Rome is a bustling, exciting and fascinating city to visit. Not only can you view spectacular roman ruins, the iconic Vatican City and more, there are some unique sites to head to on a visit to Rome, Italy.
These include the funky, Bohemian district of Trastevere, a place to come face to face with the dead, an unusual cat sanctuary, the place where an English poet died and a magnificent optical illusion.
Trastevere district, Rome, Italy
Trastevere is a bohemian and funky neighbourhood in Rome, located across the River Tiber. The district still clings to the centuries-old work-class roots in Rome. Its colourful buildings and winding streets reveal many innovative and traditional trattorias, as well as quaint artisan and boutique shops and craft beer pubs. Visit Piazza Santa Maria with its gilded, mosaic-adorned church or head to the Piazza di San Calisto with the locals.
Capuchin Crypt, Via Vittorio Veneto, 27, Rome, Italy
The Capuchin Crypt is not for everyone, but if you can handle coming face-to-face with the dead, it is pretty interesting. The crypt was created during the 17th century with its decor built from the remains of friars who died in the monastery. There are several small chapels including chandeliers crafted from bones and full skeletons posed in their robes. An ominous messages can be seen saying “As we are, soon you will be.” as well as, “As you are, we once were.” Cheerful!
Largo di Torre Argentina, Rome, Italy
Largo di Torre Argentina is a square in the city which houses the ruins of four Roman Republican temples and the ruined remains of Pompey’s Theatre. The square is also the spot where Julius Caesar was killed and is home to the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary which was created as a no-kill shelter for Rome’s homeless cats. There is also a nursery in one of the temples where cats can recover after sterilization.
Keats-Shelley Museum, Piazza di Spagna 26, Rome, Italy
The house is a museum and a memorial to the famed English poet, John Keats, who died here in Rome from tuberculosis at the age of 25. The room that once contained his death bed has been recreated and preserved as a shrine to the poet. The house is also a memorial to Percy Bysshe Shelley, a fellow poet who also had a connection with Rome. A library on-site contains more than 8,000 examples of Romantic literature.
Jesuit church of Saint Ignazio Dome of Illusion, Via del Caravita, 8, Rome, Italy
This church in the centre of Rome was supposed to feature a glorious dome, but money ran out in 1642, so the dome idea was scrapped. However, Jesuit brother and painter, Andrea Pozzo, came up with a life-sized optical illusion of a dome to fool visitors’ eyes. The magnificent painting, created between 1685 and 1694, still works today.
