10 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Rome

Quartiere Coppedè is a district in Rome, between Salaria and Nomentana, where you’re bound to stumble upon imaginative architecture. Named after the architect behind its buildings, the district is a place where Liberty and Art Deco fuse with Gothic, Baroque, and Classical elements – strange juxtapositions typical of eclecticism. Check out the Palazzo del Ragno, aka the Spider Palace, with its Assyrian and Babylonian-inspired shapes, or the asymmetrical Villino delle Fate, aka the House of Fairies.

The whole neighbourhood has an enchanting and mysterious atmosphere, and it's no coincidence that Dario Argento shot some of his notable movie scenes here. We recommend starting with Fontana delle Rane aka Fountain of the Frogs in Piazza Mincio. Music lovers will instantly recognize it as the spot where the Beatles took a dip fully clothed after their epic concert at the Piper Club.

Stroll over to Chiesa di Santa Maria in Vallicella, also known as Chiesa Nuova, to find one among the most ingenious artworks in Rome. Look for an altarpiece created by Rubens in the oval in the middle, behind the main altar. A mechanical system allows it to go up and down, showing or hiding what's behind.

The artwork in mention is the fresco of Mary, which is especially dear to Christians. In the 1600s the image started to deteriorate, so they protected it with an altarpiece. The mechanism allows the fresco to be temporarily shown to worshippers. Want to see this brilliant artwork and the mechanism in action? Attend evening mass on Saturday or Sunday to see the parish priest operate it.

Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola, or the Church of St. Ignatius, is home to a false dome – a normal ceiling that looks like a magnificent dome thanks to an extraordinary optical illusion. The church is just a stone's throw from Palazzo Chigi. The talented artist behind the illusion was Jesuit monk Andrea Pozzo, who specialized in trompe-l’oeil, a technique used to create such illusory spaces.

Construction of the church began in the 17th century. They ran out of money for the dome during construction, but that didn’t mean they were short of innovation. The artist-monk painted the ceiling to make the building appear higher, with protruding columns and arches. To see the effect at its best, go to the central nave and look for the golden circle showing you where to stand.

Villa Farnesina is a must-do in Rome for art lovers as it’s home to lesser-known masterpiece frescoes created by Raphael. The remarkable renaissance villa beside the Tiber, near the Ponte Sisto bridge, was built in the early 16th century by wealthy banker Agostino Chigi. Raphael began work there by frescoing part of the Loggia di Galatea.

Some years later, the owner commissioned him to decorate the first floor gallery to impress guests during his wedding celebration. This time the maestro didn’t compose isolated scenes, but a cycle of paintings. To fit the occasion, the subject was determined to be Cupid and Psyche. Raphael executed the project and all the characters, but other artists from his studio helped finish the frescoes.

Santa Cecilia is home to a long lost masterpiece in Rome. Mention the Last Judgment, and you’d easily think of Michelangelo's artwork at the Sistine Chapel. Until the last century, it was thought to be the only one. Then, while renovating the choir in Santa Cecilia, also known as the Benedictine Convent of Saint Cecilia in Travestere, they discovered a masterpiece that had been lost for centuries. It was known as the Giudizio Universale or the Last Judgment, created by Pietro Cavallini who was supposedly Giotto's tutor.

The fresco dates to the end of the 13th century, 3 centuries before the Sistine Chapel. For its time, it reveals an unprecedented degree of knowledge, artistry and innovation. It’s also appreciated for the figures' sculptural qualities and expressive faces, the gentle use of chiaroscuro, and attention to detail. Visit the choir to see it, which is open weekdays at specified times.

The Capuchin Crypt at the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, or Our Lady of the Conception of the Capuchins, contains the bones of monks. Not many would’ve thought that a stone's throw from the glamorous dolce vita of Via Veneto there would be such an obscure spot in stark contrast to its surroundings.

Descend to the crypt under a nave, which leads to a 40-metre-long corridor overlooked by 5 chapels. What's astonishing is how the different bones are used: skulls, femurs and phalanges form a decorative mosaic behind tunicked skeletons. Each room is named after its bones, such as the Cappella delle Tibie or ‘Chapel of Shinbones’ or the one filled with pelvises. Find the message of hope in the last chapel, dedicated to the Resurrection.

Centrale Montemartini in Rome is a go-to if you're into art and history. But the place itself had an unlikely history. Musei Capitolini houses archeological treasures that are displayed inside the industrial spaces of a former power station in Rome. When the museum's headquarters needed renovating, they had to find a way to keep the displays visible. 

Part of the exhibit was temporarily moved to the Centrale Montemartini after its spaces were salvaged in an industrial archeology operation. Setting the artifacts in a contemporary 'archeological dig' was so successful it stayed long after. For a sight of stark contrasts, see the brilliant second exhibition area of machines, valves and pressure gauges that provide the backdrop for busts and sculpted marble, all for an unusual yet spot-on effect. To get there, catch a bus from Via Ostiense or a take a short walk from Garbatella station.

Flaminio is home to one of the well-known roads in Rome that's anything but Roman since the houses, gardens and entranceways are perfectly English. Enter via Celentano, nicknamed Piccola Londra or ‘Little London’ thanks to its British touches in the heart of the Eternal City. The road in the Flaminio neighbourhood has large buildings obscuring the walkway, so you might easily miss it.

Away from the madness of the city, it feels like a miniature reproduction of Notting Hill. The brains behind this gem were mayor Ernesto Nathan and architect Quadrio Pirani. They dreamed of a modern, cosmopolitan city that measured up to the great European capitals, giving rise to this original experiment. From then on, Flaminio embraced its English liking.

Among the good reasons to visit Villa Torlonia and the Casina delle Civette or House of Owls are its architecture and unique interiors. What used to be a rustic building with shapes inspired by a swiss lodge, was transformed into a splendid example of Art Nouveau after a set of revamps, additions and alterations. Secondly, its furniture, etchings, statues, plaster and majolica with flora and fauna-inspired forms and figures are sights to behold.

The masterfully crafted windows create a fairy-tale atmosphere. You'll notice a recurring theme of owls, hence the house’s name. The cottage was built by Prince Alessandro Torlonia as a leisure spot, but his nephew Giovanni is credited for its current aesthetic. Given his love for esoteric symbolism, almost every decoration features owls.

Take the Jasmine Walk in Rome if you want to see Michelangelo's dome from an unusual perspective as well as take some unique photo angles. Head to San Pietro station but don't catch the train. Go in and immediately turn right. Continue along platform 1 then enter the Passeggiata del Gelsomino or Jasmine Walk.

This 1 km walk leads to a staircase along the Vatican walls, the Rampa Aurelia. The walk follows the tracks of an old railroad connection between Italy and Vatican City. Once a notable route used by the Pope, it became obsolete with the emergence of new modes of transportation. The platform was therefore decommissioned and turned into a footpath. Look left and you'll see functioning freight rails, while the right opens to a gorgeous view of the Basilica.