THREE GENERATIONS
The history of Ristorante Da Checchina, located at Via Dei Monasteri 42 in Subiaco, is steeped in tradition and goes back a long way—to the 1920s. Via dei Monasteri connected Subiaco, the Aniene Valley’s main economic and social center, with nearby towns (Affile, Arcinazzo Romano, Jenne, Vallepietra). It was along this very road that Marietta Merosi and Giovanni Spila decided to open a modest inn where travelers could find food and rest. In 1931, our grandfather Mauro Spila, son of Marietta and Giovanni, married Francesca Mercuri, known as “Checchina.” Forced to close the inn in the aftermath of World War II, our grandmother Checchina later tried to improve the family’s financial situation by opening a small tile factory in Tivoli with our grandfather Mauro. However, the war destroyed their plans once again when our grandfather was called back to serve, prompting the whole family to move to Subiaco. Our grandmother Checchina’s business acumen—and the pressing need to feed her family—led her to take on a new challenge: making and selling “cioce,” the popular traditional footwear of the time. They proved so successful that even German soldiers bought them. After the dark postwar years, marked by bereavement and illness in our family, on May 1, 1957, our grandmother Checchina reopened the restaurant, with the invaluable help of her daughter Maria and son-in-law Antonio, and opened the first pizzeria in the Aniene Valley.
That first year, service was provided on an outdoor terrace. Later, when winter arrived, guests were welcomed into a small room set up on the floor below. Those were the years when the Subiaco town council was working to complete the road to Monte Livata. On September 2, 1956, the National Mountain Festival was held, drawing a large crowd of officials and members of the public. This brought Monte Livata to the attention of many Roman skiers, who gradually began visiting the area regularly. Mayor Giustiniani, who knew our grandmother “Checchina” had a flair for business, suggested she cater to Sunday visitors. And so, with no money but plenty of enthusiasm and imagination, our grandmother Checchina set up the first high-altitude hot-food stand, feeding tourists with steaming egg fettuccine and chicken alla diavola prepared in a field kitchen transported on rickety trucks.
Following these events, improvements were made to the indoor dining room and the panoramic terrace above it. The terrace’s traditional American grapevine pergola was later enclosed to create a second dining room, allowing it to be used in winter too. The little pizzeria gradually took shape and developed into a characterful trattoria, where travellers could also enjoy local traditional dishes. Those unforgettable years were marked by hard work and effort, rewarded with satisfaction and immense joy: local residents, people from nearby towns and tourists from abroad filled the dining rooms to enjoy delicious pizzas or savour wholesome dishes lovingly prepared by Maria and enthusiastically served by Antonio. Their daughters helped out too, and their dedication inspired the couple to open a small bar in 1967. Over time, the business became firmly established as a landmark in Subiaco and a popular meeting place for young people (Saturday evenings were traditionally spent enjoying pizza together).
In 1997, the tobacconist was added to the bar, bringing further services to customers. In 2003, management passed from Maria and Antonio to their daughter Anna, who wanted to continue the culinary tradition passed down by her grandmother and mother. Celebrating these 60 years in business is just one milestone in the journey begun by her grandparents—a journey we intend to continue with the same determination, passion and spirit as always, while looking to a future full of dreams waiting to come true. Our greatest dream, however, remains to delight and satisfy our customers through the same traditions handed down to us by Nonna Maria and Nonno Antonio.
