Rome - off the beaten (RS) path

We went to the Colonna a couple of years ago and loved it. HIGHLY recommended!

We found the city of Palestrina (20 mi. south of Rome) to be incredible. It was originally a pagan temple dating 700-800 BC, and later was famous for sacred music. Palestrina was essentially forgotten until the U.S. Army Air Force bombed the hillside in WWII. Out of the rubble a huge temple appeared. Palestrina had been completely built over . Our B&B host drove us to the top of a 2500' tall mountain fortress/town above Palestrina and dropped us off. We walked a couple of miles down paths that have been used for commerce for over 2000 years. I walked in on a small Catholic chapel during Easter, 2012's church service. Come to find out, it was a private family church not open to the public. I thought it strange to have 3 priests for only 20 people in the congregation. There are as many great tourist sites in the Roman suburbs as there are in Rome's center city. Too bad so many are overlooked because people don't spend sufficient time to see it all.

Get a copy of "City Secrets: Rome" ed. by Robert Kahn. It's loaded with exactly this sort of thing. For example, have you ever heard of the Villa Torlonia in Rome? Google it. Happy travels.

Thanks, David. Thanks for the book suggestion, Michael. I've located one on Amazon for £00.01 and will order it. That sort of book sounds right up my street.

Ciao Nigel!
One of our favorite all-time finds (so far) has been Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini, an amazing display of ancient dwellings highlighted by tasteful use of technology Find info here. We also love to just walk around "our" city: up the Gianicolo or Monte Mario for the views. The Aventine is great, too. The book "24 Great Walks in Rome" has often been our guide. Finally, I'd recommend highly Chiostro della Bramante adjacent to Santa Maria della Pace, and Palazzo Braschi, Museo di Roma, near Piazza Navona. When will you be here? Laurel

Well, it's in some guidebooks (not Rick's), but we're glad to have attended a concert at the Renzo Piano-designed Auditorium Parco della Musica in north Rome (Beethoven symphonies conducted by Kurt Masur). Their brochure for the Parco della Musica calls it "Rome's most important cultural and urban development project since the 1960s." There are three concert halls of varying sizes plus an open-air theatre in the piazza that connects these halls. There is also a small but beautiful museum of musical instruments, and you can view (through a window) Roman ruins that were uncovered when the complex was built. We stayed in north Rome (Parioli district) on our last trip and throughly enjoyed getting to know this area of the city (much less touristed).

@Michael, Villa Torlonia had been on my list for awhile. Based on your comment we hustled over there Sunday. It is LOVELY! Two interesting residences, one occupied by Mussolini for 18 years, and a bellissimo park. Lots of Roman families playing in the mild December day. Much more open than Villa Borghese. Trams run within a 10 minute walk of the entrance.

A big second for Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini that Laurel recommended, whether or not it is in a guide book. Also, Santa Maria della Pace might be my favorite church in Rome.

Ciao, Tutti!! You guys are so helpful. I have my copy now of City Secrets: Rome and love it; and an inexpensive copy of Traveller's Guide to the Ancient World: Rome: Everything You Need to Know to Do as the Romans Do (Traveller's Guide to the Ancient World) (some title!!) is winging its way to me. Laurel, for the 24 Great Walks Rome, is that the 2008 or 2011 edition? I think the more recent one is likely better but the older one is available cheep cheep. We'd hoped to fly down to Rome for a quick visit in early March but probably will make it the end of June/first few days of July. We've never been to Rome in the heat of summer and that puts us off.

I had the 2008 and used it in 2010 with no problems. But I loaned it out, Nigel. Never got it back so bought the 2011. I see negligible differences. Going to try to go to Pal. Colonna next Saturday!

Got the book... something like £3 for a used older one. There's the off chance we might make it the last week of February.

OK, now the books have arrived, all in good shape, I now have to read them; especially if the trip at the end of February comes off ;-)

Hello Nigel when you are visiting Rome do not miss the Villa Farnesina with the greatest paintings of Raphael. In Galleria Colonna you can also visit the Apartment of the Princess, there is an extra ticket to pay Viviana
Rome - Italy