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Ten Rome baristas who brighten your day

Whether you drink it or not, it’s hard not to succumb to Italy’s coffee culture and the conviviality that comes with it.

Published: 27 October 2014 13:55 CET

Ten Rome baristas who brighten your day

Whether you drink it or not, it’s hard not to succumb to Italy’s coffee culture and the conviviality that comes with it. Photo: Angela Giuffrida

Whatever struggles you endure in Italy, there is usually an atmospheric bar not far away, with a barista who somehow manages to wipe away your troubles, even if just for a few minutes.

It could be the simple pleasantries they exchange with customers, or the dedication they devote to either perfecting your cappuccino or beautifying it with a chocolate-laced design.

Italy's baristas work hard. Not only to they train for two to three years to hone their skills, but they usually start work at 6am and are still working the coffee machines at 9pm.

So The Local felt it was about time they were celebrated, and so we scoured the city to sample not only good coffee, but to find the best baristas.

CLICK HERE to see the top 10 baristas in Rome who made our day.

We're sure to have missed many, so please let us know who your favourite baristas are, wherever they may be in Italy, in the comment section below!

Most of you will be familiar with the rituals governing drinking coffee in Italy, if not then take a look at our guideline.

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Updated: What is Italy's Palio di Siena and where can you watch it?

The renowned Palio di Siena horse race returns on Saturday, August 17th, with jockeys racing it out in Tuscany’s medieval jewel, Siena.

With origins dating back to 1633, the Palio di Siena is Italy’s most famous historic horse race.

The event is a competition between the neighbourhoods of Siena, called contrade, with each contrada having its own coat of arms and patron saints. There are 17 contrade in Siena, but only 10 compete – this year’s competitors are; Chiocciola, Oca, Istrice, Selva, Lupa, Valdimontone, Onda, Nicchio, Leocorno and Civetta.

It occurs twice a year in Siena’s main square, Piazza del Campo. The first race took place this summer on July 2nd. Each Palio lasts a total of four days; three days of celebrations and the final day being the race itself.

The race consists of three laps of Piazza del Campo. The starting point (the mossa), is made up of two ropes in which the 10 participating horses and jockeys must wait in order. The horse, with or without a jockey, which completes the three laps first wins.

The prize is a large silk-painted canvas, known as the drappellone, which is designed and created every year by a different artist.

Over the centuries, the race has only been cancelled a handful of times, including for World War II and the Covid pandemic.

In recent years the Palio has been the subject of protest from animal rights groups who state that the horses suffer during the competition. Preliminary investigations into a defamation trial began at the start of June this year, after Walter Caporale, the national president of animal rights group Animalisti Italiani (Italian Animalists) was accused of defining the event’s organisers as “sadistic and uncivilised.” The next hearing is set for February 28th 2025.

The final race this year was supposed to take place on Friday, 16th August but it was cancelled due to heavy rain.

Watch the Palio di Siena live on television or via streaming on Italian channel LA7 from 4.45pm on Saturday.

Are you tuning in to the Palio di Siena? Let us know what you think about it in the comments below.

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