Secrets of Rome
 

I've been to Rome four times in four years and still love it. But am curious...what are some of the 'hidden' or 'secret' sites, places or scenes in Rome? The things that most people overlook on their way to the biggees...

There are hundreds of them. If you are interested in art and architecture, get a copy of Georgina Masson's "A Companion Guide to Rome". It will tell you about wonderful places you've never heard of.

Or, for a quirkier book with some restaurant and cafe suggestions, try "City Secrets Rome" by Robert Kahn.

Thanks. Those books look interesting. My library has City Secrets on hand and Amazon suggests a few more quirky ones as well.

Any other suggestions / ideas?

Bump...

Here is an excellent thread with some great suggestions: http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/rome/chills_thrills.htm. Some of them you may have been to already, but we particularly enjoyed the Museo Criminologico di Roma.

Not a particularly secret place in Rome but very beautiful is the Protestant Cemetary. It is very gardenlike and peaceful--lots of gorgeous trees including palm trees. We also enjoyed the Keats house.

I am never sure what people consider the sightseeing "biggies" so my list may include some things you
consider obvious

Our family spent 8 days in Rome earlier this year and saw many sights that I had not managed to visit on earlier trips. I also came back with a long list of
places I would like to see next time.

some of the "new" things we saw that I would recommend:

The spectacular view of Rome from the Janiculum Piazzale Garibaldi, followed by a downhill walk to Trastevere via the Fontana dell'Acqua and San Pietro
in Montorio, with Bramante's famous Tempietto

the archeo bus tour out to the catacombs, the Appian Way and the aqueducts

The Borromini gallery with its optical illusion/false perspective at the Galleria Spada

Caravaggio paintings in San Luigi dei Francesi

Modern art section of the Vatican museums

Evening walk from Trastevere across Isola Tiberina and into the ghetto

Baths of Caracalla

early morning walk along Via Giulia

Santa Cecelia in Trastevere

Things on the list to do next time:

House of Livia on the Palatine (it was closed this trip)

Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza (only open limited hours Saturdays and sundays)

Villa Farnesina for Raphael frescoes

Day trip to Tarquinia for Etruscan necropolis and
museum

tour of the ghetto/Synagogue

Gregorian chant at Sant'Alessio

Santa Sabina

Museum Nationale Romano Crypto of Balbi

Tour of Vatican gardens

Try to arrange a tour of the Vatican mosaic studio. We managed to spend about 2 hours there on a visit two years ago and we still talk about it with our friends who toured with us. We watched in awe as they mixed to get the exact colors needed. They fired the mixes to create perfect glass for the pieces that they were making. This studio makes pieces for churches and also repairs mosaics from around the world. The religious pieces are controlled by the pope but the non-religious pieces can be purchased after an approval from one of the Vatican's cardinals. Even if you don't spend a dime here, this is a fascinating place.