As Robert de Niro says. “Italy has changed but Rome is Rome”
The best approach in Rome is just to go with the flow and see what you find. I was near to Piazza Navona, one of my favorite squares and decided to try to find a bar that I frequented 30 years ago when I lived in Rome for 18 months. I headed off in the general direction and of course, got side tracked and then luckily ended up exactly where I had hoped, outside the Bar della Pace, now known as Café della Pace and it is essentially is at was 30 years ago (only better).
Café Della Pace
“Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” Samuel Johnson.
For me this quotation should refer to Rome rather than London. Rome is always exciting and full of new discoveries around every corner.
I had never tried to find fabrics in Rome so set my mind to this challenge and found several fabric shops to explore. The main fabric area in Rome is around the Lago di Argentina area.
Here are a few of the fabric shops worth having a look at. I didn’t get to all of them but did spend an hour at Frattilli Basseti Tussuti on Corso V. Emanuele 73, which is a huge shop. It is one of Rome’s largest fabric stores and also the fabric source for many Italian clothing and interior designers. It was opened in the 1950’s by two brothers. The store is on two floors with double-height ceilings and holds 200,000 fabrics in all color, shade and textures. It is not easy to really see everything, and difficult without Italian, but worth a wander. They were very helpful to me and I purchased some beautiful linen, 100% cotton in a cow and zebra print and a few other choice fabrics.
Cow and Zebra, 100% cotton from Frattilli Basseti Tussuti
I also went to a shop located on the Largo di Torre Argentina, not far from the Piazza Venezia called Azienda Tessile Romana. I didn’t buy anything but it is worth a quick look. This shop has lots of dress fabrics but I was only looking for upholstery/homeware fabrics.
Azienda Tessile Romana fabric shop
At Paganini on Via d’Aracoeli, 21, I purchased some lovely, quirky cotton fabric which was double width with London scenes printed onto the cotton and other fun prints. They specializes mostly in fabric for interior design, upholstery so worth a look and a smaller more manageable shop than Frattelli Basseti Tessuti.
Interior view of Paganini, in just one of the sections of the shop.
I will have to have a look at Casa Del Teussuto at Via Tomacelli, 8/9, next time I am in Rome. It is off Via Del Corso to the left when walking to Piazza Del Popolo.
Another shop that I had heard was worth a look but didn’t get to this time is close to Fratelli Bassetti Tessuti, and is at Via dei Falegnami 63 called Fatucci Tessuti and again a much smaller store.
There is still so much to explore in Rome and I sure will, next time I am back in this inspiring city.
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