Already seen Vatican City, the Pantheon, Colosseum and Trevi Fountain? Have no fear – there is much more to Rome that you haven’t seen yet! Here are some sites you may not see on a typical tour of Rome. Grab your map, sneakers and camera and head out to see all the Eternal City has to offer!
#1 Keyhole
Why not start off at the Knights of Malta gate and gaze through the secret keyhole. This keyhole reveals a view of St. Peter’s like no other. You will look out into the beautiful gardens of Villa del Priorato di Malta and just past that is the top of St. Peter’s Basilica.
#2 Mouth of Truth
Next, head over to Via della Greca, 4, and visit the Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth). This man-like face carved out of marble is believed to resemble Oceanus, one of the pagan gods. But, it is most famous for it’s role as a lie detector. It has been said that upon resting your hand in the “bocca,” or mouth, it will bite off your hand if you have told a lie.
#3 Visit the Altare Della Patria
For your next stop, get a 360 degree view of Rome in Piazza Venezia. The Altare della Patria is the largest white marble monument ever created and the view from the top is one not to miss! It has just as good of a view as the top of St. Peter’s Basilica and you don’t have to climb 491 stairs.
#4 Visit the Cappuccini Crypts
End the day at Cripta Cappuccini, located near the Barberini Metro A stop. This is a church with a crypt containing the remains of over 4,000 friars. Between 1500 and 1800, you were allowed to bury ones remains in and under churches – according the Roman Catholic Church. No photos are allowed inside the Crypt, so make sure to pick up a postcard to remember this spooky, yet amazing experience!
Bonus: If you’re hungry after you tour Cripta Cappucini, try out Pizzeria San Marco located at Via Sardegna 38/D (only an 8 minute walk from Cripta Cappucini)! This modern, yet elegant restaurant has a variety of italian dishes and wines (all of which are wonderful), so don’t feel like you have to stick to the pizza!
#5 Order coffee like an Italian
I am sure that once you arrive in Italy after a long flight and are desperately trying to fight off that inevitable jet lag, nothing sounds better than grabbing yourself a nice warm cup a joe. However, if it is your first time in Italy, you may end up ordering the wrong drink if you are not careful.
The first thing you need to know about ordering coffee in Italy is that if you ask for a caffè you will not get a mug with regular coffee. Instead, you will be served a single espresso shot. Additionally, if you ask for an espresso some vendors will not understand what you want. Now you may be wondering, “How do I get my regular coffee?” Your best bet is to order a caffè americano. This translates to “American coffee”, but may mean one of two things. You might be served an espresso with hot water, this can be an excellent substitute. You might instead be served a very bad version of dripolator coffee. Specify which option you want! The biggest mistake you can make is to order a latte. We expect a latte to be a foamy and delicious coffee or espresso drink with steamed milk. In Italian the word latte translates to milk. Unless a warm glass of milk is what you want, ask for a caffe macchiato or the classic cappuccino to truly immerse yourself in Italian coffee culture.