We had dinner with some young friends who had just returned from a 15 day trip Italy...and they were so disgusted by the mounds of garbage in one of the squares of Italy (15 feet high) and they said the stench was horrific. Close to the train station near "China Town?" (In Rome?) they said they were disgusted by what they thought to be "human feces" on the streets! Granted they made a wrong turn at the train station...but their discription of Rome was not encouraging at all. Dirty, and smelly. Could there have been a garbage strike? And is there really a China Town in Rome? Has anyone else experienced this? We were in Rome Sept of 97 and LOVED IT and have nothing but wonderful memories to share.
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
Currently, the garbage issues (AGAIN) are in Naples. I've never see garbage 15 feet high in Rome - but in Naples, yes - I've had that unpleasant expereince. There is a "chinatown" located in the Equilino district of Rome. It has an incredible market and great little restaurants in the area.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32363 posts
Carrie, I was in Rome twice in May and staying in the Termini area, but didn't notice any "mounds of garbage" or a "horrific stench". There have been ongoing "garbage problems" in the Naples area for awhile, but perhaps the situation in Rome is something that has just occurred recently? On a "side note", there is a Hotel in Rome made of garbage. Have a look at This site for a look. Cheers!
Posted by
Los Angeles
222 posts
I stayed in the Rome Termini neighborhood for four days last month and I remember remarking on how un-trashy Rome was (same goes for Florence and Venice). And it was clean even though I at times had trouble finding trash receptacles to throw my own trash into. There was definitely no "stench" at all.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
I can't ever remember seeing mounds of garbage in Rome. In fact, aside from the graffiti, I find it a very clean city. Are your friends sure they're not confusing Rome with Naples. They are notorious for having garbage strikes and having it mound on the sidewalks. Donna
Posted by
Huntington Beach CA
1162 posts
I wouldn't call Rome "clean" by any means...but I definitely didn't see mounds of trash when I was there last month. I was warned about the graffiti and that was definitely all over the place..what bothered me most was seeing cigarette butts stuck in between all the cobblestones. There was trash scattered throughout but not mounds of it. Seems to me with all the tourist money that the city gets, they can afford to do some more clean up!
Posted by
Wiesbaden, Germany
791 posts
The Chinatown is actually pretty good if you like Asian food. Some good Indian, Chinese and Thai restaurants down there.
Posted by
Cesena, Italy
791 posts
Was there in Sept. and found it fairly un-trashy. We would get an occasional whiff of sewer smell here and there but nothing horrible.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
If you're looking for pristine cleanliness go to Switzerland. I was a little shocked upon my first arrival into Rome, but it gets better as you realize that it's a big city with lots of people and lots of graffiti. Although I've never seen mounds of garbage anywhere in Rome.
Posted by
Dallas
1022 posts
"mounds of garbage in one of the squares of Italy" is unspecific, so don't assume it was Rome. We've walked all over Rome and never noticed anything like what your young friends described. It's a safe city to walk around, btw.
Posted by
Coraopolis, Pa, USA
1018 posts
I have been traveling in Italy for 30 years, and since 2005 I visit Italy every summer, and this does not sound like Roma. They have a graffiti problem, but every big city has that problem. We were near Napoli 2 summers ago and the garbage was even out in the La Campagna.
Posted by
winston salem, nc, usa
1078 posts
Just left there Sunday, and while there for the weekend, experienced none of this. In the past, have in Palermo, and even Amsterdam, but never in Rome.