Gelato is a refreshing, delightful dessert that is a perfect treat no matter the time of day. It uses more milk than cream, and is thus a lighter, lower-calorie version of ice cream. If you've never tried it before, the best place to do so is Rome, the capital city of Italy and ground zero for the best gelato in the world. On your next vacation to Rome or anywhere nearby, here are the places to check out for the best gelato.
Il Gelato
This quaint neighborhood café has what many locals consider to be the best gelato in the city. The only problem is finding this gem, as it sits at the end of a dead-end alley. However, once you find it, take in the best flavors they have to offer, including celery, habanero, gorgonzola, and chocolate with chili pepper. After purchase, it's best to enjoy the gelato walking around the nearby area, which includes the Circus Maximus.
I Caruso
I Caruso is one of the newer gelaterias to open in the city, and it prides itself on being 100 percent natural. There are no artificial flavors, colors, or thickeners in this gelato, just the finest ingredients. Flavors include pistachio, strawberry, melon, and an assortment of seasonal flavors. Perhaps the best part of this gelato is that I Caruso tops theirs with freshly made zabaione, a light custard that's whipped into a cream.
Ciampini
One of the oldest gelaterias in Rome is Ciampini, founded in 1941, and still serving up some of the best gelato in the country. This small café with sidewalk seating allows you to enjoy your dessert while taking in the sights and sounds of daily life in the city. The ingredients are almost all 100 percent organic as well, including the milk, fruit, and eggs. The best flavors are chocolate and hazelnut, and each comes with candied chestnuts as a topping, at your request. You might also wish to try their extensive lunch and dinner menu, for delicacies such as octopus salad, before partaking of the gelato.
Vice
Although it doesn't look like much at first glance, once you enter the building, this all changes. The walls and ceilings are all faux ice and snow, adding to the refreshing feeling of their gelato. The most popular flavors here are chocolate, pistachio, lemon, and almond. They also have sweet or savory pastries as gelato accompaniments.
Giolitti
This spot is in a more touristy location than others on the list, but fear not, Giolitti's quality ranks among the finest, especially in its wide array of seasonal fruit flavors. The best is the sour cherry, which is only available for a short time during the spring.
One of the best things about gelato is enjoying it with others. Even if you plan to visit Rome on your own, you'll find the people here to be some of the most friendly in the world. So, find a hotel, book a flight, lift your cup of heavenly delight and enjoy just a bit of what the city has to offer.
(Photo by derekskey via Flickr)
Article written by Miles
This quaint neighborhood café has what many locals consider to be the best gelato in the city. The only problem is finding this gem, as it sits at the end of a dead-end alley. However, once you find it, take in the best flavors they have to offer, including celery, habanero, gorgonzola, and chocolate with chili pepper. After purchase, it's best to enjoy the gelato walking around the nearby area, which includes the Circus Maximus.
I Caruso
I Caruso is one of the newer gelaterias to open in the city, and it prides itself on being 100 percent natural. There are no artificial flavors, colors, or thickeners in this gelato, just the finest ingredients. Flavors include pistachio, strawberry, melon, and an assortment of seasonal flavors. Perhaps the best part of this gelato is that I Caruso tops theirs with freshly made zabaione, a light custard that's whipped into a cream.
Ciampini
One of the oldest gelaterias in Rome is Ciampini, founded in 1941, and still serving up some of the best gelato in the country. This small café with sidewalk seating allows you to enjoy your dessert while taking in the sights and sounds of daily life in the city. The ingredients are almost all 100 percent organic as well, including the milk, fruit, and eggs. The best flavors are chocolate and hazelnut, and each comes with candied chestnuts as a topping, at your request. You might also wish to try their extensive lunch and dinner menu, for delicacies such as octopus salad, before partaking of the gelato.
Vice
Although it doesn't look like much at first glance, once you enter the building, this all changes. The walls and ceilings are all faux ice and snow, adding to the refreshing feeling of their gelato. The most popular flavors here are chocolate, pistachio, lemon, and almond. They also have sweet or savory pastries as gelato accompaniments.
Giolitti
This spot is in a more touristy location than others on the list, but fear not, Giolitti's quality ranks among the finest, especially in its wide array of seasonal fruit flavors. The best is the sour cherry, which is only available for a short time during the spring.
One of the best things about gelato is enjoying it with others. Even if you plan to visit Rome on your own, you'll find the people here to be some of the most friendly in the world. So, find a hotel, book a flight, lift your cup of heavenly delight and enjoy just a bit of what the city has to offer.
(Photo by derekskey via Flickr)
Article written by Miles
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