The secret spots of Rome: a guide to the city’s overlooked treasures

Discover an unusual and fascinating Rome with this list of the 10 lesser-known places in the eternal city. From little hidden gems to secret corners, there's so much to explore beyond the traditional tourist trails

Rome, one of the most captivating places on Earth, offers a unique feature: wherever you look, there’s always something beautiful to see. This abundance of sights means that even some truly fascinating spots remain lesser-known. Here are ten such places in Rome that might not be on every tourist’s radar.

Casina delle Civette

The Museo della Casina delle Civette, located within the grounds of Villa Torlonia in Rome, is one of the city’s hidden gems. The museum gets its name from the owls that frequently decorate its stained glass and majolica tiles.

Giardino degli Aranci

Covering nearly 8,000 square meters, the Giardino degli Aranci (Parco Savello) was established in the early 1900s by architect Raffaele De Vico. It is one of Rome’s three panoramic viewpoints, alongside Pincio and Gianicolo.

L’orologio ad acqua del Pincio

The water clock in the Pincio Gardens is the only hydrochronometer located in a public garden in Italy. This unique four-faced clock operates on water power, driving both the pendulum and the chime.

Villa Aldobrandini

Villa Aldobrandini is a seventeenth-century hanging garden near the Rione Monti and close to the Trajan’s Markets. Acquired by the Aldobrandini family, the villa is home to ancient marbles and remarkable paintings, but it is the lush vegetation that adds an extra touch to this beautiful, yet underappreciated garden.

Quartiere Coppedè

In a city filled with architectural beauty, the Quartiere Coppedè stands out for its surreal and sometimes extravagant scenery. Here, 26 apartment buildings and 17 villas blend harmoniously into the urban fabric of the Trieste district, creating a unique and enchanting atmosphere.

Cimitero Acattolico per Stranieri

Situated next to the Pyramid of Cestius, the non-Catholic cemetery in Testaccio is a resting place for foreign non-Catholics, as its name implies.

Giardino Giapponese

The Japanese Institute of Culture in Rome features a renowned garden that is open to the public only during certain periods of the year for free tours, which are always fully booked.

Roseto Comunale di Roma

The Roseto Comunale di Roma, which is free to enter, houses over 1,000 varieties of botanical, ancient, and modern roses from around the world. Every May, the garden hosts the International ‘Premio Roma’ competition for the most beautiful new rose varieties.

Via Nicolò Piccolomini

Located near the Gianicolo, Via Nicolò Piccolomini offers an extraordinary optical illusion. Here, one can view the dome of St. Peter’s in a unique way: the closer you get, the more the dome appears to recede, thanks to the arrangement of the buildings and the observer’s vantage point.

Piccola Londra

Few are aware that among Rome’s characteristic districts lies a “Little London”, one of the city’s lesser-celebrated treasures. Often not even remembered by the city’s residents, this area contributes to Rome’s unmatched charm, continually revealing itself as an experience to be discovered.