16 July 2026 · CineFood Italia Editorial Team
An American in Rome: Alberto Sordi's macaroni and authentic Roman food
The famous macaroni scene with Alberto Sordi in An American in Rome and the working-class Rome of the film. Where to find the atmosphere and authentic Roman cuisine, among trattorias and traditional dishes.
“Maccarone, you provoked me and I’ll destroy you!” — few lines of Italian cinema are as famous as Alberto Sordi’s in An American in Rome (1954). The scene in which Nando Mericoni, after snubbing pasta in the name of the American dream, finally gives in to macaroni has gone down in history. Here is how to find that working-class Rome and its cuisine.
The spirit of the film: authentic Rome
An American in Rome is an affectionate portrait of post-war working-class Rome, made of alleys, trattorias and generous dishes. To relive that mood, the right place is a Roman trattoria in the historic centre such as the Trattoria del Biscione, between Campo de’ Fiori and the Theatre of Pompey: traditional cuisine and an old-world atmosphere.
The dishes to order
To pay homage to Nando, you obviously start with macaroni — or rather, with Roman pasta in all its forms: cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, rigatoni with pajata. Don’t miss the Roman-style artichokes and the oxtail stew.
An itinerary in the historic centre
The area between Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza Navona and the Ghetto is the kingdom of the Roman trattoria. A walk on foot, with tasty stops, is the best way to savour Sordi’s city. Discover all the venues of Rome and the film’s stops on An American in Rome.
In short
Reliving An American in Rome is easy: sit at the Trattoria del Biscione, order a plate of pasta and let the macaroni “provoke” you as it did Nando Mericoni.
