The best picnic spots in Rome

Visiting Rome can be overwhelming: museums, galleries, archaeological sites, exhibitions, - so many things to see and do! How about slowing down and going for a picnic? You will be surprised how many beautiful and tranquil corners there are in Rome where you can stretch on the grass listening to birds and enjoying delicious local food from your picnic basket. 

Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese

Acres of green gardens, small ponds and lakes, - Villa Borghese provides a great setting for a picnic. It can get quite busy during weekends but you can always find a quiet corner. After finishing your picnic take a long stroll to admire the manicured gardens, elegant fountains and beautiful sculptures. Pop in to one of the museums on the grounds or rent a boat on the lake for a relaxing ride accompanied by resident ducks and swans. If you don’t feel like preparing your picnic basket yourself, leave it to the experts at the little green kiosk aptly named Pic Nic (Piazza delle Canestre, near the giardino del Pincio) in the heart of Villa Borghese. Order your prosciutto and melon, bruschetta, wine and cakes and relax under the trees.

View from the Janiculum Hill

Monte Gianicolo

Head to the Janiculum Hill for a picnic with a view. Not your average picnic, Monte Gianicolo has some of the best spots in the city for admiring scenic vistas over Rome stretching into the horizon. Although you would have to take a bus or walk up there, it is certainly worth the effort. After your picnic, check out the stunning Villa Lante al Gianicolo and the church of San Pietro in Montorio.

Appia Antica

Appia Antica Park

If you want to gaza at spectacular Roman ruins while chewing your panino, the Appia Antica Park is your place. Covering over 8,000 acres, Appia Antica feels like the Roman countryside: you will see flocks of sheep grazing, people cycling and playing football. Stretch on the grass under a pine tree or in the shade of an ancient aqueduct and forget about the noise and rush of the Eternal City.

Photos via Flickr by: Stephen Rees, Rene Cunningham, Avinash Kunnath.

What to do in Rome on a sizzling hot day

The Eternal City is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world with many sites to admire. However, summers here can get very hot, crowded and tire you out quickly. Don’t let the sizzling temperatures to ruin your holiday, there are many activities you can still enjoy without sweating too much.

Villa Doria Pamphili

Chill out in a park

Rome has many beautiful parks where you can escape the summer heat. Rent a boat in the Villa Borghese for a pleasant relaxing ride surrounded by ducks and swans. You can also rent a bike and pedal slowly past the park’s fountains, lakes and historic buildings along the tree-lined paths. Do a spot of bird watching in Rome’s largest park the Villa Doria Pamphili or have a picnic under the pines in the Villa Ada park. 

Eat a gelato 

One of the best little pleasures in Rome is gorging on the city’s famous gelato. Many gelaterie have outdoor tables under umbrellas, so you can grab a cone and sit outside people watching. Look out for smaller shops renowned for their artisan quality, which sell the best gelato in Rome such as Dei Gracchi near St.Peter’s Basilica, Fatamorgana or Gelateria del Teatro.

Gelato

Visit a small museum

The key word here is “small” as you do not want to stand in a line for tickets or elbow for space to see famous masterpieces. Head to small museums in Rome to discover the less known side of the Eternal City. They offer a pleasant respite from the summer heat and a vast range of masterpieces that are often overlooked by visitors to Rome. 

Explore Rome’s catacombs

When the sun is blazing down on Rome’s streets, it is time to explore the underground city rich with historic treasures. You can explore the impressive early Christian catacombs, a Capuchin Crypt decorated with disassembled 3700 skeletons on the glitzy Via Veneto or subterranean ancient Roman house under the Basilica di San Clemente.

Beach in Ostia

Take a dip

Who said you have to stay in Rome and endure the city’s sizzling heat? Escape to one of the beaches nearby! Hope on a train and you will be swimming in the sea in 30 minutes in Ostia, Maccarese or Fregene.

Photos via Flickr by: Giorgio Rodano, Becky Stern, Jerónimo Pérez.

The best small museums in Rome

While the majority of tourists do not go beyond the Vatican Museums, Borghese Gallery and Colosseum, Rome has a wealth of excellent small museum overshadowed by their grand famous neighbours. Check them out if you want to escape the crowds and discover the less known side of the Eternal City.

Villa Giulia

Villa Giulia

A treasure trove of ancient Etruscan artefacts, this beautiful 16^th century villa is a little out of the way but is certainly worth a visit. Spend some time admiring delicate golden jewellery, exquisite hair combs and elegant kitchenware. There is also a stunning sarcophagus with the life-size aristocratic husband and wife from the Cerveteri archaeological site and majestic statues of Etruscan gods. Chill out in the Villa Giulia’s pretty garden with a nympheum built for Pope Julius III.

Galleria Doria Pamphilj

This stunning privately owned museum houses a large collection of Medieval and Byzantine art as well as some impressive works by Velazquez, Caravaggio, Titian, Raphael and Bernini. On the audioguide you will hear the voice of Prince Jonathan Doria Pamphilj who will tell you about the collection and history of the palace sharing some fascinating family anecdotes.

Casina delle Civette

La Casina delle Civette

Sitting on the grounds of Villa Torlonia park, this magnificent building used to be a residence of Prince Giovanni Torlonia until 1938. Today it houses a small Museum of Liberty Stained Glass. Fascinating inside out, the villa has numerous elaborate stained glass windows and doors depicting birds, butterflies and owls (hence the name, The Small House of the Owls). Walking inside it feels like stepping into a fairytale world and its enchanting atmosphere is unlike anything in Rome. After the visit, enjoy a relaxing walk in the beautiful park. 

Criminology Museum

Criminology Museum

If you find all things crime fascinating this is the museum for you. Originally accessible only to government officials and the Italian police forces for training purposes, the Museo Criminologico opened its doors to the public in only 1994. Some of the museum’s gruesome artefacts include whipping benches, torture chairs, guillotines, the gun used to assassinate King Umberto I as well an interesting collection of fake art and expositions dedicated to Italian murderers and early forensic techniques.

Photos by: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra/Flickr, Musei di Villa Torlonia/Facebook, , Museo Criminologico Roma/ Facebook.

Where to find the best ice cream in Rome

After days crammed with sightseeing and museum visits, you might want to relax and indulge in the sweet side of Rome. After all, the Eternal City doesn’t only boast some of the world’s best cultural heritage but also the most delicious ice cream on the globe. So allow yourself some time to explore the wonderful world of Rome’s gelato. Here are a few suggestions where to find the best gelato in the Italian capital.

Dei Gracchi

A short walk from St. Peter's Basilica, Dei Gracchi gelateria sells excellent artisan delights and prides itself on fresh seasonal ingredients. Depending on the time of year you might find such flavours as roasted chestnuts, dates with walnuts, apple and mint as well as exquisite classics: chocolate-and-rum, pistachio and many other. There are several branches across the city.

Gelato from Fatamorgana

Fatamorgana 

Fatamorgana has four outlets in the city and is loved by locals and tourists alike. This is a natural ice cream heaven with a creative approach to gelato, so expect to find flavours like wasabi, black olives, lemon curd and chocolate infused with lapsang souchong tea. 

Gelateria del Teatro

In this gourmet ice cream parlour you can watch how gelato is made while enjoying heavenly flavours such as lavender with white peach, pumpkin with chocolate, raspberry and sage. You can it at one of their pretty outdoor tables and bask in the Roman sun. 

Address: Via dei Coronari, 65

Gelato from Fior di Luna

Fior di Luna 

Located in the busy area of Trastevere, Fior di Luna doesn’t do easy commercial flavours. All ingredients are high-quality certified organic and fair trade. You will not see cones here as they tend to be mass-produced, which does not comply with the company’s ethos. In summer, try their delectable fresh fruit sorbets.

Vice

Do not be put off by the disco-style crystal-studded walls and a fake cloud on the ceiling, the ice cream here is excellent. The ingredients come from organic farms and small producers from across Italy. Every Thursday evening a small range of savoury ice creams are made: try olive oil, salmon or prosciutto flavours if you are feeling adventurous.

Address: Via Gregorio VII , 385; Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 96 

Photos by: Gelateria Fatamorgana/Facebook, Gelateria Fiordiluna/Facebook.

The most beautiful streets in Rome

The beauty of Rome can be sometimes overwhelming. Picture-perfect squares, majestic palaces, splendid fountains and spectacular views are around every corner. To help you to prepare for your visit to the Eternal City we offer a quick guide to its most beautiful streets. 

Via Margutta

Via Margutta

Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in the film “Roman Holiday” rode in a cab to Via Margutta and since then movie buffs come here curious to see this little charming street. Federico Fellini, Claude Debussy, Giacomo Puccini and Truman Capote among other illustrious personalities lived here. Flanked by ochre coloured smothered in ivy buildings, the cobblestone street is always abuzz with swanky art galleries, antique shops, luxurious hotels and sophisticated restaurants attracting tourists and locals.

Via Veneto

Another street made famous by Federico Fellini who filmed “La Dolce Vita” here. It is lined with fancy hotels, restaurants and bars. The famous Henry’s Bar at the top of the street has a photos a dazzling array of international celebrities that have sipped their coffee here.

Gainicolo Hill

Passeggiata del Gianicolo 

This 19^th century tree-lined wide avenue runs from Trastevere and the viewing terrace on the Gianicolo Hill and offers some of the best views of the Eternal City. 

Via dei Fori Imperiali

Running from the Colosseum up to Piazza Venezia, Via dei Fori Imperiali has spectacular views over some of the most famous Roman ruins such as Trajan’s Market, the Temple of Concord and the Arch of Septimus Severus.

Via della Concillazione

Leading from the river Tiber to St. Peter’s Square, the street is filled with souvenir shops and ice cream parlours and might not the prettiest in the city but the stunning view of the St. Peter's Basilica at the end is certainly worth a stroll.

Via Appia Antica

Via Appia Antica

Constructed by ancient Romans, Via Appia Antica connected the Eternal City to a port in southern Italy. Some parts of the original road have been carefully restored and offer peace and quiet in the hectic city. You can walk or cycle on the traffic-free stretches of Appia Way admiring green fields with flocks of sheep and Roman ruins or chill out under beautiful pine trees.

Photos via Flickr by: Andrew Moore, Jay Bergesen, Shaun Merritt.

The ancient Etruscan city of Tarquinia

To escape the maddening crowds of the Eternal city head for a day trip to the small city of Tarquinia. 

Only an hour northwest of Rome, Tarquinia remains relatively unknown to foreign tourists who are in a rush to tick off their list all the obvious Italian sites. Steeped in history Tarquinia offers architectural wealth that spans many centuries. 

Tarquinia

The city’s main attraction is the 3,000-year-old Etruscan Monterozzi Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although only around 20 tombs out of six thousand are open to visitors, it is more than enough to appreciate the beauty and historical significance of this archaeological site, admire exquisite frescoes and learn about this mysterious civilization. 

Frescoes in the Etruscan Necropolis

Stroll around Tarquinia’s old centre to take in the relaxed atmosphere and explore numerous churches, medieval towers, fort and ancient palaces. The splendid Renaissance Palazzo Vitelleschi houses the Tarquinia National Museum with a large collection of objects discovered in the necropolis that include impressive stone sarcophagi, delicate gold jewelry and pottery. There is also the Tarquinia Ceramic Museum (Museo della Ceramica d'Uso a Corneto) filled with artefacts from medieval and Renaissance periods as well as a fascinating reconstruction of a 500-year-old kitchen.

Tarquinia

Check out the stunning 12th-century Church of Santa Maria di Castello, the main cathedral with splendid frescoes, the small but charming Church of San Martino, the Romanesque style Communal Palace and the Renaissance Palazzo dei Priori. To take a breath from sightseeing head to the beach in Lido di Tarquinia or one of many great local restaurants. The area around the city is renowned for its excellent olive oil and wine. The Ambaradam restaurant serves (Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, 14) delicious fresh seafood dishes. In the charming La Capanna del Buttero (Via della Tuscia, 19) try homemade pasta with wild mushrooms or juicy grilled meat. 

Photos via Flickr by: Craig Stanfill, Luca Cerabona, Raymond Bucko.

the Trevi Fountain reopens after restoration

After 17 months of reconstruction the Italy’s most famous fountain is flowing again, more beautiful than ever.

The makeover cost around €2.2 million and was funded by the luxury fashion house Fendi, which stepped in to help the city of Rome after the experts realized that the fountain was deteriorating rapidly and needed a serious intervention. In exchange, Fendi will affix a branded sign at the tourist site for four years. The fashion house will continue financing restorations across the city with its wonderful “Fendi for Fountains” project.

Restoration of the Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is famous not only for its Baroque splendour but also for a delightful tradition: if you want to return to Rome, you have to toss a coin over your left shoulder into the water. Eager tourists throw coins worth up to 3,000 euros a day, which go to local charities. To keep the tradition going a small basin was made, so coins can be thrown there rather than in the main water reservoir. 

Pope Clement XII commissioned the construction of the iconic fountain in 1730 to revamp an ancient Roman aqueduct that served the city for over 400 years. It took more than 30 years to complete but the splendour of the Trevi Fountain was certainly worth the wait. 

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is 26 metres high (85.28 feet) and 49 metres large (160.72 feet). 80.000 cubic meter of water flow through it every day. The fountain’s façade is made of travertine stone and the statues are carved from chunks of precious Carrara marble. In the centre stands the statue of Ocean who is carried on a chariot by two horses led by Tritons. On the left is the statue of Abundance with the horn of plenty, above which is relief of Agrippa, a Roman general and statesman who supervised building of the aqueduct. On the right side of the fountain there is a statue representing Health. 

The fountain is richly decorated with beautifully carved floral elements: wild fig and ivy branches, capper plants, artichokes and grapes. 

Photos via Flickr by: Larry Miller, Ian Southwell.