Gelato and "Palazzo del Freddo" and other Rome, Italy Local Custom Tips

I was thinking to write about Gelato (Italian ice-cream) in the restaurant section, but in Italy GELATO is something more than just a dessert. I could say that it's part of Italian style of life. Italians really care what they eat and in which order.

Gelato can be eaten as a snack (bought in Gelateria) or at restaurant ordered after fruits and after that Italian use to order Amaro or Limoncello ( bitter or sweet liquors)

Since in Rome I've tried lots of gelato from different places, but there is a gelato place one needs to go to in order to say "I've eaten Italian gelato"

The place is called "Fassi" or "Palazzo del Freddo" and it's the oldest gelato place in Rome.
The founder of this place Giacomo Fassi opened his first ice-cream shop in 1880, but it was his son Giovanni Fassi who opened a new location in Via Principe Eugenio where we can enjoy the best gelato nowadays.

The best part is, not gelato by itself, but the atmosphere of this place. Before even getting in you'll be able to see thousand of people with gelato cones standing outside. The place is very big and there are tables where you can sit without a need to pay for this extra as in other places and what's more you can help yourself with a cup of fresh water.
I am not able to remember how many flavors of gelato they have, for sure LOTS, but the thing I like the most is panna (whipped cream) it's sooooooooooooooo good (it's homemade and you cannot even compare it to one from other places)
So nothing to write more, just enjoy!!!!!

To get there take a metro - Red Line A and get off on Piazza Vittorio stop, then go towards Via Principe Eugenio 65-67

IT'S CLOSED ON MONDAYS, other days it's open till midnight.
Small gelato - 1.50 E
Medium -2.00 or 2.50 E
Large 3.00E
There are also special, huge desserts

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Phone: 064464740
Website: www.palazzodelfreddo.it

This is an Italian custom in general, rather than just Roman, but because I have not created Italy page yet I will write about it under my Rome page.
In Italy when you go to a wedding or baptism ceremony you will receive a gift from newlyweds or during baptism from parents of the child.
Usually it is something made from silver, for instance I received a silver spoon and a silver tea pot. It can be also a crystal vase or a typical, hand-made Sicilian vase.
Plus you will receive confetti: sweet almonds wrap in a small, cute bag.

I was very surprised at first when we receive "la bomboniera" at the wedding of my husband's brother, but later on I discovered that Italians like a lot to give small souvenirs during different occasions just to remember them.
All around Italy there are thousand of shops which sell only le bomboniere.

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