Navigating a Gluten Allergy in the Land of Pasta

By: Abigail Walsh

Before arriving in Rome, I was so nervous about being able to enjoy the food during my time in Italy. The first time I went to Italy was in 2022 and I hadn’t developed Celiac Disease(a gluten allergy) until a year after, so I was able to enjoy all the pasta, pizza, and other delicious Italian treats the first time around. Naturally, I was nervous to come back and not be able to eat most things, especially since I would be here for 5 months instead of just a few weeks, like a typical vacation. I am also a foodie so this was very important to me. 

I took to the internet and confided in a friend who also has Celiac Disease who had conveniently studied in Rome the semester before me. Upon my research and feedback from my friend, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it would actually be very easy for me to eat just as much and as well as my other friends and peers. Apparently, Celiac Disease is so common amongst Italians that it is tested for at birth and the government also subsidises up to 400 euro a month for Italian Celiacs to buy gluten free food as it is typically a little more pricey than non-gluten free products. My friend gave me a list of places that had plenty of gluten free options and I also took to Tiktok to find other restaurants, stores, and bakeries. 

Some of my favorite restaurants I have been to are: 

• Pizza in Trevi: they have two kitchens, one gluten free and one normal, so there is no chance of cross contamination(there is also a gluten free gelato place right next door)
• Mama Eats-Trastevere: there are two locations, one in Trastevere where I live and one in Prati. They also have two kitchens for safety.
• Nonarella: while they cannot promise no cross contamination I have never had a problem and I have eaten there probably 10 times. It is a very old and authentic restaurant with amazing Roman pastas(my favorite is the Amatriciana but the Carbonara is also to die for)
• Grom: Its a gluten free gelato place that has multiple locations around Rome and Europe
• New Food: a fully gluten free bakery. They also have breads, pizza, suppli, premade lasagna and tortellini. I frequented New Food so often that they knew me by name. Everything is delicious.(They also have a restaurant location)
• Pandali: a great little lunch spot behind the Pantheon
• Pantha Rei: also near the Pantheon, great for tapas style dinner or a full meal. Almost everything on their menu can be made gluten free.
• Celiachiamo Lab: a fully gluten free grocery store and bakery.
• Tiramisu-Trastevere: A to-go tiramisu spot. They have a gluten friendly labeled tiramisu.(It is only considered friendly and not free because the tiramisu’s are prepared in the same area however they have different coffee, cream, utensils, etc.) I have never had an issue there either.
• Risotteria Melotti- A fully gluten free restaurant specializing in risotto. Their tiramisu is also delicious. 

There are plenty of other places that are fully gluten free or gluten free friendly around Rome and most restaurants will at least have gf pasta. Most menus will have an allergen list as well. There are honestly more things for me to eat here than there are in America. Overall, as a certified foodie, you will not go hungry if you can’t eat gluten. 

As you go through your time in the CIEE program, you will see that they host many extracurricular activities/classes including cooking classes. I enrolled in one of the pasta and tiramisu making classes and they were able to accommodate my allergy as well. While I couldn’t make gluten free pasta by hand, I still got to learn how to make normal pasta and they provided gluten free pasta for me for the eating portion of the class. They also gave me gluten free lady fingers for the tiramisu making portion. Some classes also include eating which were also accommodating as well as CIEE orientation events including lunch. 

Overall, I was incredibly happy with how accommodating all of Rome was with my allergy and with all of the options of food. Like I said before, I can eat more here than I can at home. So if you have a gluten allergy or any other allergy for that matter, don’t fret because Rome and CIEE are incredibly accommodating of all allergies.

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