A Roman Cross-section and other Rome, Italy Off The Beaten Path Tips

Walking around the smaller streets of the city center is really interesting. It's amazing all of the architectural history that can be squished in just a few yards of building! In this photo, you can see some remains of an ancient stone building or wall abutting some stucco, which then is next to a modern strip of sheet metal. The green motorcycle was probably the only one not buzzing around the city on this particular night - watch out.

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If you've seen some of my other pages, you'll know that I love doors. I just do. They're so cool! They can show a lot of individuality about the owner. I found this door off a side from the Via Quattro Fontane (can you tell I was up and down this street a lot?) It truly is a good place to wander on a nice day, but I wouldn't recommend sticking around too much after dark. I don't think it's terribly dangerous, but it's a bit closed down in a few blocks and there isn't a lot of commercial activity.

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Yet another reason to head to the Piazza Barberini....the area is chock-full of interesting side-streets and small vendors. A great place to feel like more of a "normal" person than a camera-slinging tourist.

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Ok, so walking around Rome at night isn't always the safest idea, but we never had any problems. Plus, the city is awesome in the dark! Not only are the ruins lit very atmospherically, random buildings have used lighting quite creatively to achieve interested effects (like this one shown here)

Just be sure to not go alone and stay away from the seedier parts near Termini. This particular place was just northeast of Piazza della Republicca.

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A mere two minutes from the forum is possibly the most peaceful spot in Rome: the Monastery of San Gregorio Magno. We had no idea this place even existed, but we decided to explore a bit and see what it was like inside. The interiors of the few buildings here were nothing special, but the setting in a beautiful herb and flower garden made the detour extremely worthwhile. There were also some interesting architectural details in the flattened columns (see photo). Be sure to visit the smaller chapels a bit further into the site.

To get here: from the Colosseum, simply head away from the city center down Via Di S. Gregorio and look for a bucolic church and garden on your left. It looks like you can't get in, but go a little further and you will see the entrace up the small hill.

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Ok, so now that I consult my guidebook, it looks like this place isn't TOTALLY off the tourist track, but the description does not give it justice. According to legend, this church was the place where St. Gregory commanded St. Augustine to journey to England and convert the pagans there in the seventh century.

* You might be approached by an elderly gardener who will ask for a donation. It is rather small (1 Euro) but he gets aggravated if you don't speak Italian or French well.

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I benefitted greatly from having a friend who has lived in Rome all of her life. It was her suggestion that we visit the Protestant cemetery south of the city, which is worlds away from the rest of the Roman tourist experience.

The cemetery is also known as the "English Cemetery" but in fact many different foreigners have all been buried here in beautifuly, mostly meticulously kept plots. If you have been to Mount Auburn in Boston, this is a similar feeling, but much denser in lay-out.

Some of the famous grave sites belong to Keats and Shelley, for those of you who are literature fans. The cemetery also abutts part of the Aurelian walls.

Unfortunately the cemetery is not terribly easy to get to, and I do not remember the tram number we took (we were wonderfully dependent on our local friends this day!) However, it is right next to the pyramidal tomb of Caius Cestius, which does show up on many maps of the city. The sight is also included in most of the more intensive guidebooks.

There are also lots of friendly cats here...if you are a cat-hater, you will probably be a Protestant-cemetery hater. If you like animals though, they are a nice addition to the experience.

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Other Contact: Via Caio Cestio, near Via Zabag.

On my first morning Rome, walking to the Forum from the Termini area, we strolled past these great stairs that led up to a beautiful building covered in ivy. While probably not worth it to go out of your way just to see, it really is a pretty place. I believe it is located off Via Cavour, near its intersection with V.D. Annibaldi.

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The little tunnel chiseled out of stone really intrigued me. If you do the morning walk around the forum, you will find it on western side near the Capitoline Museums. Given how many thousands of years this city has been inhabited, who knows what is behind the gate? It is very random and close to no other openings in the rock....very odd.

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