Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Travel In Italy Suggestions

Ariela

By Ariela
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Ariela Newbie
Ariela
Posted

Hi,

I am 29 years old and very early into my pregnancy. My husband and I will be traveling through Italy in the second half of May, and I was wondering if you anyone has any suggestions with regard to gluten-free restaurants in Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples, and also being pregnant in Italy. It's all new to me. What should I stay away from? Are unpasteurized dairy products easy to discern? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ariela

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ElizabethN Apprentice
ElizabethN
Posted
Hi,

I am 29 years old and very early into my pregnancy. My husband and I will be traveling through Italy in the second half of May, and I was wondering if you anyone has any suggestions with regard to gluten-free restaurants in Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples, and also being pregnant in Italy. It's all new to me. What should I stay away from? Are unpasteurized dairy products easy to discern? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ariela

I spent a semester in Italy, and it was the best few months of my life. Though, when I was there I didn't realize I was gluten intolerant so after gorging myself with pasta and gelato (lactose intolerant as well) I spent a good deal of the mornings sick! THe great thing about Italy is that I have heard they have a lot more knowledge about celiac than most Americans. First off, I would print a few sheets of the celiac dining cards in Italian to give to waiters. If you are a meat eater, you should have quite a few choices. There are also big on salads. Another option is to shop at markets and eat a lot of fresh fruit and cheese. I am not sure about pasturization but I bet you could research that before you went over. And then look up how to say pasturization in Italian so you can double check!!

I ate at a lot of wonderful resturants in Florence and Rome but again, I didn't have my gluten free radar then so I couldn't recommend any of them. I would say that you get much better service if you escape the tourists "hot spots" and get off the beaten path. I think that you will find most of the people to be very friendly and accomodating. Another tip- you can buy gluten free food in the pharmacies there. I am not sure how good it is, but there are pharmacies all over the place in the larger cities so you should always be able to find something to eat.

In terms of just being pregnant- you shouldn't have any particular difficulties unless you are struggling from morning sickness. Make sure you have change in that case because most of the public restrooms are pay. And buy bottled water- frizzante is like club soda and might help settle your stomach. I myself would stock up on Bumblebars and Larabars because they are easy to pack and make a great snack- attempting to keep my stomach full did help a little bit with nausea.

Good luck, hopefully others will have some more helpful suggestions!! Especially in the travel section, I am guessing you can find some great tips. Have a great trip and congratulations.

Ariela Newbie
Ariela
Posted
  • Author

Elizabeth, thank you very much for your suggestions. I'm looking forward to the trip. I'm 6 weeks along now and don't have morning sickness. So I'm really hoping it will stay this way. :) My best friend was about 6 weeks pregnant this time last year when she and her husband traveled in Spain. She had horrible morning sickness and says that Madrid for her will forever be associated with throwing up.

DILIROTH Newbie
DILIROTH
Posted

Hi Ariela,

We will also be in those spots in Rome in May as part of our cruise. It will be my first trip to Italy but I live in France and use a lot of gluten-free products from Italy b/c they are fantastic!!!

Here is a sight that will help you find restaurants:

Open Original Shared Link

Also, here is a sight where you can print out some restaurant cards:

Open Original Shared Link

Have fun - its going to be a fantastic trip!

Theresa

gfp Enthusiast
gfp
Posted
Hi,

I am 29 years old and very early into my pregnancy. My husband and I will be traveling through Italy in the second half of May, and I was wondering if you anyone has any suggestions with regard to gluten-free restaurants in Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples, and also being pregnant in Italy. It's all new to me. What should I stay away from? Are unpasteurized dairy products easy to discern? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ariela

Wow, which order to give my experiences... Naples has two gluten-free resto's on the same street right down town.. both have gluten-free pizza and pasta, one requires you book in advance for the pizza... a third one has gluten-free beer!!! Different street...

I'll look up names later...

Rome has everything of course... for a splash up meal Alexando's (near the US embassay) is expensive but high class... however we found a pizzeria at polyclinica which was out of this world.... and astoundingly cheap.... looks a little garish perhaps but really really good...

If for some reason you are concerned about unpasturised diary (its your call) then you basically need to stay away from ALL meats and cheeses. that are not packged.. they are all stored together... and cut with the same implements and handled with the same hands...

In Italy you have a perfect right that implements used to handle gluten are not used on gluten-free food but you have absolutely no right whatsoever to not getting a pasturised cheese stored with a unpasturised one....

Ariela Newbie
Ariela
Posted
  • Author

Hi,

Thanks for your suggestions. What is polyclinica that you're referring to in Rome? Also, if you can think of the restaurant names in Naples that you liked, it will be most appreciated.

Regarding unpasteurized products, being pregnant, I don't think I have a choice but try to avoid them at all costs, as that is the general consensus amongst American doctors.

Ariela

Wow, which order to give my experiences... Naples has two gluten-free resto's on the same street right down town.. both have gluten-free pizza and pasta, one requires you book in advance for the pizza... a third one has gluten-free beer!!! Different street...

I'll look up names later...

Rome has everything of course... for a splash up meal Alexando's (near the US embassay) is expensive but high class... however we found a pizzeria at polyclinica which was out of this world.... and astoundingly cheap.... looks a little garish perhaps but really really good...

If for some reason you are concerned about unpasturised diary (its your call) then you basically need to stay away from ALL meats and cheeses. that are not packged.. they are all stored together... and cut with the same implements and handled with the same hands...

In Italy you have a perfect right that implements used to handle gluten are not used on gluten-free food but you have absolutely no right whatsoever to not getting a pasturised cheese stored with a unpasturised one....

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,894
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Lostcha
    Newest Member
    Lostcha
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
    • trents
      How Come Gluten Didnt Bother Me In Italy

      By trents · Posted

      You state in an earlier post that you don't have celiac disease. Here in this post you state you will "be doing another test". What will this test be looking for? What kind of celiac disease testing have you had done? If you have used a Entero Labs it sounds like you have had stool testing done for celiac disease which is not widely accepted as a valid celiac disease diagnostic testing method. Have you had blood antibody testing for celiac disease done and do you realize that for antibody testing to be valid you must have been eating generous amounts of gluten for a period of weeks/months? 
    • Gigi2025
      How Come Gluten Didnt Bother Me In Italy

      By Gigi2025 · Posted

      No, I've not been diagnosed as celiac.  Despite Entero Labs being relocated to Switzerland/Greece, I'll be doing another test. After eating wheat products in Greece for 4 weeks, there wasn't any reaction.  However, avoiding it here in the states.   Thanks everyone for your responses.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.