Dining with Trilussa

A Roman evening of verse, laughter, and flavor

Dining with Trilussa is the flagship event of the Archeocucina project, created by Le Terrazze al Colosseo, the rooftop venue of the Room Mate Mia Collection Hotel at Via Capo d'Africa 54, in Rome (Lazio). The concept is both simple and ambitious: to recount a chapter of the capital's history not through a lecture, but through a dinner. Guests are not passive observers; they are immersed in the atmosphere of the early 1900s, guided by the words and fables in dialect by Carlo Alberto Salustri, alias Trilussa, the poet who captured the essence of popular Rome with his trademark irony and social satire.

The Archeocucina project

Archeocucina is the format through which the restaurant celebrates cultural heritage via experiences that blend history, conviviality, and entertainment. Each evening is dedicated to a different figure or era: alongside Trilussa, the cycle has previously featured Augustus and Nero with dishes inspired by Apicius's recipes, Caravaggio and the Baroque age, Bernini and Borromini, the Marchese del Grillo, and the Roman Middle Ages. The common thread remains the same: a tasting menu philologically reconstructed for the chosen era, accompanied by theatrical dramaturgy throughout the service.

The tavern cuisine of Chef Marzella

The menu for the Trilussa evening is crafted by Chef Daniele Marzella, who sought to revive the intense, genuine flavors of old Roman taverns, where food was, above all, a symbol of conviviality and authenticity. The four-course menu explores the classics of the 'quinto quarto' (offal) and traditional Roman cuisine, paired with Castelli wine served in carafes, just as it was done in the past.

• Appetizer — Roman-style tripe in a terracotta pot with mint, served warm
• First Course — Potato gnocchi with giblet sauce
• Second Course — Picchiapò-style boiled beef with tomato and onion sauce
• Dessert — Maritozzo with whipped cream

Live theater

The performance is curated by NoSilence Eventi, with actors Luca Basile and Piero Giovinazzo handling the historical reconstruction, storytelling, and live acting. Between courses, the sonnets and fables in Roman dialect come to life, portraying commoners and aristocrats alike, and the irony with which Trilussa dismantled the rhetoric of his time. The result is a narrative that alternates between comedy and melancholy, echoing the spirit of tavern evenings from a century ago.

The setting: Celio and the Colosseum

The terrace is located in the Celio district, in one of Rome's most scenic spots: the Flavian Amphitheatre is just a few dozen meters away and remains illuminated throughout the dinner, alongside the silhouettes of the Oppian Hill and the Domus Aurea. The welcome aperitif takes place outdoors, with a direct view of the monument. This context adds depth to the story: the Rome of Trilussa was exactly the one that moved at the foot of these ruins, among local markets, workshops, and trattorias.

Why it is worth it

Compared to a standard themed dinner, Dining with Trilussa focuses on genuine research—regarding texts, language, and dishes—and a well-paced duration of about two and a half hours, leaving room for conversation without ever becoming a formal gala. It is a formula suitable both for those living in Rome who wish to rediscover their dialectal tradition, and for international visitors seeking a cultural experience that is less touristy and more authentic to the capital.