{"id":15915,"date":"2019-04-01T10:28:58","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T10:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/devourromefoodtours.com\/?p=2673"},"modified":"2019-04-01T10:28:58","modified_gmt":"2019-04-01T10:28:58","slug":"responsible-tourism-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/responsible-tourism-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"How to be a Good Tourist: Rome Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Don\u2019t miss the rest of our responsible tourism guides:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MADRID<\/strong><\/a> | BARCELONA<\/strong><\/a> | SAN SEBASTIAN<\/strong><\/a> | SEVILLE<\/strong><\/a> | LISBON<\/a><\/strong> | PARIS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call us biased, but we think Rome is one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in the world. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We must not be alone: with some 10 million visitors a year, Rome is the single most popular destination for tourists to Italy<\/a> and the third most-visited destination in Europe.
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But that tourism has come with downsides.
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Rome\u2019s total population is just under 3 million; only a small fraction of that number (less than 200,000) live in the centro storico <\/em>(historic center), where most tourists tend to congregate. Well-meaning visitors overcrowd once-local hangouts, not to mention tourist sights like the Vatican museums (visited by more than 6 million people a year) and Colosseum (more than 7 million).
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Massive crowds of tourists at important sights can make it hard for Romans to go about their daily lives.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lovely streets once dotted with unique independent shops have been taken over by stores selling souvenirs and cheap imported clothes and goods.
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Finding a reasonably-priced flat to live in, never an easy feat in Rome, has become even more difficult for locals as more owners choose to lease their apartments through sites like Airbnb.
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Even Rome\u2019s food culture is changing: the once-beloved Campo dei Fiori food market, for example, now is dominated by souvenir stalls and cheap goods aimed at tourists, while as more restaurants cater to tourists\u2019 tastes, traditions like local cuisine and seasonal produce are getting left behind.
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Of course, it\u2019s not all bad. Despite these changes, Rome remains a city unlike any other on earth. But it\u2019s important to note that the reasons that most of us love Rome\u2014its excellent food, its extraordinary sights, its artisanal shops\u2014are the very things that tourism is in danger of destroying. What a shame that would be\u2026 for all of us!
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Want to make sure your impact on Rome is a positive one? Here are some tips.<\/p>\n\n\n

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When to visit Rome responsibly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most of Rome\u2019s visitors come in the summer months. We understand that that\u2019s when many children (and adults, for that matter) get time off. But if you can avoid it, do. In summer, Rome can be uncomfortably hot, flights and hotels are at their most expensive and it\u2019s when the city is most crowded.
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If you must come in the summer, at least avoid August and the start of September. This period, known as ferragosto, <\/em>is when even locals themselves leave. That doesn\u2019t just mean that parts of the city can feel oddly empty and that there\u2019s an even higher tourist-to-local ratio. It also means that small, family-run restaurants and shops\u2014the kinds of businesses that, as a responsible traveler, you\u2019d want to support\u2014are much more likely to be closed.
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Your best choice? Come in the off season. Just be clear about when that is. High season kicks off as early as April in Rome, gets into serious high gear in June, July and August, and doesn\u2019t abate until October. Outside of those months, high season also includes other weeks, like Easter and Christmas, when more people are off school and work.
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Our favorite months in the city are October and March, when the weather is likely to be mild. But for beating the crowds, spreading out the economic boost of tourism over the year, and not adding to the tourist mayhem of downtown Rome, November, January and February are your best bets.
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The crowds in high season can make your visit unpleasant. Consider visiting Rome during the spring, winter or fall.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to get to Rome responsibly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s something else to consider, too: your flight.
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We don\u2019t like it either, but as the most recent warnings<\/a> from the world\u2019s leading climate scientists make clear, we can\u2019t stick our heads in the sand any longer: we\u2019re currently on track towards warming by 1.5\u00b0C in as little as 11 years, an amount that will have profound changes for the way we all live.
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One of the single biggest ways we can all help is by changing the way we fly. A single return flight from New York City to Rome, economy class, emits 1 metric ton<\/a> of carbon into the atmosphere; that\u2019s the same output<\/a> as if you burned 1,093 pounds of coal or drove a car 2,445 miles.
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Of course, for many visitors, a flight is the only feasible way to get to Rome. But there are still ways to mitigate your impact.
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First, fly economy: because they take up more space, business and first class seats gobble up three to even nine times as much carbon<\/a> as flying coach. Second, fly nonstop: about one-quarter of a flight\u2019s emissions come from takeoff and landing<\/a>, so even if it costs a little more, it\u2019s much more efficient (not to mention convenient!) to go with a direct flight. Third, avoid traveling in the summer (yes, that again!): planes require more fuel to lift off in the heat<\/a>. And finally, consider a carbon offset: some airlines let you do this during the booking process, but if not, the UN has a trustworthy list of carbon offset programs<\/a> that are easy to donate to and surprisingly economical, starting from just $0.50 to offset an entire ton of emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nobody likes long flights in coach, but a direct economy class flight in off-peak season is one of the most efficient ways to fly to Rome.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Where to stay in Rome responsibly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your choice of where to stay has an impact, too.
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First, think about the neighborhood. Most tourists congregate in the heart of the historic center, the area around Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. This means that area is especially vulnerable to the downsides of invasive tourism, such as seeing artisans closing down shop, touristic restaurants moving in and locals finding the prices and lack of \u201cnormal\u201d amenities (like food stores) untenable.
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In a less touristic neighborhood, you won\u2019t just be making a positive impact by spreading out the crowds (and tourist dollars)\u2014you\u2019ll also have an easier time finding better, cheaper meals and more interesting shopping yourself.
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Intrigued? Neighborhoods we\u2019d recommend that are central and close to the sights, but relatively off the beaten path, include the Aventine, south of the Circus Maximus; the Forum Boarium, tucked just to the south and west of the Roman forum; and Celio, between the Colosseum and St John Lateran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Staying off the beaten path is win-win for everyone: you’ll feel more immersed in local life, and locals won’t have to deal with as many crowds in the tourist center.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Slightly further afield, check out Testaccio<\/a>, which also happens to have some of the best restaurants in the city and is just five minutes on the metro or bus from the Colosseum; Parioli, an upmarket neighborhood with a Parisian vibe just north of the Villa Borghese park; and Prati, particularly the part a few blocks north of the Vatican, a lovely residential area with tree-lined streets.
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Also think about your type of accommodation. We know that sites like Airbnb can be extremely convenient, but they\u2019ve had a negative impact too.
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As many landlords now opt to rent out their places on Airbnb rather than lease to locals, locals are having an even more difficult time finding homes in the center. That means more locals moving out of the center, which means a higher tourist-to-resident ratio, which means even more demand for Airbnb, which means landlords use it even more\u2014the definition of a vicious cycle.
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Instead, consider a locally-owned hotel (there are hundreds in Rome) or a B&B. At the very least, if you do use Airbnb, book a flat that someone actually lives in most of the time, whether they\u2019re just renting it out while they\u2019re on holiday or you\u2019re staying in a spare room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to eat responsibly in Rome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our number-one tip for eating responsibly in Rome is also, conveniently, our number-one tip for eating well in Rome. In short? Eat local, in-season food, and avoid the tourist restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rome’s best food is locally sourced and includes plenty of fresh, seasonal products. Photo credit: Paoletta S.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At the very least, that means avoiding the tourist centers (you never want to eat on Piazza Navona, for example). It also means avoiding any place where a friendly host is trying to get you to come inside\u2014we promise, authentic local spots don\u2019t do this. And run, don\u2019t walk, from anywhere that has an all-inclusive tourist menu.
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When it comes to eating like a local in Rome<\/a>, also remember when locals eat. Never look for a place to eat anytime before 8 p.m.: Romans rarely eat before 8 or 8:30 p.m., and 9 p.m. is the most usual time for dinner. The more you can stick to local mealtimes, the less pressure restaurants feel to start changing their own rhythms to cater to tourists\u2014the definition of invasive tourism.
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It\u2019s also important to keep in mind that food culture in Italy is highly regional. In Rome, or at least at traditional Roman restaurants, for example, you won\u2019t find risotto (which is associated with Milan and the north) or thick-crust pizza (which you\u2019ll find more in Naples and the south). You also <\/em>won\u2019t find a number of foods that many of us think are Italian, but are in fact Italian-American or Italian-British\u2014so don\u2019t waste your time looking for \u201cclassics\u201d like spaghetti and meatballs, lobster fra\u2019 diavolo or garlic bread.
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Carbonara, on the other hand, is<\/em> a true Roman classic you’ll find everywhere.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, you\u2019ll find plenty of other delicious dishes! Some of our favorites are\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n