Monti, Esquilino, Celio, and the Via Appia Antica

Several neighborhoods come together here, just north of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. They range from the bustling, multicultural Esquilino neighborhood to the hipster enclaves of Pigneto and San Giovanni. Most travelers will find themselves passing through at least part of the area, either when they come into the Termini train station or when they pay a visit to the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, which offers everything from ancient monuments to Baroque masterpieces. Head farther south for the evocative Via Appia Antica, dotted with ruins and ancient catacombs.