says, which include scottadito lamb and veal chops. But while meat in all its forms – roast, fried, stewed and braised – is the undeniable star, it isn't the only thing worth ordering. "They have an excellent vegan crostata [tart] for dessert," Bondì says, made with almond paste and sour cherries. Roman Jewish food may be humble by nature, but BellaCarne offers a decidedly refined dining experience, set in a chic, wood-panelled interior. As with other restaurants in the area, BellaCarne has also dedicated itself to street food, and you can find take-out options and lunchboxes at their grab-and-go spot, BellaCarne Street Food. Website: Via del Portico d'Ottavia, 51, 00186Phone: +39 06 683 3104Instagram: @bellacarne/ 4. Best for home cooking: Casalino Osteria Kosher The dishes of Roman cuisine are famous throughout Italy for being hearty and expressly casereccio – homestyle, homemade. Casalino, whose name evokes the warmth of the Italian lunch table, promises a cosy dining experience, and its oak floorings and earthy colours create an inviting ambiance. "It's hearty, homey Jewish Roman food," Bondì says. The restaurant was opened by the Zarfati family in 2021, after the opening of their successful Dolce Kosher bakery, and follows the recipes of the household matriarch, nonna Letizia. Among its dishes are distinctive spins on local classics, such as salt-cured cod with tomatoes, pine nuts and raisins; butter and truffle tonnarelli pasta; and the must-have carciofi alla giudia. Bondì emphatically recommends Casalino's roasts, but notes that the Zarfati family tightly guards the recipe. "It's a secret," he says. Website: Via del Portico d'Ottavia, 1e, 00186Phone number: +39 06 7978 1514Instagram: @ 5. Best for non-kosher, plant-forward dishes: Il Giardino Romano While most of the quarter's restaurants follow kosher food rules (including forbidding pork and the preparation of meat and dairy products together), Il Giardino Romano has adapted the Roman Jewish culinary tradition for a secular palate. "It's the only Roman Jewish restaurant that isn't kosher," Bondì says. As its name suggests, Il Giardino Romano ("The Roman Garden") has a green thumb – its menu focuses heavily on vegetables, from chicory and courgettes to artichokes, which Bondì calls the restaurant's speciality. The mighty artichoke is a recurring character in many of the restaurant's takes on traditional Italian and Roman Jewish dishes that don't typically warrant its use – from fettuccine alle vongole (pasta with clams) to cacio e pepe to even more idiosyncratic pairings. "[Il Giardino Romano] has a particularly unique dessert," Bondì says. "A ricotta crostata with artichoke." And if the menu does not succeed in evoking the bucolic delights of the Roman orchard, its setting certainly will – the restaurant has a small brick courtyard covered in trees and hanging ivy. Website: Via del Portico d'Ottavia 18, 00186Phone: +39 06 6880 9661Instagram: @ristorante_il_giardino_romano/ BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
King hails ‘brilliant' restoration of the Colosseum during state visit to Rome
The King has hailed 'brilliant' restoration work preserving the Colosseum in Rome after posing in front of the famous attraction with the Queen. Charles and Camilla began their day in the Italian capital with a welcome ceremony full of pomp and pageantry and a spectacular fly-past hosted by President Sergio Mattarella, and ended it among the tourists who flock to the historical amphitheatre. They were also pictured arm in arm after a wreath-laying service at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Altare della Patria, Rome's large national monument to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. School children excitedly shouted 'He's coming, that's the King!' when the royal convoy was first spotted at the Colosseum, and cheers greeted the couple as they stepped from their state Bentley. The King and Queen, on a four-day state visit to Italy, acknowledged the well-wishers in the Colosseum Piazza with a wave before greeting their hosts who included Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli. Charles and Camilla went on a meet and greet with the public, shaking the hands of dozens of pupils from local schools. Later, from a viewing platform a few metres from a ruined temple dedicated to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, the couple marvelled at the near 2,000-year-old Colosseum on the eve of their 20th wedding anniversary. They looked down on the amphitheatre which was neglected for centuries and its marble plundered, but now attracts millions of visitors every year. Built during the first century, the Colosseum held around 50,000 spectators who watched gladiators compete, including contests between men and animals and larger staged battles under the shade of a huge retractable awning. After posing for a picture Charles and Camilla turned to look at the crowds below them who cheered, and acknowledged them with a wave. The spectators were entertained by the band of the Welsh Guards and Italy's Sassari Brigade Band, who played a selection of movie tunes including the title theme from Gladiator, which features spectacular fight scenes at the Colosseum. The couple met Italian TV presenter and historian Alberto Angela, who spoke about Rome's history and the Colosseum's restoration, as they looked at the ruins of the Roman Forum, ancient government buildings close to the amphitheatre. 'Still today, it looks impressive,' the King and Queen were told, as they both nodded in agreement. They listened as Mr Angela explained how the once bustling heart of ancient Rome was largely destroyed by a major earthquake in the 9th century that cause significant damage to the buildings. Before they left the King told him the restoration work was 'brilliant', and the Queen said: 'It was lovely to be able to see this today.' Mr Mattarella had earlier hosted a ceremonial welcome at his official residence, the Quirinale Palace, where the King and Queen were escorted into the palace's quadrangle by mounted Corazzieri Guards and Charles inspected a guard of honour. Before private talks they watched a joint flypast over the capital by the Italian air force's aerobatic team, Frecce Tricolori, streaming Italy's national colours, and the RAF's Red Arrows, who left red, white and blue smoke in their wake. Later, the King and Queen attended a reception for the British-Italian community in Rome with Camilla telling guests she enjoyed 'any excuse to be in Italy'. The couple met people from across Italian life, from business and the arts to defence and education, over drinks in the garden of Villa Wolkonsky, the residence of Edward Llewellyn, the UK's ambassador to Rome. Among the 150 guests was the King's friend William Blacker, a writer and architectural conservationist who lives in Romania and is the author of Along The Enchanted Way, picked by Charles for his wife's Queen's Reading Room book club. The author was joined by his son, Valentin Palffy, 19, a student in Rome and aspiring actor who first met Charles during a visit to Bucharest when he was 11, and was photographed hugging him. 'It was wonderful and a miracle for me to see him again after all these years,' said Palffy. 'I've always found him an inspiring character since meeting him all those years ago.'
