Upon our arrival at Hotel Ponte Sisto at about 3:00 pm we changed into our summer clothing as it was 75 degrees. Our first stop was Café Settimiano, located across the Ponte Sisto Bridge in Trastevere. I am pictured to the right enjoying a double espresso. Ro and I relaxed watching  pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists  criss-cross at the intersection where the cafe is located. Adding to the activity, a funeral procession walked through the intersection. Everyone somehow kept moving — in Italian style.

After a 90 minute walk (disappointed to find the Trevi Fountain renovations still incomplete) we stopped at our favorite Rome enoteca, L’Angolo Davino, Via dei Balestrari, 12-14. (www.angolodivino,.it). The owner, Massimo, suggested several wines. We decided to drink Emidio Pepe’s 2011 Montepulciano D’ Abruzzo and Lungarotti’s 2007 Rufresco. The former is a legendary natural/organic producer from the Region of Abruzzo who is noted for his minimal use of sulfites. The latter is also a legendary producer, from the Region of Umbria (some would argue that Umbria is a north region, others say south;  we’ll stay with the south). Pepe’s Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, a montepulciano grape wine,  is powerful and displayed an earthy quality common in organic wines. Lungarotti’s Rufresco, a sangiovese and canaioli grape wine, was softer and more refined, as one would expect with an aged wine. We enjoyed both wines and both paired well with the food.

We were hungry and the food was excellent at L’Angolo Davino.  We had two appetizers:  a burrata cheese from Puglia served with cherry tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes; and a small plate of cured meats. (Sorry no photo because the author devoured half the appetizers before a photo was considered.) For our main course, Ro had ravioli filled with eggplant (see the top photo) and I had bacala – a Roman salted cod (see photo below). For dessert we had white chocolate mousse with a mint sauce on the side.