Documents attest to its opening in the 16th century, and confirmation could soon come from Guinness World Records. Meanwhile, La Campana jealously guards a timeless tradition of warmth, hospitality, and typical Roman dishes.
The story
Where else could the world's oldest restaurant be if not in the Eternal City? Right in Rome, just a stone's throw from the Pantheon, lies La Campana, a restaurant which (according to some recently rediscovered tax documents) has been registered at the same address since 1518. Currently, according to the Guinness World Records, the title of the oldest restaurant in the world belongs to Restaurante Botin in Madrid, which has been active since 1725. However, given the recently surfaced documents, the current owner of La Campana has shown interest in having the title awarded to his establishment, of course, after further verification. The old papers tell the story of the former innkeeper, Pietro della Campana, who seems to have paid six scudi for a road maintenance tax.
La Campana has been managed for a century by the same family - Tracassini, which now sees Paolo at the helm with his wife Francesca Lorusso and his sister Marina - so much so that hanging on the walls of the establishment you can admire the photo of the great-great-grandparents of those who now run the restaurant. "Here we preserve tradition and the sense of family, and this is what our customers have found for 500 years. The documents certify that we have a historical continuity that is not found in any other restaurant in the world," Paolo declared.
In the venue filled with history, between via della Scrofa and Piazza Nicosia, the past, but also the present, is told by the dishes of Roman tradition. In the extensive menu that attracts many tourists, but also loyal customers, cacio e pepe, carciofi alla giudia (Giudia’s artichokes), tagliolini with anchovies and pecorino, pasta soup and broccoli with skate, as well as lamb, oxtail stew, sweetbreads, and wild chicory with anchovies are never missing.
The atmosphere is that of the classic Roman trattorias with tiled floors, classic furnishings, white tablecloths, and Roman hospitality. Well-known guests? Plenty, from writer Wolfgang Goethe to Giovanni Giolitti, to Giorgio Napolitano and Emmanuel Macron, passing through Caravaggio, Fellini, and the Spanish royals. While awaiting recognition from the Guinness World Records, all that remains is to say "ad maiora semper"!
