So Rome is noisy. From what I can tell, it’s just three basic phonemes, sent in serial, repeated ad nauseum: the flatulent exhaust of motorini throttling and scooting about, a panoply of poorly-chosen ringtones, and the constant, dopplered whinings of ambulances.
One need ride a Roman taxi only for a minute, watching the driver using his knees to steer, and gesticulating with both hands during a cellphone conversation, when it becomes startlingly obvious that a vicious cycle is keeping these three noises in business…
