French Apéro - February 13, 2026

This time our aperitivo get-together will be a French apéro! We're meeting at VaSano, the shop and eatery specialized in French food and wine delights.

We've arranged a "formula" to have a selection of cheeses, coldcuts and foie gras, accompanied by one glass of wine per person.

When: Friday, 13 Feb., 2026.

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Where: VaSano, Via Po 66 (near intersection with Via Salaria)

Cost: In advance €20 for CCR members, €23 for non-members. Separate charge on site (no host) for any additional glasses of wine or other orders. 

RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marina.

NB: Book early, as space is limited. Payment required by Feb. 11th.

Cookbook Presentation & Aperitivo - February 25, 2026

Exclusively for CCR members, Neapolitan chef and creator of Daniela's Cooking School in Rome, Daniela del Balzo, will present her new cookbook in English and tell us about her family history. “My Napoli” features 60 authentic recipes, some personal and some handed down from her mother and grandmother. Her book is like a heartfelt love letter to the vibrant, colourful and aroma-filled home cooking of the southern city, and her presentation will include the essential pantry staples and tools that anchor her cuisine.

A welcome glass of Prosecco and samplings of Neapolitan street food appetizers will be offered during the event.

When: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Aventino area. The exact address will be sent to confirmed participants.

Cost: €10 payable in advance by Feb. 23rd. Current CCR members only.

RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle.

CCR Walks: Greece in Rome Exhibition - February 28, 2026

The quote "Greece was conquered by Rome, then it conquered Rome" helps explain the long journey taken by Greek sculptures from inaccessible Greek ruins to the verdant villas of Malibu, California. A new exhibition with over 150 masterpieces -- sculptures, bronzes and ceramics -- including some major and some little-known, from the Coliseum, elsewhere in Rome and even beyond, helps chart this long and eventful voyage.

Join us as Olivia, our historian guide, expertly leads us through the current "La Grecia a Roma" exhibition taking place at Villa Caffarelli within the Capitoline Museums complex.

When: Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

Time: Tour begins at 09.45.  Group should assemble no later than 09.30.

Meeting place: Registered and paid participants will be informed of the exact spot by email a few days before.

Cost: CCR members €10, non-members €15, for the guided tour, plus admission cost to Villa Caffarelli, which is €6 for residents of Rome who have the MIC card (which costs €6 per year), otherwise €8. Advance payment required by Wed. Feb. 25th.

RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Peter.

Historical Aperitivo: Ancient Banquets - March 28, 2026

From eggs to apples! Have you ever wondered what would it be like to be invited to a Roman banquet? What was the proper etiquette? What were the pitfalls and how would the foods compare to those available to us today? To find out, join is for a brief overview during a special aperitivo!

Light refreshments will follow this lecture and discussion with historian Olivia Ercoli.

When: Saturday, 28 March 2026.

Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Private residence (near Corso Trieste); exact address sent to confirmed participants.

Cost: €15 members; €20 non-members (who must, however, be guests of a current member)

RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marina.

NB: Book early, as space is limited. Payment required by  25 March 2026.

CCR Day Trip: Viterbo - March 7, 2026

We're going on an excursion to visit medieval Viterbo, city of popes and an ancient Etruscan capital. It boasts one of the most important monumental and historical centres in Lazio. A professional English-speaking guide will accompany us on a two-hour walk from Piazza del Plebiscito to Piazza San Lorenzo, Palazzo dei Papi, San Lorenzo Cathedral and the San Pellegrino district. After the visit, we will have a three-course lunch at Trattoria Sor Bruno to enjoy regional specialties.

When: Saturday, Mar. 7, 2026
Meeting Point & Timing: Entrance of Ostiense train station at 8:30. We will take train #23280 to Viterbo at 8:49, which costs €11.20 euro return. We suggest buying your train tickets in advance to save time. Arrival at Viterbo Porta Romana at approx. 10:45. 10-minute walk to Piazza del Plebiscito, where we will meet our guide.
Cost: for the guided tour and lunch: €45 for CCR members, €60 non-members.
RSVP and payment to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle by Mar. 4, or until sold out.

Historical Aperitivo: Marie Antoinette - February 5, 2026

Marie Antoinette’s destiny is often recounted as a Shakespearean tragedy defined by hamartia, conflict, catastrophe, and a glimpse of restored order within the French Revolution. She is the most well-known of Maria Theresa’s sixteen children. The only female ruler of the Hapsburg dynasty, Maria Theresa excelled in early modern marriage politics, and “happily ever after” was the exception -- certainly not Marie Antoinette’s case.

Queen Marie Antoinette in 1787 with Marie Thérèse, Louis Charles, and Louis Joseph. Palace of Versailles (Wikimedia Commons)

Inspired by the blockbuster exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, we will revisit Marie Antoinette’s agency in the fishbowl that was Versailles. Was she an innocent in the wrong place at the wrong time? Did her acts of disloyalty have malicious intent? Or was she, perhaps, a Helen of Troy whose face launched 17,000 guillotine blades? She was, in part, all of those things. Our contemporary view of her tends to emphasize idolization and pity more than hatred and outrage.  We will be so bold as to ask why.

Light refreshments will follow the lecture and discussion with historian Christine Contrada.

When: Thursday, February 5th, 2026.

Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Private residence (near Corso Trieste); exact address sent to confirmed participants.

Cost: €15 members; €20 non-members (who must, however, be guests of a current member)

RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marina.

NB: Book early, as space is limited. Payment required by 3 Feb. 2026.