When visiting a cultural and historic hub such as Rome, it’s easy to fall into the old tourist trap. Here, Splendia’s Rome expert Alberto Mezzani guides you through some of the city’s hidden treasures.

¨With a mythic history spanning over two thousand years, Rome offers as many historical and cultural attractions as any place on earth. When visiting the Eternal City, there are more than a few ‘must sees’: the famous Coliseum, the ruins at the Roman Forum, the daunting Vatican Museums, Raphael’s tomb at the Pantheon, the massive St. Peter’s Basilica and the jewel that is the Galleria Borghese. What people forget is that there’s more to Rome than the Spanish steps and Michelangelo’s masterpiece…

Here are some ideas to get away from the usual tourist routine:

Villa Borghese may be one of Rome’s most popular destinations for locals during the warm summer months, but not many visitors know about the giant hot air balloon located here! One of the largest in the world, this offbeat attraction allows you and 29 of your closest friends to rise 150 metres into the sky for some of the best views you can get of Rome.

Beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini on the Via Veneto, this morbid attraction (image above) consists of bones from over 4,000 French monks who are said to have fled their home country for the safety of Rome during the French Revolution. The bones can now be found decorating the walls of the church’s many chapels in intricate patterns, such as crosses, flowers, arches and other happy shapes. 

Rome’s Municipal Rose Garden contains over 1,000 varieties of roses from over 20 different countries, including the green-petaled Chinensis Virdiflora and the foul-smelling Rosa Foetida. Open only during May and June, a trip to the Rose Gardens is an appropriate end to a busy and tiring day visiting the city’s main attractions.

Finally, one of Rome’s oddest attractions – if you look through the keyhole of the Priorato di Malta, in the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, you’ll see a perfectly framed view of the dome of San Pietro, an effect apparently planned by the architect of the surrounding building. Perfect for a romantic evening!¨

To see Splendia’s selection of Luxury & Character Hotels in Rome, click here.