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Good gluten-free Experiences In Venice And Rome?

love2travel

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love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

Have been to Italy including Venice and Rome several times but May will be my first time as a celiac (although I've been there not eating gluten prior to my gluten challenge). Any tips on gluten-free friendly restaurants, bakeries and so on? If we must we'll go to markets and get our own stuff to cook in our apartment. I already know that I will be sorely tempted by all the pizza, pasta, bread, etc. And as I am a silent celiac I have no clue when glutened so I have to be incredibly cautious.

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Emport Newbie
Emport
Posted

I was in Rome and Venice in the fall and while there were plenty of tempting breads and pastas, both cities are actually really excellent places to be gluten-free (Italy overall has a fantastic awareness of celiac disease).

The Italian Celiac Association (AIC)has a list of gluten-free restaurants (Open Original Shared Link). Unfortunately it's not in English, but if you click on a restaurant type on the left menu and scroll down, you can select a region/city and it will pull up a list of options. They definitely won't be the only options -- now that you're looking for them, you'll see the words "celiaca" and "glutine" everywhere.

Wish I took better notes on my trip, but in Rome you can get delicious gelato in a gluten-free cone at Gelateria del Teatro (Open Original Shared Link) and there's a salumeria on the Campo de Fiori that can point out which of its meats are gluten-free if you ask. There's a place called Trattoria Mama Angela on Via Palestro, and while it's definitely nothing to write home about it does have the advantage of being near Termini and offers several of its standard items with gluten-free pasta.

I'm not sure if you speak Italian, but if you don't these phrases will definitely be helpful (along with how to pronounce them, roughly):

* I am a celiac: Sono celiaca. So-no chee-lee-ah-ka. If you

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted
  • Author

I was in Rome and Venice in the fall and while there were plenty of tempting breads and pastas, both cities are actually really excellent places to be gluten-free (Italy overall has a fantastic awareness of celiac disease).

The Italian Celiac Association (AIC)has a list of gluten-free restaurants (Open Original Shared Link). Unfortunately it's not in English, but if you click on a restaurant type on the left menu and scroll down, you can select a region/city and it will pull up a list of options. They definitely won't be the only options -- now that you're looking for them, you'll see the words "celiaca" and "glutine" everywhere.

Wish I took better notes on my trip, but in Rome you can get delicious gelato in a gluten-free cone at Gelateria del Teatro (Open Original Shared Link) and there's a salumeria on the Campo de Fiori that can point out which of its meats are gluten-free if you ask. There's a place called Trattoria Mama Angela on Via Palestro, and while it's definitely nothing to write home about it does have the advantage of being near Termini and offers several of its standard items with gluten-free pasta.

I'm not sure if you speak Italian, but if you don't these phrases will definitely be helpful (along with how to pronounce them, roughly):

* I am a celiac: Sono celiaca. So-no chee-lee-ah-ka. If you

Emport Newbie
Emport
Posted

Thank you so much for this excellent information! I know enough Italian to get by but there are phrases I definitely need to learn.

I love Gelateria Teatro - didn't realize they had gluten-free cones! That's cool. I guess before I wasn't really looking for stuff like that.

Your tips are really appreciated. :)

Glad I could help! The man at the Gelateria was really helpful and pointed out which of the flavors were/were not safe -- all you'll have to do is say the word celiac and he'll take care of the rest.

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted
  • Author

Glad I could help! The man at the Gelateria was really helpful and pointed out which of the flavors were/were not safe -- all you'll have to do is say the word celiac and he'll take care of the rest.

Awesome. Can't wait - man, I love gelato a little too much! :P

ecf Rookie
ecf
Posted

Definitely can second using the AIC restaurant/gelateria/bar listings. The places listed have very strict protocols from preparing gluten free food and you will know you are safe in their hands.

I have not been to Venice, but in Rome Cafe Alex at Via Veneto, 20 is wonderful. About half of the menu can be made gluten free, including many of the pastas. Unfortunately they don't do pizza gluten-free though. I have not been to either but Il Viaggio (Via Isonzo, 14) and Voglia di Pizza (Via dei Giubbonari, 13) are both AIC listed and supposed to be good.

And the BEST place, hands down, to buy gluten free groceries is the Celiachiamo store at Via Giulio Venticinque, 32. Everything in the store is guaranteed certified gluten free by the Italian Ministry of Health. They stock the full lines of the popular European and Italian gluten-free brands, and also have freshly baked breads and pastries, some meats, risotto rice, condiments, and even microwavable popcorn. It is a little out of the way, but really worth making a trip when you first get into Rome to stock up on snacks.

Also if you can squeeze it in a day trip to Florence there are several AIC certified restaurants there. I have eaten at Il Quattro Amici (Via degli Orti Oricellari, 29) and Ciro & Son's (Via del Giglio, 28) and like both of them, although my last meal at Ciro's was a little disappointing and I think you need to request a gluten-free pizza one day in advance. Haven't been there myself, but classic Trattoria Camillo is in the AIC listings. And also Grom gelateria is safe.

Good luck, I hope you have a wonderful trip!

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted
  • Author

Thank you SO much! I will print this and take it along on our trip. Gelato is one of those things one must do whilst in Italy and I'm glad that I can do it gluten-free.

I appreciate all this great info. :)

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  • 6 months later...
GFinVenice Rookie
GFinVenice
Posted

Ciao, I am italian from Venice.

Here in Italy it is quite easy because we have a book in which they are listed by town all gluten-free restaurants, gelateria, pizzerie.

If you would like to have any informations or suggestions do not be afraid to contact me on my private mail

Ciao Veronica

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