E tuRonald?
In what was once the heart of the Roman Empire, an American conquest takes place: Italy’s very first McDonald’s.
However, its location in Rome, just steps from the Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna, is strikingly different from any other Golden Arches outpost in the United States.
Guests are first greeted with a host of traditional sculptures, marble walls, mosaics, Roman script and a plaque celebrating its opening on March 20, 1986. Lately, the venue has become a hit on social media.
This Roman McDonald’s – which wasn’t built in a day – has its own McCafé breakfast room close by in a nod to ancient history. Delectable non-American menu items like tiramisu, donuts and macaroons are available there, along with croissants and other delectable pastries that put McD’s baked apple pie to shame.
For those looking for something hearty, the main dining room has plenty of American classics – burgers, McNuggets, shakes, fries and the like – along with some treats unique to the boot-shaped country.
These include chicken wings, cheese fries, stuffed and fried olives (which may not appeal to everyone), mozzarella-filled Panzerotti, specialty McFlurry flavors and even some beer options.
Of course, we can’t forget the snack-sized blocks of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, also known as “pocket cheese.”
The dining room offers further insights into Roman history with a succession of Doric columns and circular arches.
At the bottom of the columns are notes on food ingredients that bear a resemblance to Leonardo Da Vinci’s handwritten diaries.
“The thought of eating at McDonald’s when visiting Italy would never occur to me – it just seems wrong,” travel blogger Margie In Italy once wrote about a visit.
“Yet many tourists do it and I just scratch my head. Not for the food, but for its architectural design, one McDonald’s in Italy is worth a visit, because it is the most extensive McDonald’s in the world.”
Elsewhere in Italy, an ancient Roman road was found beneath a McDonald’s in Marino.
It is now open for customers to walk through.
