Surroundings of Rome
The cobbled streets in Trastevere, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Campo de’ Fiori…Rome’s cultural heritage is so rich that, even if you stayed for months on end, there’d always be somewhere new to go and see. Once you’ve visited all the not-to-be-missed monuments, there are still a number of other ways to enjoy Rome, such as strolling through its streets, having a bite to eat in its amazing bars and restaurants and simply soaking up the atmosphere. It’s almost impossible to get bored in Italy’s capital city.
However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t also make the most of everything that’s on offer outside the city. Not too far away, there are a great deal of truly magical places that you can visit but that are often left undiscovered because tourists are understandably absorbed by everything there is to see in one of the most impressive city centres in the world.
One such example is Coppedè. Not really a neighbourhood in its own right, Coppedè is more a surprisingly appealing group of luxury mansions where Art Deco, Modernist, Gothic, Baroque and Greek architecture blend in a rather irreverent mix.
Another example is the rather majestic Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura), which was the largest temple in Rome until the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica. You might also choose to visit the catacombs of St. Calixtus, St. Sebastian and Domitilla, all of which are under five kilometres to the southeast of the city.
If you travel a little further and head for the coast, you will come across a town called Ostia. It is the closest beach to the city and it is where the locals head during the hottest months of the year. It is also where you will find the remains of Ostia Antica, an important trade hub during the Roman era that was eventually abandoned in the 9th century AD.
But if you’re hoping to visit towns where time appears to have stood still, then you should go to Naples and visit the spectacular archaeological remains in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Both were buried in lava from Mount Vesuvius for almost seventeen centuries after the huge eruption that took place in the year 79 AD.
There are also a number of very tempting trips for you to go on and that are a little closer to Rome. For example, Castel Gandolfo (formerly a summer retreat for the Pope) or Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana in Tivoli, just over twenty kilometres from the city.
Of course, don’t forget about the north of Rome, which offers you the Etruscan remains in Viterbo and the old quarter in Orvieto. We recommend visiting the cathedral and, once you’ve done all your sightseeing, sitting back and relaxing with a glass of the renowned local white wine.
Last of all, excellent train routes make visiting Florence incredibly easy. If you do decide to get to know the jewel in the Tuscan crown, all it will take is an hour-and-a-half train journey that leaves you on the banks of the Arno River. Once you’re there, take photos of the spectacular view from Ponte Vecchio and admire Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome on the Duomo.