What to do in Rome besides the most popular places

Hi,

If you like to experience an 'opera' or 'ballet opera' or an 'opera with dinner,' check out

https://www.classictic.com/en/the_three_tenors__opera_arias__naples___songs/29374/375708/

The shows begin at 8:30 PM. You can make an afternoon of sightseeing all around the area and make time to admire the gorgeous Church before the show starts.

Wine? Any restaurant serves wine. In most cases, the house wine is good. I always prefer Pinot Grigio though. If you are a wine connoisseur or want to experience the concept of wine-making, take a tour or perhaps go to a wine-tasting class.

People watch? Walk any Piazza and you'll see some amazing things - Travelers, 'vendors' selling scarves, toys, fake bags, (weather permitting) > artists sketching on canvas and selling their works of art.

Shopping? For what? Do you like fine things like leather and jewelry or do you want to browse quirky vintage shops? Are you interested in unique ceramics? Would you like limoncello in a bottle shaped like Italy? ;)

Campo de Fiori: Stop and say ciao to Giordano Bruno - there are tons of restaurants and shops to wander around in the area - walk down a little cobble-stoned street - Who knows what you will find. Browse the market during opening times.

Piazza Navona: Admire the fountains -- The Fountain of the Rivers is one of the greatest masterpieces of Bernini. If you are fortunate and stumble upon the street musicians < amazing guys > you are in for a great treat. (The musicians also play at Piazza della Rotonda and Campo.) At dusk, Navona is quite beautiful. Eat at a cafe or grab a panino, a drink and sit at the Piazza.

Trevi Fountain: Yes, it can be crowded. If you can, stroll around later in the evening - crowds are minimal - The Baroque Fountains take on a new life - commanding. When the Trevi is lit, it becomes a magical place. You will be mesmerized by the glistening water. Shops and eateries hug the Trevi.

The Pantheon: A beautiful Church in its own right. The dome is breathtaking. The architecture and history is awe-inspiring. The name "Pantheon" is from the Ancient Greek "Pantheion" meaning "of, relating to, or common to all the gods" Read up on the history - amazing.

The Spanish Steps: Was named for the Spanish Embassy in the 17th century. Go to the top of the steps to visit > The Piazza della Trinita dei Monti. There is a Church and an obelisk in front. Interesting history related: Besides being known for a romantic setting (sans tons of people), they signified 'peace' between the Spanish and the French.

St. Peter's Basilica: A must visit. Stunning, gorgeous, ornate, overwhelming, huge. There are altars with pews to sit and reflect, light a candle, or say a prayer if you're inspired to do so. Compared to the Vatican Museums, there is more breathing room to stop and look at or read about the statues for a good length of time. The Pieta is truly an amazing sculpture. Different emotions for different people -- some just 'stroll by with a peek,' others take their selfie; while many others stand and study every inch of the beautiful, Spiritual and emotionally-driven sculpture. Not to be missed.

Do some research about Rome. Customize a loose plan of things you may like to visit or wander through. I have found that some of my best and most memorable experiences with people and places were those that were happenstance!

Rome is a walking museum. Have fun.

Added thoughts: -- Plan a day trip to Orvieto. About 1.5 hours away by train. Famous for its Classico wine. Stroll the Piazza, be sure to visit the stunning Duomo - right in the center.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp10kzD-snA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDiB9moeRHo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K-txsJcLzY

What time of year?

The big market area about 1 km west of the Vatican. Sorry - don't know name or exact location.

The market Stan refers to is Mercato Trionfale. I have never seen anything like it.

Thank you for all your responses, we are going September 8th. We arrive in Rome the 12th. I have some great ideas now.

You have already got some great recommendations. Here are a few to add:

• If you find yourself near the Pantheon, there is a lovel wine bar: http://www.enotecacorsi.com. It is nice to enjoy a local Enoteca near a major tourist site and they have a fantastic wine list and a lovely lunch and dinner.
• Try a food tour. Our family and friends took the Travsterve tour with Eating Italy: https://www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com/rome/?utm_expid=.y0bIv1jlRzCV_hsTajB6Ew.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eatingitalyfoodtours.com%2F. This tour took us to local shops where we sampled everything from cheese and Porchetta to having wine in a wine cellar older than the Colosseum. On there website, I also found wine/food pairing classes, so this might be of interest as well.
• For shopping and great people watching, you can stroll between the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps and see the latest in fashion from men, women, and the home.

Have a great trip,
Sandy

Take a trip to "The Sea" at Ostia Lido. We treasure the travertine stones and beach glass we gathered.

We loved strolling around the Trastevere area. It is older, less touristy with smaller winding streets and picturesque lanes. The heart of the Trastevere is Piazza di Santa Maria--- a square lined with restaurants and cafes. Dining in the Trastevere means eating some of the best traditional food. Going into the Trastevere means escaping some of the crowded tourist sites of Rome which ultimately got to me after a few days.

While it isn't a "...shopping, drinking wine, people watching place...", Ostia Antica is an easy day trip using local transit and is a definite change of pace from Rome itself. If you've not been I highly recommend you google it and see if it holds any interest for you.

Thank you all, just great recommendations I am going to look up the ones I don't know about and make note of them. Thanks again

We did Eatwith where you eat in cooks homes with other locals & tourists. We enjoyed it so much looking at doing another on our upcoming trip to Rome. Enjoy

Hello,

I just googled "off the beaten path while visitig Rome". I got alot of interesting information. Some of these I may visit while in Rome.
Enjoy your visit, Cathy

There's also a rose garden on the Aventine overlooking Circo Masimo.
At least there used to be.

Oh yeah, the rose garden is still there and has a really interesting history but unfortunately it's only open in the spring months (21 April to 17 June, 2018 this year).

http://www.turismoroma.it/cosa-fare/roseto-comunale?lang=en

Still, Santa Sabina is just up the street and is a fave church of mine in Rome. She's very old and interesting!

http://www.060608.it/en/cultura-e-svago/luoghi-di-culto-di-interesse-storico-artistico/chiese-cattoliche/basilica-di-santa-sabina-all-aventino.html

Beside the church is an orange garden (Giardino degli Aranci) with a nice view of the city over the back wall. It can be a congregating place for some of the locals. Depending where you're at on your way up the Aventine, there's an interesting look at the backside of the Palatine.

While you're up there, peer through the lock in the gate of the Knights of Malta (Cavalieri di Malta ) for a perfectly framed capture of St Peter's dome. Use this website only for the picture and background 'cause I don't believe Reid keeps it current anymore.

http://www.reidsitaly.com/destinations/lazio/rome/sights/knights_malta.html

In Parco Colle Oppio, not far from Domus Aurea, there's a shady little outside bar that's a favorite hang-out place to rest our tired feet every time we're in Rome. On google maps it'll be marked as Chiosco di Nunzia al Colle Oppio, and it's roughly at Viale Fortunato Mizzi and Via della Domus Aurea. It's just a wee kiosk with tables set about but a pleasant spot, and closed on Mondays.

Here's another vote for eatwith.com. We've done one in Rome (Federica and Barbara in Trastevere) and one in Barcelona and had an absolute blast!

You might also consider a wine-tasting class in the Monti n'hood. I can highly recommend this one: http://www.vinoroma.com/

You can take the elevator to the top of the Victor Emmanual Monument for some great views. Other ideas: climb the dome at St Peters, visit San Giovanni in Laterno, take a look in the church with Cappuchin monks bones, visit the Protestant Cemetery for parklike scenery, go to the Mouth of Truth for photo ops, and Baths of Caracalla are worth a look. When we visited the Baths there were fewer than ten people there--don't know if any operas are performed there recently but that would be great.

Thank you everyone so much, I have such great ideas now. Can't wait to get there!!

hey klouise
For your drinking wine and people watching, take a half hour train ride outta Rome. Check oldfrascatiwinetours.com and ceralli.it read about the couple tours they do then make sure try their porchetta and walk around their shop. Take a small duffel bag in case you buy something:) another short train ride to Nemi, near popes summer home, known for wild strawberries and on a pretty lake. Walk the small village have lunch, anything and everything strawberry, then ride back to Rome. Enjoy
Aloha