Opera

Stopped here for a quick rest and glass of red wine but the wine wasn’t very good at all.

Bland food, service a bit slow

Una serata indimenticabile (An unforgettable evening)
My first night in Italy our «Insight Italian Intermezzo» tour group walked across police blockades to go to Ristorante Opera for dinner. Earlier in the day there were riots and civil unrest. This was on October 15, 2011 which was our first day in Italy and Rome. Violent protestors smashed shop windows and torched cars after their demonstration against corporate greed turned into a riot. Little did we know of all this upheaval until we were greeted that afternoon by Mario, our Tour Director. Mario, with his big smile and happy go lucky personality, filled us in on the events of the day while we met with our group for a wine reception at the Hotel Romanico. We had to go to dinner, so we boarded their practically new deluxe coach and headed for Ristorante Opera downtown. Marco, our driver, was a pro and weaved in and out and around all the closed streets. We finally had to get out and walk near the Vittorio Emmanuele II Monument because we could not drive any further. It took us about 20 minutes to get to the restaurant through blockaded streets. Mario was acknowledged by the police, like he was an unofficial mayor, and the police just let us through. He grew up in Naples, so I guess being Italian and speaking the language has its privileges. The police were probably thinking that we were really stupid tourists now that I think about it. What we didn’t know wasn’t going to hurt us and we were all relaxed from the wine reception earlier.
The minute we walked in Ristorante Opera we were transported back in time to a happy time in Rome. We forgot about the danger lurking outside the door. Three opera singers in costume serenaded us from the time we walked in until the time we left. There were two handsome Italian men and a very pretty woman and the songs they sang together were wonderful. My favorite of the evening that they sang was «Con te Partiro». Andrea Boccelli sings this as well as other opera singers. There was white and red wine on all the tables, good pizza and other courses soon thereafter. We were all happy at that moment in time and forgot about what was going on outside. I will have to say that was one of the highlights of my trip and an unforgettable evening in Rome.
Here is my first YouTube video that you can watch:
Lyrics to Con Te Partiro (hook only)
Con Te Partiro
Con te partiro paesi che no ho mai
venduto e vissuto con te
adesso sui li vivro
Con te partiro su navi per mari
chei io lo so no, no, non esistono più
con te io li vivro
I would highly recommend going to Ristorante Opera if you are in Rome. Hopefully, you won’t have to worry about civil unrest and those great opera singers will be there to serenade you.
Ciao