Ottobrate romane had been initially October day journeys to Rome’s countryside.
The expression “ottobrata romana” usually conjures up photos of basking in Rome’s Indian summer time sunshine in October.
Nevertheless the phrase has its origins throughout the time of the standard vendemmia, or grape harvest for wine, when Romans would hop on horse-drawn carts and head to vineyards outdoors the town partitions for wine-soaked festivities.
This custom, which lasted till the primary a long time of the twentieth century, usually came about on Sundays – typically additionally Thursdays – and revolved round massive meals that includes Roman specialities akin to gnocchi, abbacchio (lamb), and tripe.
Central to the ottobrate romane day journeys, nonetheless, was the liberal consumption of wine, with some historians claiming the custom will be traced again to the Bacchanalia feasts of the traditional Romans.
The revellery was topped off with music, track, dance and video games, lasting till late into the night time.
It could be laborious to think about now however conventional countryside locations for the ottobrate romane included Monte dei Cocci in Testaccio and the vineyards simply outdoors Rome’s gates at Porta Pia, Porta S. Pancrazio, Porta S. Giovanni and Ponte Milvio.