Those going to vacation in Rome are likely to be somewhat overwhelmed by the unbelievably vast list of things to see and do in this extraordinary cultural capital of the world from museums to ruins, palaces to fountains, painted ceilings to soaring cathedrals. However, while we definitely recommend seeing as much as you can and certainly the things you are most interested in, we would also suggest that visitors to the city do not overlook the other kinds of cultural riches to be found in Rome. Namely, the culinary heritage of the city.
There are plenty of dishes, drinks, snacks, famous restaurants and cafes, and more to explore while on holiday in Rome but one of the city’s oldest and most enduring foodie hotspots and must-sees is a tiny little bakery that one might easily walk right past. This is Il Boccione, a kosher bakery with over two hundred years of history, incredible cultural importance, and (vitally) some delicious treats to be enjoyed.
Located in the historic Jewish ghetto of Rome, Pasticceria il Boccione was first opened by in 1815 by the Limentani family and is the oldest surviving bakery in the ghetto. A small, unmarked shop on the area’s main street, it is still run by descendents of the Limentani family who founded it and is famous for a few things: its beloved crostata, the incredibly long queues that begin before it opens each morning, and the, “grumpy” staff members, including Grazilla Limentani, three of her granddaughters, and a niece as of 2019. It is also the last remaining kosher bakery in the Ghetto.
As noted, the key treat at this bakery is the crostata, a pastry that can supposedly trace its origins as a crispy-topped tart hiding delicious fillings to the 16th century, when a papal decreed forbade the Jewish store-owners of Rome from selling dairy products. In order to hide the ricotta and wild cherry filling inside, the clever bakers hide the ingredients under a blackened top and it has remained a favourite in this part of the city and beyond to this day.
This crispy top may even be somewhat off-putting to visitors seeing the treat for the first time but, as the long lines of those wishing to purchase some and the declaration by the New York times that it is the, “best in Rome,” it is actually a rather delicious wonder. The classic cherry version and a chocolate-chip variety are the firm fan favourites, as is another treat made at the bakery, the so-called, “pizza ebraica,” (or Hebraic pizza) which is actually a sweet bread or cookie-style sweet that is filled with toasted almonds, candied ginger, marzipan, pine nuts, egg, maraschino cherries, and raisins. The Pizza Ebraica was also famously described by Pope Benedict XVI as his favourite dessert in 2008.
One of the only places to try these historic delights now, you will be able to find the bakery when you spot the queues and start to get a whiff of the delicious smells coming from inside this seemingly unremarkable little place. If you’re a discerning foodie who has food a villa in Rome and you love to try a destination’s best and most historic and beloved dishes and products while you travel then a visit to Pisticceria il Boccione is an absolute must! Just be sure to get up early and head there quickly or you might miss out as the goods from this classic Roman bakery are truly in high demand. The early bird in Rome doesn’t get the worm but, rather, a delicious mouthful of pastry, ricotta, and cherry, instead!
