Rome experiences

From the dungeons of the Colosseum to the pagan temple under San Clemente church to the catacombs of the Appian Way and more... » more

Leave it to the Italians to turn their pre-dinner stroll into the premier social event of each day. During the evening passeggiata ("little walk") between 5 and 7pm, half the city turns out in their best clothes to see and be seen—but mostly to be seen fare la bella figura, ("cutting a beautiful figure")... » more

Unlike the Middle Ages, when you had to have excellent connections to see the Bishop of Rome (that's the Pope's real title), these days papal audiences are pretty easy to come by—so long as you're willing to arrange for tickets well in advance... and also share the moment with several thousand other audience members... » more

The Janiculum is not, technically, one of the famous "seven hills of Rome," but it's still my favorite—stretched between Trastevere and the Vatican Borgo across the Tiber River from the ancient center, and offering a stunning panorama of the city... » more

On Sundays, the Ancient Appian Way —the first of Rome's great consular roads, built in the 4th century BC—is closed to traffic... except for bicyclists. You can bump along the ancient cobblestones past the famous catacombs, Romantically crumbling sections of Roman aqueduct, and ancient tombs like that of Cecilia Metella. One you pass the Appia Antica Caffé (snack stop), there's nothing but countryside and ancient monuments all the way to the Castelli Romani hill towns, 19 km (12 miles) away... » more

To call gelato "ice cream" is insulting to gelato and unfair to ice cream. Gelato is much richer, smoother, and more flavorful than ice cream. Which gelateria has the best gelato in Rome? That's a question fiercely debated—and I would hate to deprive you of the chance to find out for yourself. Make sure you try at least San Crispino and Giolitti, but to make a truly scientific experiment, I'm afraid you'll have to stop and get gelato at every shop you pass. Poor you... » more

By minivan or Segway, on foot through the narrow medieval streets or in a museum with an art historian, an escorted tour or sight tour with an expert guide is a great way to see much more than you ever could on your own, with far more hisotrical background and cultural context than any guidebook could provide, and often with a private driver to whisk you from site to site... » more

Take a day—or even just a morning or afternoon—to tour the food market with a professional chef or cookbook author then retire with your bounty to a private kitchen and learn to cook some of the staples of the Roman menu, from simple pasta or pizza to gelato to entire feasts... » more

Cheesy? Yes. Fun? Undoubtedly. Besides, this is not just a chance to dress up in silly Imperial costumes and learn to wield a net and shield or spear and rudas (practice sword) or gladius (the short Roman sword from which gladiators got their name). It's also a hands-on history lesson—how better to learn a bit about daily life (and grisly death) in ancient Rome than being trained in the gladiatorial arts?... » more

From carciofi alla giudia and bruschette al pomodoro through the bucatini all'amatriciana and the veal saltimbocca to the contoro and macedonia and the tiramisu and the espresso and the grappa, all of it washed down with fresh Frascati or ruby Chianti wine—a dinner in Rome is a thing to be savored... » more

Get a private viewing of the Sistine Chapel - See the Vatican as VIPs do – with a private, after-hours viewing of the Sistine Chapel and a tour of the Vatican Museum's secret rooms. This exclusive gives you unprecedented VIP access to rooms usually off-limits to the public, including the Niccoline Chapel and the Room of Gold, as well as the classic sights like the Raphael Rooms. Sure, it costs a pretty penny, but when you and your group of ten has the place all to yourselves, the effect is magical and the experience never to be forgotten... » more

Although I wouldn't rent a scooter just to whizz around the historic center, a Vespa is an excellent way to visit several outlying sites in a single day—or, my own favorite, making a self-guided tour of the hills of Rome (not just the classic Seven Hills within Rome itself, but also the taller ones ringing the city—like the Gianicolo—that offer spectacualr panoramas)... » more

Whether at St. Peter's Basilica or any of Rome's more than 900 churches, attending religious services is something most pilgrims and the faithful will want to do at least once—and frankly something every visitor to Rome should do, regardless of their faith (or lack thereof). After all, in this most Catholic of countries, the foundation stone of the Christian church with 2,000 years of religious history and traditions dating back to St. Peter himself, attending Mass is just as important a cultural experience as it is a religious observance... » more

The mother load of Roman bazaars is Porta Portese, a flea market off Piazza Ippolito Nievo that began at the close of World War II as a black and gray market but has grown to be one of Europe's premier permanent garage sales with more than 1,000 stalls and exhibitors. You'll find everything here from antique credenzas to used carburetors, bootleg CDs to birds that squawk "Ciao," previously owned clothes to Italian comic books to used Leicas, all in a carnival atmosphere of haggling and hollering, jostling and junk jockeying, beggars, pickpockets, and shrewd stall owners, swirling around auditory pockets of badly dubbed dance music and the the scents of sweet roasting corn... » more

Last thing you need to do on any Roman trip is throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, a huge baroque confection of thrashing mer-horses, splashing water, and striding Tritons presided over by a muscular Neptune sculpted in 1762 by Nicolà Salvi. Why? To ensure you will, one day, return to Rome. (Historians point out the original tradition was to drink the fountain's water, but unless you enjoy the taste of chlorine, I'd stick to pocket change.)... » more

Though never as great or famous as the storied operas of Milan and Naples, in the Teatro dell'Opera's 19th century heyday, Rome's Teatro Costanzi opera house hosted the premier of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana and Puccini's Tosca. Though they do not perform it every year, the Rome Opera production of Aïda is a classic, complete with a cavalcade of real animals, including horses galloping onto the stage at top speed... » more