10 Hidden Gems In Rome You Won't Find In A Tourist Guide.
If you've been to Rome once, twice, or even three times, You'll know that there is so much more to this than meets the eye.
In fact, a recent survey revealed that only about 10% of visitors to Rome actually see it for what it really is.
The rest are blown away by the labyrinthine roads and medieval buildings,
with little thought given to the Romans who once lived here
and what they left behind. Luckily, not everyone shares this view.
Those who have discovered its true beauty and history, as well as its secret, now seek to share it with others.
Here are 10 hidden gems in Rome you won't find in a tourist guide.
The Ancient Baths Of Rome
One of the first places a tourist would visit is the Baths of Rome, which were therefore a kind of forerunner to the city's tourism industry as we know it today.
They were used for bathing obviously, taking injuries, and for religious and ceremonial purposes.
Although the baths were used for many centuries and were a popular tourist attraction in their day, the Romans eventually decided to close them down and build the first Colosseum on their site.
So if you're looking for Baths, you won't find them anywhere near the Colosseum.
Instead, you'll need to head over to Palatine Hill, where they were once located.
The ruins of baths are now part of the Palatine ruins and can be visited, along with the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Vespasian, and the House of the Flavians.
The Staircase To Heaven
You may have heard the expression, "All roads lead to Rome," but it's still a very cool thing to explore and see for yourself.
The Roman Forum, as you may know, is the ancient marketplace where the Senate once sat and Caesar was assassinated.
There are tons of ruins there and a staircase that leads up to what was once the temple of Capitoline Jupiter.
Now, the stairway in question was actually built in the 17th century so that the Spanish nobles could ascend and descend with ease to their palazzos below.
However, given the context, it makes sense to visit the step and see why they're called "all roads."
Frescoes In A Church That Wasn't Built Yet
The Basilica of St. John in Lateran is an ancient piece of architecture that was once the baptismal font of ancient Rome.
It was built in the 4th century and is still an active church today.
An interesting thing to note about the church is that it's full of beautiful ancient frescoes.
The only problem is that they weren't actually painted until the 12th century!
The artist who painted them was a man named Romuald.
The frescoes are fascinating not only for their quality and creativity but also for the fact that it's believed Romuald used "stock" figures from other frescoes and painted over them to make them look like saints and other religious figures.
A Secret Doorway From Ancient Times
The Victor Emmanuel Monument is a beautiful feat of architecture and worth visiting in Rome.
It was built in the late 19th century to honor King Victor Emmanuel the 11th and sits on the site of an ancient Roman gate called the Porta del Popolo.
However, the gate was demolished in 1883 to make way for the monument, leaving a gap where the gate had once stood.
Many people were disappointed by this and sought to have the gate rebuilt.
The only problem was that the gate had been demolished centuries before, and there was little in the way of historical proof that it existed.
Luckily, archaeologists found a doorway in the foundations of the monument and realized that it was the ancient gate from which the monument had been built.
Proof That Women Were Taught Mathematics in Rome
The Roman Forum is yet another place in Rome that is full of hidden gems.
There are many ruins there, including the Temple of Romulus, the Temple of Vespasian, and the Temple of Concord.
However, an item located at the Temple of Concord is a true sign that women were not only appreciated but also taught math in ancient Rome.
This particular piece is a sundial and features on it the word "PUBLICA."
This word refers to the fact that the dial was dedicated to the Roman people.
There are also many other architectural items in Rome that are dedicated to the Roman people and feature the letters PUBLICA.
Tiny Room With An Even Smaller Window
The House of Sallust is another ancient Roman ruin that is definitely worth exploring whenever you are in Rome.
It was built in the 1st century by the great historian Sallust himself and was one of the largest private residences of the time.
The house does have a few modern additions, like a lift, water and electricity supply, and even a sewage system.
However, there are still lots of things about the House of Sallust that are worth visiting.
It was like a tiny room with an even smaller window that was likely to have been a toilet.
There's also a big Roman cistern nearby that was used to collect water from the rain.
A Musical Instrument From A Bygone Era
The Arch of Augustus is one of the oldest standing Roman monuments in the world and a great place to visit if you want to understand more about ancient Rome.
However, there's another thing at the Arch that is worth taking a look at.
What is believed to be the oldest surviving musical instrument in the world?
The instrument is a woodwind called a Barbiton, and it was likely played by the musicians who accompanied Augustus during his travels.
The interesting thing about this instrument is that it's not an actual instrument but a kind of hybrid made from a combination of different types of woodwind.
An Unusually Shaped Tower For Defense Purposes
The Torre delle Milizie is a tower that stands on the Tiber River and is a great example of Medieval architecture in Rome. Even though it was built in the 12th century to house a group of soldiers, it is not the tower itself that is interesting, but the fact that it leans.
The leaning tower is a phenomenon that has been studied in architecture and construction for decades.
Many buildings throughout the world have this learning problem, and there are many theories as to why they do so.
Others say that it happened naturally over time.
Whatever the case, Torre delle Milizie is a truly unique and fascinating sight to see.
Conclusion
You can see that Rome is the home of many interesting historical buildings and ruins ( and not just the Colosseum). Many of these buildings have been preserved and maintained over the years, allowing visitors to explore and learn about the culture of ancient Rome.
If you're planning a vacation to Italy and want to see as much as you can, then you should definitely add Rome to your itinerary.
You'll not only see plenty of famous landmarks but also amazing hidden gems in Rome that you won't find in a tourist guide.