Rome off the beaten path ideas

Just a start:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/ideas-for-rome-that-don-t-include-the-regular-tourist-sights

@Kathy - perfect! Thank you!

You're welcome!
Hopefully others will join the party here with more ideas. :O)

@miuccia - really any of that. My husband does travel photography and is always looking for unique and interesting things to photograph. We’re naturally curious people. So that’s why I left the question bit open-ended, as we’re open to explore things that others really enjoyed. We are spending the night near Termini. We don’t have a lot of time, so I’m just looking for ideas to look into further to see what sparks. Thank you.

I really enjoyed the Cemetery for Non-Catholic Foreigners. https://cemeteryrome.it/about/about.html There are a few famous folks buried there. It's also a cat sanctuary. There was a British docent on site when I visited pre-pandemic.

We had an evening in Rome before our flight and did this tour. https://www.througheternity.com/en/rome-tours/rome-evening-walking-tour.html
Through Eternity is by far my favourite tour company I've used anywhere. This tour doesn't go anywhere you likely haven't seen before, but the behind the scenes narration of what you're looking at may be brand new. An example is some hidden views of the aqueduct that feeds the Trevi Fountain.

We really enjoyed Museo Montemartini in Testaccio. It’s an old power station converted into a museum of ancient Roman artifacts. My husband enjoyed photographing the interesting juxtapositions the museum provides. It was also very quiet.

In addition to the great ideas others contributed on that linked thread, I'll throw in the Protestant Cemetery (il Cimitero Acattolico) where Percy Bysshe Shelley (and a young son) and John Keats are buried, along with the wife and 2 sons of Axel Munthe, a grandson of Johann Sebastian Bach, and sculptor, William Story and his wife, marked by his famous funeral monument, "Angel of Grief" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_Grief). Lots of other notables here, and it's a peaceful corner of a busy city.

https://cemeteryrome.it
(Oops. I see Kayla mentioned this one whilst I was typing away.)

It is close to the Pyramid metro station. A walk north of the cemetery a bit is the Aventine with old and important Basilica of Santa Sabina and scenic orange garden (Giardino degli Aranci) next door. The municipal rose gardens (https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/rose-garden) just down the hill will likely not be open when you are there but there's a nice view of the Palatine from the street between the 2 levels of gardens, Via di Valle Murcia, if it's open.

https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/basilica-saint-sabina-allaventino
https://www.italymagazine.com/dual-language/hidden-gems-italy-basilica-santa-sabina-rome
https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/savello-park-or-orange-garden
https://www.italymagazine.com/dual-language/orange-scent-and-breathtaking-views-one-romes-most-romantic-spots

Hi there, well I'm not sure how many choices you need for a 1/2 day in Rome, but here goes in order of wow factor for us -
- Museo Massimo is across the street from Termini and a fantastic ancient Roman artifacts museum. We saw very few people in 3 hours, it's amazing. Any videos by Ancient Rome Live are marvelous - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6g75E6Lzls
- We loved the underground aqueduct tour close to Trevi Fountain, Vicus Caprarius, but can be busy so advanced reservations ensure you get in, done via WhatsApp. Details are in my TR on Rome last December here. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/rome-was-jammed-over-ny-but-still-fun. That would mean you'll be close to Bocano, a more expensive restaurant with great food near Trevi Fountain. https://www.baccanoroma.com/home_page_en/.
- What about an E-bike tour out to the Aurelian Walls. with or without the catacombs? Enjoy, what fun!

hey hey Globug17
romeing.it/quartiere coppede
wantedinrome.com/fairy tale and fantasy neighborhood
ourunusualjourney.com/unusual neighborhood in rome
your time is short, take a taxi (keep address with you) and wander around with your husband and his camera
eatingeurope.com/rome
they do a food tour of jewish ghetto, campo de fiori & trastevere
getyourguide.com
a walking tour or a food tour through the jewish ghetto. several years ago we did walk through but really a wrong day or too late/early and lots of places closed. next time i will do a tour with a guide to learn more about area & history
good luck and enjoy having fun, just couple options if interested
aloha

In addition to the great ideas others contributed on that linked thread, I'll throw in the Protestant Cemetery

...also referred to as the non-Catholic Cemetary. You can incorporate that into a tour of Testaccio, including the hill or mound made from discarded crockery and then eating your way through the amazing Testaccio Market.

The botanical gardens in Trastevere would be another option.

Having been to Rome many times, one of our unique, I think, was the 5 days we spent totally underground. Can't remember exactly what but really different. Depending when you are there the Sunday flea market close to Travestere is in cred ible!