Knights of Malta Keyhole and other Rome, Italy Off The Beaten Path Tips

Up on the Aventine hill above the forum, there is a nice walk to do… first visit the church of Sant' Anselmo with its lovely courtyard. Pass the Santa Sabina Church. Soon, you will see a building with a green door. This is the retreat of the Knights of Malta . The door is seldom open but you will surely notice some people peeping through a hole. They are not being too curious or impolite, they are just having one of Rome’s best view of St-Peter’s. I won’t say much about it, you’ll have to discover for yourself but to me, it’s one of Rome’s little treasure.

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Carry on your walk from the Knights of Malta Keyhole and you will soon reach the Orange Park, an old orange trees grove overlooking the south-side of the city. You can have a great view from there, and in May-June, when the orange trees are in bloom, the fragrance and the thousands of white flowers feel like you’re in a fairy tale. You’ll probably find some oranges still attached to the trees. Don’t try to eat one. I did and discovered they are bitter oranges. Well suited for perfumes and pastry but not for eating!

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June is the best month to visit the rose garden. If you walk down from the Orange Park, not far from the Circus Maximus, you will find the city's rose garden. It has 2 sections. The most beautiful one is with the tea roses. It is a real enchantment. They come in every colors and shapes imaginable: yellow, red, orange, white, pink, even blue! Climbing roses, dwarf roses, bush roses, etc. You can go smell them but don’t touch! The flowers will wither faster if you do.

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Website: http://www.comune.roma.it/sg/Rose/Roseto.htm
Other Contact: Located Via del Valle Murcia

In the swanky area of Via Venetto, just off Piazza Barberini, is a little church, Santa Maria della Concezione that would not be distinguishable from the hundreds of Roman churches if it wasn’t for its crypt. What’s special about that? All the ornaments are made with bones of deceased monks of the capuchins order. It is at the same time horrific, beautiful, funny and thought-provoking. It seems like the main goal of the “decorator” and the capuchins was to display Men’s Vanity. The entrance is free but a donation is appreciated.

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Website: http://www.stuardtclarkesrome.com/capuchin.html

Yes, when you look at the map, the sea is not far away from Rome! Even if, sometimes, if feels a world away in this busstling town. But catching some rays is just a a matter of will because the frolicking in the sea is easy to get to.
Ostia is the obvious choice and has always been the sea-side extension of Rome since Antiquity (Ostia Antica page coming soon). Take the Metro Line B to the Piramide, San Paolo or Eur Magliana stations and follow the directions for the train to Lido di Ostia. I recommend taking the train at Piramide as it is the start of the line. The train can get very crowded. The train there is also quite an experience. I don't think there's been a week-end where I would not find myself in a wagon with a bunch of teenagers and their boombox blasting music (usually bad techno)... It's part of the package I guess. Cheap fare too! I used to go there every week-end because it's so easy BUT it's definitely not the prettiest!
Just pick a stop between Lida and C. Colombo (I used to stop at Stella Polare, approximately in the middle).
If you don't feel like going or if it's not open, Ostia will be fine. Now, be warned... most of the beach in Ostia is "privatized" that means beach clubs have a concession from the city so they take care of their part of the beach but people have to pay - not too expensive though- to get in, of course, loungers and umbrellas are extra. I went there for the first time in late April and it was free but in May, you had to pay.
The advantage? You have facilities, bars, toilets...
There is only ONE little slice of public beach in Ostia and it's of course the ugliest. The beach in Ostia is already not THAT spectacular.

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Website: http://www.ostiaonline.it/stabilimenti.htm
Other Contact: Check http://www.metrebus.it

The prettiest beach in the Roma area is a little further: the presidential estate of Castel Porziano. I discovered the Spiaggia Libera at the end of my stay and I regret that I didn't go earlier. The president relinquished part of it for the use of the people and it's a very pristine environment. The beach has big dunes, it's free, very beautiful and they have facilities in some areas. It's a nature sanctuary and beside the beach, you'll find an extensive wood area.
The beach is only open during the summer months though from 9h to 19h.
You'll have to take the train to Ostia until the C. Colombo stop and take the bus 061 to the domain. Attention, that bus runs only every hour (might be addtional busses during the summer).

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Other possibility? Fregene. It's a nice sea-side town...
In the 60's and 70's, it used to be the hotspot for the beautiful, rich and famous Romans and it still plays that old glamour card.

In the summer, some roman nightclubs hold their summer qurters there (Like "Gilda" for instance... that has its "Gilda On The Beach" all summer long). You have to take the Metro Line A to Lepanto then a Cotral bus to Fregene. It's about an hour away. Just make sure you have the scheduke with you so you don't miss the bus going back!!! http://www.cotralspa.it/orari/cot_01002__a04.pdf
I went there once and the buses were so full, they couldn't take anyone anymore! We saw several buses passing us (they had added extra-busses) and got lucky to catch the last one!!!

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Website: http://www.afregene.it/