What to see (non-tourist routes, unusual places)
● Ara Pacis or the Altar of Peace – a glass enclosure that protects from destruction and dust a snow-white arch in honor of the triumphant return of Emperor Augustus from a military campaign, erected in the 13th century BC. Also, exhibitions are often held here (for example, recently there was a photo exhibition from the Magnum Photos agency and others).
● Chiostro Bramante and Complesso Vittoriano – exhibitions of artists are often held here too, check the schedule on the official websites (also inside Chiostro Bramante, in the courtyard-well, there is a wonderful cafe where you can go for free without buying a ticket).
● Fontana dell’Acqua Paola – while everyone is taking pictures at the jam-packed Trevi fountain, you can cheat a little, take a taxi (it’s a very long walk to get there) and go to the equally beautiful fountain near Trastevere. The bonus will be a picturesque panorama of the city.
● Fontana delle Tartarughe (piazza Mattei) – this small square is located in the center of the Jewish quarter, where tourists usually simply do not go through ignorance, but in vain – it is incredibly beautiful. The Turtle fountain, built in 1588 to provide local residents with drinking water, deserves special attention.
● Orto Botanico is a stunning botanical garden, a true oasis in the center of Rome with succulents, palms, bamboo garden and a Japanese corner.
● Of the churches (and there are more than 900 of them in Rome), I will recommend three unusual ones: Chiesa St Luigi in Francesi, then the only Gothic church Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio and one of the best creations of Francesco Borromini – the Chiesa di St’Ivo alla Sapienza church, open only early Sunday mornings.
● In Rome, next to the Piramide metro, there is an analogue of the famous French cemetery of Père Lachaise: the Roman non-Catholic cemetery where the tomb of the famous English poet John Keats is located (by the way, his apartment museum is located on the piazza di Spagna).
● Quarter EUR: here you can admire modern Rome – the “Square Colosseum” – Palazzo della Civilta italina, where you can visit the Fendi exhibition (by the way, their main office is also located there). It’s better to get there by taxi, but you definitely won’t find tourists here.
Things to do
Photo: Vatican
● In good weather, of course, I would advise you to walk a lot – do not be afraid to turn off the hiking trails and look into the courtyards (sometimes they are open) or go on excursions on cute Vespa scooters or vintage Fiat 500s (write to Instagram, for example, in Dearomatours or Scooteromatours).
● When it rains, you can visit my top 5 favorite museums in Rome: Museo Macro Museum of Contemporary Art, Museo MAXXI – National Museum of Art of the XXI century, which was developed by the genius Ziha Hadid, Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna – National Gallery of Modern Art with an impressive collection of Italian paintings of the 19th and 20th centuries; and the Museum of Cultural Heritage in Rome – Museo del Quirinale.
● With children, take a look at the museum designed especially for children (Explora Il Museo dei Bambini on via Flaminia 80/86). Developing courses, lectures, games are held here, and as a bonus for parents – a year ago the first real Neapolitan pizzeria in Rome was opened there. And also in the city very soon a huge oceanarium will open, where you can see about 5 thousand inhabitants of the seas and oceans.
● For the most sophisticated travelers, tired of Rome, I can advise you to go to explore the surroundings around the city – for example, in Tivoli there is a wonderful park, similar to Peterhof. You can also go by car to the sea to swim and sunbathe, the beaches in the towns of Santa Marinella, San Felice Circeo and Sabaudia are perfect, or you can go for a walk along the embankment of the volcanic lake Bracciano, or go to lago Castel Gandolfo – the city where the summer residence is located Pope.