Colosseum & Aventino

Archeology, sweeping views and authenticity define this walk. Take your time to explore the Roman Forum: These ruins once stood at the heart of a vast empire. Ancient streets that have been here since time immemorial pass through the remnants of important temples. The center of ancient Rome is like an enormous open-air museum.



Palatine Hill, where the remnants of two villages of the Iron Age were found, overlooks the 500-yard-long Circus Maximus. Today it is a bleak-looking wasteland, but with a little imagination you can picture chariots racing past like in the classic film Ben Hur, with 300,000 spectators cheering them on.



Climbing Aventine Hill on a hot and sunny day in Rome can be taxing, but the phenomenal view from the Orange Garden makes it all worthwhile. Be sure to peek through the mysterious Knights of Malta keyhole in the central portone (doorway) at Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta.



The working-class Testaccio neighborhood has yet to be discovered by tourists, but the vibe is great. Besides clubs and restaurants, this area holds several surprise attractions. Who would expect to find a pyramid in the middle of Rome or a hill constructed from Roman potsherds?

The neighborhood was once dominated by a large slaughterhouse, now a modern museum: the Mattatoio. Workers were often paid in part with undesirable cuts of meat: offal, heads, and tails. To make this meat palatable, housewives had to be innovative and creative. Make sure to sample typical Roman dishes such as coda alla vaccinara (braised oxtail) or trippa alla romana (tripe in

tomato sauce with cheese and mint).

This walk offers an ideal combination of antiquity and modern urban life. The area around Termini Central Station was once the largest bath complex in Rome. Piazza della Repubblica is reminiscent of this time, and museums Terme di Diocleziano and Palazzo Massimo feature everything about its history. Palazzo Massimo is adjacent to Viminal Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome. 



Another hill in this neighborhood is Esquiline, with the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica as its beacon. This is also where you'll find the San Pietro in Vincoli church, which houses the famous statue of Moses by Michelangelo.

Monti was once a neighborhood filled with brothels, cheap taverns, and craftsmen's workshops. The studios are still here, though they are now occupied by artists and designers. The taverns have been transformed into modern wine bars and the cobbled streets are lined with boutiques and trattorias.

The first thing you'll notice on Piazza Venezia is the Vittoriano: this impressive white building is often sardonically referred to as “the wedding cake.” On Capitoline Hill you'll find the Musei Capitolini, with no less than 1,300 works of art. Piazza del Campidoglio, where the museum complex is located, was designed by Michelangelo and offers a stunning view of the Roman Forum.

Via dei Fori Imperiali, built against Caelian Hill, leads from Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum. The fearless gladiators who fought here in ancient times are legendary. Until recently, the area was swamped with men in gladiator costumes, trolling for business from tourists, but this practice has since been banned.