Due to the popularity of a previous post containing tips by From Home to Rome’s own staff & collaborators, we’re back once again with… An investigation of sorts. Because this time we asked everyone in the office to come up with their favourite place in the city. And guess what? None of the answers includes any big name landmarks!

As per Sara’s words from that very article, “most visitors only experience a small portion of the city”, and this one article is proof that you can experience Rome without the crowds and feeling like an actual explorer rather than a visitor in one of the world’s tourism capitals.

So, without further ado, let’s get you places!

From parks to architectural treats

Clementina says:

“Go to the park at Villa Torlonia. In spite of being close to the center, it’s hardly ever visited by tourists”.

As a matter of fact, everything is surprising in Villa Torlonia, from the actual dimensions of the park to the architecture to the subterranean bunkers you can visit in the weekends to the museums and the workshop for children. There’s exhibitions, there is space for picnics, there’s a lovely restaurant and there is history at every corner!

Flavio says:

“The Rose Garden on the Aventine Hill. The place, which opens every year in the month of April, is a jewel in and of itself”.

What’s more, the beauty of the whole Aventine area is just around the corner. This garden used to be the ancient Roman-Jewish community’s burial grounds, so the visit could be tied to a walk to the Porticus of Octavia, just metres from our new managed accommodation at Catalana al Ghetto.

Sara says:

“I love Little London. This short strip of houses is completely surprising, architecture-wise, and is proof that Rome can be so many things at the same time”.

Located on Via Celentano, by Via Flaminia and just a few tram stops north of Piazza del Popolo, this lovely street is great for photo lovers and takes its name because the mansions here wouldn’t look out of place in the British capital. They were built in this style in the first few years of the 20th century thanks to the much-loved mayor Ernesto Nathan, who was half English and had envisioned a different, modern Rome.

Emanuele says:

“While it’s not off the beaten path per se, my favourite place would have to be the city center at night. Walking the streets from the so called “Trident area” to Piazza Navona, Campo de’ Fiori or Trastevere, after 2 in the morning and during the week… It doesn’t get any better than this. The city is asleep and you can get to admire it in all its splendor while it is quiet and still”.

Chiara says:

“I love the cloister at the Baths of Diocletian. You access it simply by buying a ticket for the National Roman Museum, because the complex is part of that network now. Built on sketches left by Michelangelo, it’s a completely surprising place – for one, it’s huge in a part of the city that feels always crowded and cramped. Plus, it’s silent. You can hardly hear the ever-present vehicle traffic. And, last but not least, it gets a fraction of the tourists that are usually in Rome. People seem to ignore the whole area, and yet it’s by the train station in Termini. Oh, and the museum is not bad either!”.