Monte di Pietá

It’s notoriously difficult to find an ATM in Rome that’s working, accepts your credit card, etc. Short of cash for the day?

Head to Monte di Pietá. It’s not a mountain as in Monte Bianco, nor a small mass of land as in Monte Citorio (where parliament is). Instead it describes a mass . . . of money.

This fund was put together in the 17th century by a group of wealthy folks in order to offer interest-free loans (remember, back then usury = sin) to those in need. One deposited goods, hopefully temporarily, as collateral against the loan . . in so many words, a pawn service. Sure enough already back then Monte di Pietá was called Monte dei Pegni, or Pawn Hill.

Swing by in the daytime to look at or bid on the lots of gold jewelry, silver tableware, furs, and assorted artwork exhibited in the display cases and going to auction. Feeling daring? Drop your watch off in exchange for cash to pay for lunch, and then go back and pick it back up the next day.

You’ll not be the first nor the last to do so at this old yet still very active Roman institution.