You know what they say.."Rome more, worry less" ;) and this is exactly what we did (my hubby and I)…read morewhile staying in the Ostiense district when visiting Rome (Sept. 29,2023 - Oct. 4,2023) for the 1st time. We stayed at an Airbnb located on Via Del Porto Fluviale & just wanted to share a few helpful tidbits of the nearby sights - 1.) street art & murals - There are so many awesome murals painted on nearby buildings including the "Wall of Fame" by JB Rock, which is one of the most photographed street art in Ostiense. There are walking tours to see all of the murals/street art. The "Wall of Fame" mural is located behind Via Ostiense (see videos included in this review) 2.) Basilica of Saint Paul Outside The Walls (Basilica Papale di San Paola Fuori Le Mural) - Ancient basilica from 4th century, w/ the tomb of Saint Paul. This is a must-see basilica! (See pics in this review of this beautiful site) and it is free to visit 3.) Centrale Montemartini - Ancient sculpture museum located inside a former power plant...very budget friendly & away from the crowds (see pics included in this review) 4.) best gelato! - Gelateria La Romana - Via Ostiense This neighborhood felt safe at all times & was located very close to many restaurants & even the train station. To sum it up, would definitely recommend for others to stay in and/or visit the Ostiense Street Art District. Till next time, Rebecca visiting from Austin, Texas (United States)

I love finding little hidden spots in new cities; the things which you could so easily miss but are…read moreworth seeking out. So, on my last night in Rome, I made sure to pass by this street art on Via Galvani. It's striking, and if you're nearby, worth wandering over to see. Still, if you're staying farther out, make a day of it; there is lots to do in the Testaccio 'hood. I stayed there for the duration of my time in Rome and really loved the area. The MACRO Museum of Contemporary Art is really nearby if you're feeling hungry for more creativity, and local hotspot Porto Fluviale is a great place to eat and drink. Awesome!

This is a MUST do when in Rome!!! I am so blessed I got to see this with my own eyes!!…read more I love anything and everything historic, especially when no tour is needed and you can just walk at your own pace yourself and take it all in. This is located near the Colosseum The Forum of Caesar, also known by the Latin Forum Iulium or Forum Julium, Forum Caesaris, was a forum built by Julius Caesar near the Forum Romanum in Rome in 46 BC

Located next to the Colosseum in the Rione Campitelli district, between the Palatine Hill and…read moreCapitoline Hill. The Roman Forum used to be the political, religious and social center of Ancient Rome. No tour is needed, you can see everything by yourself just by walking..

A huge building with rectangular architecture, framed in floor to ceiling colonnade around the…read moreperimeter, surrounded by the sparkling fountains. It has extremely spacious insides, ample foyer space with natural light, large marble staircase, and Carrara marble floors. Salone delle Fontane is basically a modern conference center with modular interchangeable spaces suitable for all sorts of large functions. Many conferences, exhibitions, craft beer festivals, roadshows, business meetings and conventions, holiday celebrations, parties, and other events are held here at Salone delle Fontane at Via Ciro il Grande.

The unique neighborhood was established in 1920 as part of a planned community to house the workers…read morewho flocked to the capital for jobs in the nearby industrial Ostiense area. You are only a 15-minute ride from Rome's Termini train station. What makes Garbatella so intriguing is its distinctive design This area was modeled on the garden city suburbs that were popular in England in the early 20th century. As a result, they have a unique style of architecture (faux-baroque and Rationalism) and sense of community. Being close to the University of Rome, the area is now inhabited by many students. Garbatella has grown into one of Rome's culture centers, with art, architecture, authentic Roman cuisine, and great live concerts. It is a great neighborhood to explore. Do not miss the Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura, the Centrale Montemartini Museum, and the Ponte Settimia Spezzichino.

The street shrines (edicole sacre), which one sees throughout the heart of Rome, are known locally…read moreas madonnelle. The shrines are most commonly situated at street corners, and, as their name suggests, they mostly depict the Madonna, with or without her Son.  Of the thousands of street shrines that once existed in Rome, only five hundred or so remain. They are part of what makes the Eternal City a plein-air, or open-air, museum. Many date back to the Renaissance or Baroque periods, reflecting Rome's deep Catholic heritage. While my partner, our friends, family members, and I were on our golf cart tour last September, we spotted this beautiful Madonnelle around Ponte Sant'Angelo. They can be found throughout Italy, decorating Italian cities, villages, and towns alike.

The Ponte Sant'Angelo, or St. Angelo Bridge, is a historic and stunning bridge that crosses the…read moreTiber River in Rome. I first saw it when we were in Rome recently and was amazed by its beauty. The bridge was completed around 134 AD by Emperor Hadrian and was originally called the Pons Aelius. It connected the city center to Hadrian's new mausoleum, now known as Castel Sant'Angelo. During the Middle Ages, it became the main route for pilgrims traveling to St. Peter's Basilica. The bridge's current appearance is due to renovations in the 17th century. Pope Clement IX asked the famous sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his students to add ten beautiful marble statues of angels holding symbols of Christ's Passion to the bridge. Today, visitors like myself admire the bridge's artistic beauty and historic link to Castel Sant'Angelo.

Worthwhile aside during one of your strolls across the Eternal City. The island is easy to reach…read moreand not too far out of the way. It is best added to an existing planned route.

Isola Tiberina is the world's smallest inhabited island-- to get there, you'll cross Rome's oldest…read moreoriginal bridge, not far from Capitoline Hill. The island, while cute to stroll around, is also home to a tenth-century basilica, fully operational hospital and annual film fest that will have any modern movie junkie totally enamored. Excellent pasta and you absolutely must try the Basil gelato at Tiberino restaurant!

if you love italian cinema, this is a great place to hit…read more Many years ago I went to Cinecitta from the Colosseum by rail. I got off the train and before long I found a sidewalk with Anna Magnani's star on it. I zoomed off, but It took me a while to find the front gate as I ended up walking around the parameter of Cinecitta. When I got to the gate I asked if there was a tour, but no one understood what I meant. I was eventually helped by an English speaking employee, and she was able to translate what I meant when I asked if they had a tour, "like they have at Universal Studios." No such tour existed, and we all had a laugh when they were told what Universal Studios's tour was like. I am harpy to say that the tour now exists, and that it is amazing. It is thankfully not like Universal Studios, by the way. Be prepared to walk. And enjoy all of the sets from the great Italian cinema.

There are times when I love children and times when I dislike them. Coming to Cinecittà on a day…read morewhen the tour group was full of children brought me to the latter. Please, for the sake of goodness and truth, leave your frantic kids at the arcade or mall or with your local fruittivendolo if they are easily bored and prefer to jump around things and run around people. But I digress. A visit to Cinecittà is a MUST for anyone who loves film. I happen to be completely obsessed with film (more so than music, surprisingly), so I found Rome's premier movie studio thoroughly enchanting, passionate and even romantic. The sets for 'Gangs of New York,' a film I love from one of my favorite directors of all time, and the multi-million dollar recreation of Ancient Rome for HBO's 'Rome' were definite highlights of this trip. Then there's the famous balcony from 'Romeo and Juliet' that warmed our hears like few architectural structures could. The exhibition Cinecittà Si Mostra (Cinecittà Shows Off) was quite brilliant as well, though I wouldn't come here just for that. With music and lighting effects, lots of props and first-hand accounts from actors and directors, it's an exhibit full of movie history. The only downside (besides the children, if they should be there) is that the tour is only in Italian, making it difficult for foreigners to follow along, and you cannot visit the sets without participating in a guided tour. Even if you don't understand the language, you can still follow along ('Gangs of New York' in italiano e' anche 'Gangs of New York' - cosi' conveniente). I would recommend that everyone opt for the tour (show your Metro ticket for two euros off). It was film that inspired me to change careers, fall in love and live life to its fullest. This is where so much of it is made.

Rome's Tempio di Adriano, or as it is known in English, the Temple of Hadrian (Hadrianeum), is one…read moreof the city's lesser-known attractions, it's a similar building to the Pantheon, which is located nearby but also far less busy. It dates back to the Roman era, with the building dedicated to Emperor Hadrian after previously being known as Basilica of Neptune before Hadrian's adopted son and successor, Antoninus Pius, dedicated to him. It is located in the Piazza di Pietra. Nowadays, it is home to the Rome Chamber of Commerce. There is free entry for tourists to sit down and watch a quick video and explore the rooms of the building, there also appear to be some ticketed events too. The craft of the pillars and columns both on the inside and outside of the building is truly impressive, and the Roman structure which stands to this day adds further beauty to the eternal city. The employees seemed happy to let tourists sit down inside without being too pushy or bothersome, and the atmosphere inside was nice, being able to sit and watch the free video. The layout could have been easier to follow when inside, but this wasn't too much of an issue as most tourists will only be using the main dome anyway. 4* - Certainly not the most essential and must-do activity while in Rome, but certainly worth spending some time here, especially on a longer stay in the city, and the central location right by the Pantheon means you won't have to detour to visit.

As we were just wandering about Rome for a day, we happened across this place by accident! Located…read morein the Piazza di Pietra, the surviving wall of the Temple of Hadrian is now actually built into a Borsa bank! lol You can't actually walk into this structure (at least not this side, anyways), but to see those beautiful columns is still pretty cool! Did a little googling and it looks like it has been standing since 145 A.D.! It was cool to take it in for a few and snag some pics, but do be careful of some of the scam artists in the area. There were people set up at a small folding table right in front seeking signatures for "troubled children". I almost got lured in to this thing. I told them I'm sure I can't sign since I m a tourist and not a citizen. "No, no.", they said. "We just need any signatures." Once you go to the table to sign, they ask how much your donation will be. I don't think so. I donate often to plenty of people and organizations in several countries, but I refuse to do so under false pretenses. They actually pulled out a credit card machine (yea, right!) to make it more "convenient". I don't think so. Anyways, back to the Wall of Columns. Very cool. Very classic. Very Ancient Rome. 4 stars.