Town and Country Recommends: Trattoria

Near the Pantheon at 25 Via Pozzo delle Cornacchie is a modern Sicilian restaurant where celebrity chef Filippo La Mantia cooks in full view of the diners. Stars such as Scarlett Johansson and John Travolta have sampled the modern interpretations of the Sicilian traditions here. Sicilian cuisine is an interesting mix of tastes from Italy, North Africa and the Normans who conquered Sicily in the 11th century. Don't be surprised to see pasta and couscous on the same menu at Trattoria. And be sure to try granita if it's available-you will love this refreshing dessert.

Town and Country Magazine Recommends: Il San Lorenzo

There are so many restaurants in Rome. It is hard to choose from among the seemingly endless choices of tourist traps and neighborhood trattorias. If you are looking for something a little more sophisticated than the standard simple Roman fare (which is actually wonderful) try Il San Lorenzo, located at Via dei Chiavari 4-5. The April issue of Town and Country Magazine raves about the moody lighting, dark wood, and contemporary art decorating the three levels of this restaurant located near Campo dei Fiori. They also recommend ordering the catch of the day-for fish is the speciality at Il San Lorenzo.

Town and Country Magazine Visits Rome and Finds Something New

April's Town and Country Magazine has an article on the revitalization of Rome's heretofore unknown neighborhoods. The restoration and cultural projects begun to celebrate the Great Jubilee year at the Vatican 8 years ago and the election of Walter Veltroni as mayor have inaugurated a new era in cultural expansion and development. Neighborhoods like Testaccio, Trastevere and the Via Giulia (pictured) now attract visitors who used to confine their sightseeing to the Centro Storico. New hotels, restaurants, shopping and galleries have opened in central and peripheral neighborhoods alike. As Georgia Spogli, the wife of the US ambassador to Italy puts it, "People used to go to Paris; now they come to Rome." Unfortunately, the article is not available on-line, but stay tuned for recommendations from the magazine via Modern Traveler.