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Explore ItalyThe Roman forno tradition runs deep, rooted in neighbourhood bakeries that have fed locals for generations. Near Campo de' Fiori, the morning air carries the scent of pizza bianca fresh from wood-fired ovens — that signature Roman flatbread brushed with olive oil and coarse salt. In Trastevere, family-run fornai still shape pagnotta loaves by hand before dawn. The cornetto, Italy's answer to the croissant, appears in countless variations: vuoto, con crema, or filled with Nutella. Unlike Parisian viennoiserie, Roman pastries tend toward simplicity — less butter, more restraint.
The city's bakery culture extends well beyond breakfast. Romans queue at lunch for pizza rossa e bianca sold by weight, or supplì — fried rice balls that make excellent walking food between visits to the city's best restaurants. In the Jewish Ghetto, traditional recipes yield ricotta-filled crostata and almond biscotti unchanged for centuries. Whether you're starting your day before exploring Rome or seeking an afternoon merenda, the neighbourhood forno remains essential to understanding how Romans actually eat.