“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”
- Saint Augustine
Romans are conflicted about Termini station and its surrounding working-class neighborhood, which is home to Rome's most diverse community. The area immediately around the hulking, Fascist-era station is gray with pollution and notorious for prostitution. But venture farther west of the station, and you'll discover a vibrant cosmopolitan neighborhood with affordable boutique hotels, friendly neighborhood bars, and authentic Bengali, Somali, and Szechuan restaurants. East of the station lies San Lorenzo, a laid-back, tree-lined neighborhood that wakes up around noon, just in time to welcome Rome's university students and starving artists into excellent pizzerias, cafes, and mom-and-pop pasta joints. For a taste of the local life at a bargain price, San Lorenzo is a draw for international hipsters, but keep your city smarts sharp around Termini, day or night.