30 Hidden Gems and Unusual Things to Do in Rome for an Amazing Visit

Visitors looking to experience Rome’s hidden gems will have stumbled upon Borromini’s famous prospettiva within Galleria Spada but there’s another lesser-known optical illusion that is worth a visit. Tucked away behind Villa Doria Pamphili park, Via Piccolomini is an unassuming street that creates a fascinating perspective onto St. Peter’s dome: as you drive towards it, it seems to recede into the background and become smaller in the distance but as you drive away, it seems to expand in size and rise up from below. You’ll often see scooters driving around in circles late at night to experience this interesting phenomenon.

American starchitect Richard Meier has left his imprint on Rome in the form of two contemporary buildings: the well-known Ara Pacis museum containing a 2,000 year old Altar of Peace, and the often overlooked Jubilee church in the city’s eastern Tor Tre Teste neighborhood. Built between 1996 – 2003, it is an unusually contemporary church that was designed to resemble a ship with three curved walls and skylights that let light flood into the space. The church was commissioned as part of Pope John Paul II’s Millennium project to mark the Jubilee of 2000.

Piazza della Scala is a quaint ivy-ladden piazza in Rome’s bustling Trastevere neighborhood and is best known for its cafés and trattorias, though it houses a real treasure within it. The Farmacia Santa Maria della Scala pharmacy, built into the cloister of the nearby church, has modern medicines today but a visit to its upper floor lets you step back to the 17th century when it was the pharmacy of the Papal Court. It is still run by Carmelite monks who guide you through the evocative space, filled with painted vases, hand-labeled bottles and frescoed ceilings. Tours must be arranged by phone in advance.

The church of the Gesù, the mother church of the Society of Jesus, has impressive trompe l’oeil effects on its ceilings but an even more peculiar visual effect lie tucked away in the next-door Rooms of St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit order. Decorated by Baroque painter Andrea Pozzo, the ornate Pozzo Corridor was inspired by the Galleria Colonna within nearby Palazzo Colonna and features scenes of the life of St. Ignatius. It is fascinating because it was a relatively contained corridor that gives the impression of being much longer because it is painted as a slant: indeed, as you approach figures, they become distorted and stretched when seen from up close.

Casina delle Civette is a whimsical house-museum nestled within Rome’s Villa Torlonia park. Designed by neoclassical architect Giuseppe Valadier, the park was home to the noble Torlonia family and is best-known for being the state residence of Mussolini from the 1920s onwards. The park has numerous interesting museums but the most unusual is certainly the Casina delle Civette, or ‘House of the Owls’, which was built to resemble a Swiss cabin and features stained glass windows with animal figures, numerous loggias, porticos and turrets.

Emperor Nero’s Golden House is an incredible archeological site that has only recently been opened to the public for guided tours on weekends to help fund ongoing restorations of the ancient villa. This enormous palace dates back to 64 AD and was built after a great fire raised much of the city to the ground; it extended through many of Rome’s famous Seven Hills, including the Palatine, Esquiline, Oppian and Caelian hills and contained as many as 300 rooms. It was covered in frescoed, gold leaf, stucco and precious stones, making it one of the most sumptuous palaces ever built in history.

Just behind touristy Campo de’ Fiori lies the elegant Piazza Farnese and its (namesake) Palazzo Farnese, the seat of the French Embassy in Rome and one of the most important High Renaissance villas in all of Rome. It was designed in the early 16th century for the influential Farnese family and features important artworks, including Annibale Carracci’s elaborate The Loves of the Gods ceiling fresco. The secret of Palazzo Farnese lies in the fact that the building is open to the public through guided tours, with English tours taking place each Wednesday at 5pm.

The Tempietto del Bramante, located within the courtyard of San Pietro in Montorio up in the Gianicolo neighborhood, is one of Rome’s greatest examples of High Renaissance architecture. It was commissioned by the Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, named ‘Catholic King and Queen’ by Pope Alexander VI in 1494, for their son John who died prematurely in 1497. The circular temple, which reflects Brunelleschi’s harmonious style, features Tuscan columns, an ornamental molding with a curved balcony, and a dome. Although it is one of Rome’s architectural jewels, it is an often overlooked attraction in the city.

Located in Rome’s northern Flaminio neighborhood, the tiny residential street of Via Bernardo Celentano is a real off-the-beaten-path gem. With its multicolored Liberty-style row houses featuring private gardens and fences, it resembles a ‘little London’ more than an alley in the Eternal City. The street was designed by architect Quadrio Pirani in the early 20th century under the leadership of Mayor Ernesto Nathan who wanted Rome to become a proper European metropolis. The urban project never spread beyond this little street but it has been well-preserved and is one of the city’s best kept secrets.

Located in San Lorenzo, Pastificio Cerere is an old factory that produced pasta in Rome for over 50 years. Named for the goddess of fertility Ceres, the factory was founded in 1905 and helped feed the capital during the two World Wars. Production ceased in the 1960s and the factory was reopened as a multifunctional artist space a decade later. Today, the Pastificio Cerere Foundation contains artist and design studios, artist ateliers, galleries and a photography school. The lower level also houses the well-regarded Pastificio San Lorenzo restaurant.

Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri is one of the most fascinating basilicas in Rome. The church facade is unassuming until you realize it is a fragment of the frigidarium, or cold pool room, of the ancient Baths of Diocletian. These baths were the largest in ancient Rome, though this fact is difficult to comprehend because they have been incorporated into streets, buildings and piazzas. Stepping inside the church gives you an idea of their size: the basilica, which was designed by Michelangelo in the 16th century, features a dominant transept, meaning the church extends horizontally rather than vertically – a truly unusual effect, due to the fact that it was built within the original bath structure.

Comprising just a few streets near the upscale Parioli district, Quartiere Coppedè is a compact but charming neighbourhood with a whimsical, secret-garden feel. Designed by architect Gino Coppedè between 1913 and 1927, the area is a hodgepodge of Art Nouveau, Greek, Baroque and Medieval styles. Enter through the impressive archway off Via Tagliamento and take in the fantastical decorative elements such as cherubs, animal motifs and an intricate outdoor chandelier. Other visual delights of the neighbourhood include the Fountain of the Frogs, Spider Palace and Villini delle Fate (little fairy houses). Recommended by Emma Law.

Though the Pyramid of Cestius is, in fact, a Roman copy of an Egyptian pyramid, it’s still ancient – and utterly unique. Built in 12 BC as the tomb and funerary monument of the powerful magistrate Gaius Cestius, the 36-metre-high (118-foot) structure stands on the border between Testaccio and Ostiense and is an emblem of the area’s skyline. The interior chambers of the pyramid, with newly restored frescoes, are only open on the third and fourth Saturdays and Sundays of the month. Tickets must be reserved online. Recommended by Emma Law.

The old and new(ish) collide at Centrale Montemartini, a public power plant-turned-Classical art museum. Turbines, engines and other once-clattering machinery now form the backdrop to a number of works from the Musei Capitolini collection. In the cavernous Engine Room, two Mussolini-era motors tower over rows of marble busts and statues, while in the Boiler Room, intricate mosaics sit alongside sculptural elements unearthed in the gardens of ancient Rome’s upper class. Recommended by Emma Law.

The Mouth of Truth, located in the portico of the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin, is possibly Rome’s most over-rated monument, so skip the snaking queue outside and head directly inside the church for a more unusual sight, missed by many tourists. The side altar on the left of the building houses a gold-framed glass reliquary. Inside the box is the flower-adorned skull of St Valentine, a third-century saint killed for helping persecuted Christians. While the saint was initially buried in northern Rome, his body was later exhumed, and 10 churches across Europe now lay claim to his relics. Recommended by Emma Law.

Rome has no shortage of beautiful churches but the Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio in the historic centre boasts a rather unexpected feature – a fake dome. The church was built between 1626 and 1650, but the planned cupola had to be scrapped due to a lack of funds. Instead, artist Andrea Pozzo was hired to paint an illusion of a dome onto the flat surface. It may have been the cheaper option but the depiction is actually pretty convincing. Look for a marble disk in the middle of the nave floor which marks the best spot to observe the illusion. Recommended by Emma Law.

A closer look at Monte Testaccio reveals exactly what this artificial hill is made of – fragments of ancient Roman pottery. During ancient times, olive oil was transported around the Roman Empire in terracotta containers known as amphorae. Due to their porous nature, the amphorae couldn’t be reused, and an estimated 53 million of them were dumped at this site, creating a giant, and archaeologically fascinating, rubbish dump. Monte Testaccio is open to organised groups by reservation only. Tour operators also run guided visits for an additional fee. Recommended by Emma Law.

The walls of the Museo dell’Altro e dell’Altrove di Metropoliz (MAAM) are adorned with the works of over 300 contemporary artists and street artists. Murals by the likes of Sten & Lex, Alice Pasquini and Borondo refer not just to the site’s previous use as a slaughterhouse but also its current function as home to around 200 migrants. Residents of this space, which highlights the discrimination and racism faced by migrants, have been threatened with eviction, and the future looks precarious for the site. MAAM is open on Saturdays only, and while admission is free, donations are welcome. Recommended by Emma Law.

Situated in the Foro Italico in the northern part of Rome, the Stadio dei Marmi is an open-air stadium built under the direction of Benito Mussolini. Circled by 59 marble figures, each representing a different sporting discipline, the complex mixes classical Greek artistry with fascist ideas, and it was part of a bid to try and secure the hosting of the 1940 Summer Olympics in Rome (those games were cancelled due to war). When the atmospheric arena isn’t hosting events, such as the Italian Open, it’s a popular spot with residents who do laps of the track or run up and down the marble seats. Recommended by Emma Law.

Rome has a gelateria on almost every corner, but Gelato d’Essai da Geppy Sferra is the city’s first gelato restaurant. Located in the eastern Centocelle area, the innovative venue invites diners to eat gelato for every course, not just dessert. Dishes change with the seasons and include creations like thinly sliced salmon with grapefruit and ginger gelato, sweet-and-sour pork with pineapple sorbet, and grilled polenta with broccoli, parmesan cream and liquorice gelato. Recommended by Emma Law.

Tucked away on the grounds of Villa Torlonia, Casina delle Civette is an enchanting building that features turrets, archways, porticos and other decorative elements. Originally built as a refuge for the Torlonia family, it became known as the ‘Little House of the Owls’ after a number of owl-themed stained-glass windows were added in an extensive Art Nouveau redesign. While there is a fee to visit the Casina delle Civette, admission to the grounds of Villa Torlonia is free. Recommended by Emma Law.

Despite the two buildings bearing more than a passing resemblance to one another, the Theatre of Marcellus actually pre-dates the Colosseum by almost a century and certainly provided inspiration for Vespasian’s amphitheatre. Begun by Julius Caesar and inaugurated by Augustus in 12BCE, it’s dedicated to the nephew and heir of the latter who died before it was completed. Although the site can only be viewed from the exterior, in the summer, classical music concerts are held regularly at the theatre, allowing participants a peek inside. Recommended by Maria Pasquale.

For a sunset hangout spot away from the crowds and the hawkers, do as the hip, young Romans do and head to this quaint little piazza in the trendy Monti neighbourhood. Summer evenings see the pavement cafes in the square spill out onto the street as musicians and entertainers pass through. Grab a cold beer from one of the nearby bars and join the throng on the steps of the picturesque fountain. Recommended by Maria Pasquale.

Although situated in the heart of the city on Via del Corso, few tourists venture into this quiet haven, missing the opportunity to view the stunning private art collection of the Doria Pamphilj family. With works by renowned names such as Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian housed in sumptuous surroundings, this is the perfect antidote to the heaving crowds of the Vatican Museums. Recommended by Maria Pasquale.

For an equally impressive fountain with the bonus of a breathtaking view, take a trip to the Gianicolo hill where the Fontana dell’ Acqua Paola (known to locals as Il Fontanone, “the big fountain”) sits proudly in an enviable position overlooking the Eternal City. Built from 1585 to 1588 by Pope Sixtus V, it provided inspiration for the Trevi Fountain, built almost 200 years later. Recommended by Maria Pasquale.

Palazzo Massimo, known as the National Roman Museum, is conveniently situated close to the Termini train station and houses some of the city’s most important archaeological finds. The collection ranges from statues and sculptures to jewellery and coins, and don’t miss the second floor where the beautiful frescoes and mosaics are on show. Recommended by Maria Pasquale.

This fabulous 17th-century palace was built for Pope Urban VIII Barberini and designed by two of the top architects in Rome, Bernini and Borromini. It now houses the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica (National Gallery of Antique Art) and features iconic works such as Raphael’s portrait of his mistress, La Fornarina, and Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes. Recommended by Maria Pasquale.

Emperor Caracalla’s immense bathhouse was constructed between 212CE and 217CE, and although now deprived of the marble and decorations, the brick remaining gives an idea of the huge scale and size of the buildings. Although visitors can wander through the evocative site during the day, one of the best ways to view the ruins is to attend one of the summer opera, ballet or music concerts held each year in June and July. Recommended by Maria Pasquale.

For a little outdoor relaxation and to take a break from the city, head to the largest public park in Rome, Villa Pamphili, southwest of the centre, across the Tiber River. With an area of more than 182ha (450 acres), the park features not only a scenic lake but also landscaped gardens, woodland and beautiful lawns, making it ideal for a summer picnic. Recommended by Maria Pasquale.

The unassuming church of San Clemente lies a short walk from the Colosseum. It has some of the most stunning mosaics in the city, which date from the 12th century, and allows visitors to descend below ground to explore two earlier layers of the building. The second level features the remains of a fourth-century church, while the lowest floor was originally a Roman home from the first century, which was later converted into a Mithraeum. Recommended by Maria Pasquale.