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.