Going to Rome for my 3rd visit -- would like to see/explore something new and different. Anyone have a suggestion of a place, location, monument, etc that is off the path or not touristy? As an example, if you came to Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA, I would take you to the drive-through morturary and then to visit the Watts Towers. Both are unique in their own way. Will be in Rome the 24th through the 29th of October.

Thanks !

oft mentioned on this board but not elsewhere is the galleria Doria Pamphilji [entrance on the via del corso] - a wonderful mixture of stately home and art gallery. wonderful pictures, some great sculpture, and very few people.

http://www.doriapamphilj.it/ukvisita.asp

Sturion...

Like you, I have been to Rome several times. I've visited the places listed below on my 3rd - 6th trips and I will be on trip number 7 in three weeks.

1. Doria Pamphili Galleria ( www.dorapamphilj.it ) This is an art gallery and private palazzo. There was a recent New York Times article about the place, so may not be as less crowded when I was there in 2009, but its worth looking into (IMHO)

2. Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini if you enjoy archaeology. Very hi-tech presentation.

3. Palazzo Farnese, a renaissance palace currently the home of the French Embassy in Rome, interesting tour. English tours offered on limited basis.

4. Church of Santa Prassede, in the Monti neighborhood, near Santa Maria Maggiore. The mosaics here are outstanding.

I wouldn't say all of these are way off the tourist path, but I believe these may not be on a first-time visitors "list" of places to go. You may need to pre-arrange Palazzo Farnese and Palazzo Valentini.

annhig...

great minds think alike, it was your recommendation that brought me to the Doria Pamphilj!

I have not taken the following tour, but came across it in an article. Sounds intriguing, it you are a movie fan.

Cinecitta Film Studios - where all those great spectacles were made
Guided tours in English at 11:30 and 16:00

http://www.cinecittastudios.it/en/dr...it-our-studios

https://www.google.com/search?q=E+U+...bih=1075&dpr=1

E U R to me was an amazing place - a new town started by the Fascists and thus a great area of Fascist (modern) architecture - in Rome Termini station is an example (Venice and Florence' train stations too I think as the Fascists turned away from the ancient and embraced sleek modern architecture.

EUR is just a short metro ride from the center of Rome.

https://www.google.com/search?q=imag...bih=1075&dpr=1

Another off-the-track area of modern architecture is the Foro Italico and the old Olympic Games of 1960 area - about a mile or so north of central Rome, along the Tiber.

On our most recent trip to Rome, we signed on for a guided tour of the French Academy in Rome which is housed in the Villa Medici located near the top of the Spanish Steps.

The property was given to France by Bonaparte and is technically "France," so if you visit you can say you went to France for a few hours.

The academy hosts French art students/fellows for a term of living and studying, and one of the students conducted our tour (in English). (There are also guest rooms available.) We were guided through the gardens (interesting but not very well kept) and a portion of the villa interior. One of the public rooms had beautiful tapestries and a balcony with fabulous views of Rome. There is a nice cafeteria open to the public.

http://www.villamedici.it/en

After leaving the Academy, we walked into nearby Parco Pincio (overlooks Piazza del Popolo) and rented segways to scoot around the Borghese Gardens for an hour.

Subterranean Rome is never mentioned on the tourist map. Check out - http://www.rometravels.com/subterranean_rome.html. You can't get more hidden than that

St. Agnes Outside the Walls and the Mausoleum of Constantia, daughter of Constantine.
This is a wonderful place to visit and easy to get to by bus.

Thank you to all for your wonderful suggestions !!!! I am now doing my research. Don't you love trip planning??? It makes it all that more excitable and adventurous.