This is the old tram line that runs through the Esquilino neighborhood, a neighborhood that is well known for its immigrant communities (read: cheap vegetables and homey food). In the late 1800s, this used to be an aristocratic 'nuevo suburbia' where the new rich lives. Then it was abandoned in the 70s, most Italians (image conscious as they are), shun this place. Rent was cheap, but many of the buildings were vacant. Immigrants only began to arrive in Italy around the late 80s, and they move into this neighborhood because of the combination of its strategic location near the Termini station and cheap rent.
The shops that are set up today are pretty modest and 'cheap' (in all sense of the word: Made-in-China-cheap), but the architecture it is housed in is pretty grand. See the picture above? The tiled walkway and a solid stone colonnade is evidence to its once more glamorous past. Now it houses asian groceries stores, chinese knockoff shops and Indian fabric and textile wholesalers. It's not official, but this neighborhood really is, the china town of Rome.
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