Off beat/ Unusual sights in Rome

[lynneamycruise]

Hi,

Our cruise is ending in Rome in November, and we have been to this beautiful city numerous times which means we have seen all

the big sights (Vatican/St Peters, Colosseum, Forum, Villa Borghese, Pantheon, Capitoline Museum, Palatine Hill, Trevi and all the fountains, and most churches) many times.

Does anyone have a suggestion of an "off beat" or unusual sightseeing idea for me? We have a couple days and are up for just about anything, just something different!

Thanks in advance!

[mskaufman]

Have you been to the Jewish Ghetto/Synagogue?  

[euro cruiser]

For unusual it's hard to beat the Capuchin Crypt:  Museo Cappuccini Via Veneto

[cruisemom42]

Oh boy, where should I start?  (I have posted on this topic other times, you might want to search for past responses.)

 

But as a starter, here are some ideas:

 

The Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace) from the Augustan era:  https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman/early-empire/a/ara-pacis

 

Palazzo Altemps -- lovely classical museum in a lovely palazzo just behind Piazza Navona:   https://www.rome.net/palazzo-altemps

 

Baths of Caracalla:  Best preserved imperial baths -- and you can visualize them even better with one of their virtual reality headsets (extra charge) or their very good audioguide (Bonus: mithraeum underneath):   https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baths-of-Caracalla

 

Protestant Cemetery and Pyramid tomb of Gaius Cestius:  Just at the Pyramide metro station lies the beautiful and peaceful cemetery where John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley are buried, as well as the distinctive pyramid-shaped tomb of a Roman nobleman of the 1st c. AD (huge).

 

The Domus Aurea ("Golden Palace") of Nero:  Underground lie the eerie remains of the unbelievably huge palace of the megalomaniacal emperor Nero. Put on a hard hat and visit the site on reserved guided tours.   https://www.coopculture.it/en/poi/domus-aurea/

 

The "Domus Romane" under Palazzo Valentini:  Sort of a multimedia view of a slice of ancient Roman life below the current police headquarters:   https://www.palazzovalentini.it/domus-romane/index-en.html

 

The Capuchin Crypt:  https://romesite.com/capuchin-crypt.html

 

Other Ideas (Google for info):

• The Tomb of Augustus (reopened after decades of closure last year)
• Castel Sant'Angelo (Tomb of Hadrian + great views of Rome)
• The Museum of the Imperial Forums (Musei dei Fori Imperiali) and Trajan's Market
• The Mithraeum underneath the Circus Maximus
• The Centrale Montemartini Museum
• The Scavi tour (underground) at the Vatican -- see Roman tombs and St. Peter's resting place
• The Appian Way (best visited on a Sunday when the ancient road is mainly closed to traffic)
• Aqueduct Park (along Via Appia) -- spectacularly scenic
• Belvedere Gianicolo -- another great view of Rome but a steep climb + Knights of Malta "keyhole" view of St. Peters.
• San Nicola Carcere -- church built on and between remains of three Roman temples
• The Forum Boarium and Mouth of Truth (Boca della Verita)

 

[lynneamycruise]

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

Oh boy, where should I start?  (I have posted on this topic other times, you might want to search for past responses.)

 

But as a starter, here are some ideas:

 

The Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace) from the Augustan era:  https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman/early-empire/a/ara-pacis

 

Palazzo Altemps -- lovely classical museum in a lovely palazzo just behind Piazza Navona:   https://www.rome.net/palazzo-altemps

 

Baths of Caracalla:  Best preserved imperial baths -- and you can visualize them even better with one of their virtual reality headsets (extra charge) or their very good audioguide (Bonus: mithraeum underneath):   https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baths-of-Caracalla

 

Protestant Cemetery and Pyramid tomb of Gaius Cestius:  Just at the Pyramide metro station lies the beautiful and peaceful cemetery where John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley are buried, as well as the distinctive pyramid-shaped tomb of a Roman nobleman of the 1st c. AD (huge).

 

The Domus Aurea ("Golden Palace") of Nero:  Underground lie the eerie remains of the unbelievably huge palace of the megalomaniacal emperor Nero. Put on a hard hat and visit the site on reserved guided tours.   https://www.coopculture.it/en/poi/domus-aurea/

 

The "Domus Romane" under Palazzo Valentini:  Sort of a multimedia view of a slice of ancient Roman life below the current police headquarters:   https://www.palazzovalentini.it/domus-romane/index-en.html

 

The Capuchin Crypt:  https://romesite.com/capuchin-crypt.html

 

Other Ideas (Google for info):

• The Tomb of Augustus (reopened after decades of closure last year)
• Castel Sant'Angelo (Tomb of Hadrian + great views of Rome)
• The Museum of the Imperial Forums (Musei dei Fori Imperiali) and Trajan's Market
• The Mithraeum underneath the Circus Maximus
• The Centrale Montemartini Museum
• The Scavi tour (underground) at the Vatican -- see Roman tombs and St. Peter's resting place
• The Appian Way (best visited on a Sunday when the ancient road is mainly closed to traffic)
• Aqueduct Park (along Via Appia) -- spectacularly scenic
• Belvedere Gianicolo -- another great view of Rome but a steep climb + Knights of Malta "keyhole" view of St. Peters.
• San Nicola Carcere -- church built on and between remains of three Roman temples
• The Forum Boarium and Mouth of Truth (Boca della Verita)

 

Thanks so much Cruisemom, Eurocruiser and MsKaufman! Great suggestions, many which we have not seen! So appreciate it!

[Host Bonjour]

Do we want this theme to be sticky topic? 

 

Point me to an existing topic to pin, start another, or is there another convo anyone is interested in having?

 

Just curious.... 🤔