A selection of 10 unusual places to discover the lesser known side of Rome and make your stay in the Eternal City unforgettable.
The story is always the same: you reach the city, visit the Colosseum, then run to St. Peter’s Square to take a look at the Basilica, lunch break, some photos of the Trevi Fountain and a walk in Piazza di Spagna. But what about the countless treasures hidden within the walls of the Eternal City, often unknown to the many tourists who come there?
Here is a list of places outside the traditional tourist itineraries, to set out to discover an unusual, unknown and mysterious Rome: after reading this article, you will want to take the first low cost flight to the capital, find a cheap car rental in Rome and go around the length and breadth of the Eternal City!
1. Villa Doria Pamphili
It is the largest park in the city, spanning 180 hectares and, curiously, is usually ignored by visitors. It has a beautiful garden and a huge and spectacular French style mansion. Popular with locals, it represents a more than valid alternative to Villa Borghese. Enjoy its fountains and statues depicting theater faces.
Useful information: Villa Doria Pamphili, Janiculum hill, West entrance through Via Aurelia Antica.
2. The cat sanctuary
In Rome, there are about 300,000 cats, most of which live on the street. Many of these find refuge in the Torre Argentina, precisely in the excavations dating back to the 1920s, a place where cats have always been well-liked by the residents of the area. In the early 90s they moved to the square and since then there have been about 400, among the caresses of passers-by and volunteers who bring them food.
Useful information: Roman sanctuary of cats, at Largo di Torre Argentina, open every day from 12:00 to 18:00.
3. Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola
A wonderful baroque style church, a must visit thanks to its spectacular frescoes and oil on canvas paintings by Andrea Pozzo, dating back to 1685. Did you notice the dome? Error, it is only an optical effect: it seems that the nuns of the time did not consider it indispensable, on the contrary, according to them it would only have shaded the beautiful garden.
Useful information: Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola, in via del Caravita n° 8.
4. San Lorenzo
The alternative neighborhood of Rome: here you will find everything interesting about nightlife, culture and music. A glass of wine? Good and cheap, an element that makes it an essential stop for Italian and foreign students who flock to its streets every evening. Relaxing and carefree environment, the right alternative to Campo de ‘Fiori.
Useful information: San Lorenzo district, located between the Aurelian Walls, at Porta Tiburtina, and the Verano cemetery, crossed by the initial stretch of via Tiburtina.
5. Montemartini power plant
In the ancient power station of the Ostiense district, there is an archaeological museum of primary importance, which collects, among other things, the recent acquisitions of the Capitoline Museum. Imagine the ancient statues against the backdrop of an industrial building – a truly fascinating contrast.
Useful information: Centrale Montemartini, in via Ostiense n° 106, open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 19:00.
6. The keyhole
Curious? It is located on the Aventine, in Piazza Cavalieri di Malta. It is a large door and if you look into the hole… surprise! Among the interesting places proposed here it is, perhaps, the most famous, which is why you have to queue to peek into the lock!
Useful information: Aventino, at Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta.
7. The EUR
About 10,000 people live in the neighborhood built by the Fascist regime in the 1930s to host the 1942 Universal Exhibition in Rome (EUR) which never took place due to the Second World War. Nowadays it presents a curious architecture, full of references to the Roman Empire, pillar of the fascist ideology, combined with elements of modernism , as it was in use at the time. The most representative building, located in the Piazza del Colosseo, is nothing more than a cube made up of 216 arches.
Useful information: EUR district, underground line B towards Laurentina, penultimate stop.
8. Porta Portese market
The flea market in Rome is really worth a visit, especially if there is a beautiful sunny day. It takes place on Sunday afternoons and it is possible to find everything: antique clocks, ceramics, bicycles, kitchen utensils, Olivetti typewriters, books and much more. It presents itself as the perfect place to socialize with the Romans and to kick off the bargain hunt.
Useful information: Porta Portese, market in via Portese, open every Sunday, starting in the morning.
9. Non-Catholic Cemetery of Rome
Its construction dates back to the 18th century, with the aim of allocating the bodies of deceased non-Catholic foreigners to be buried in the Roman territory. Today it presents itself as one of the most evocative cemeteries in Europe, a refuge away from the hustle and bustle of the center.
Useful information: Non-Catholic Cemetery of Rome, in via Caio Cestio n° 6, underground line B, Piramide stop. It is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00, on Sundays from 9:00 to 13:00.
10. Via Appia Antica
The first paved road built at the time of the Roman Empire , known as the queen of the roads . Its construction began in 312 BC. C. and united Rome to Brindisi . 513 kilometers interspersed with picturesque villages and Roman ruins. Of course, a visit to its entire itinerary could take days and days: then discover the place where it begins, at the Baths of Caracalla.
That’s all! If you want to see all these unusual places in just one day, we organize fantastic tours of Rome that you can customize to your liking.
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