Aventino Testaccio
The Aventino and Testaccio neighbourhoods are in the south of the capital city of Italy, far from the hustle and bustle of the busy old quarter and main tourist attractions. Head there to enjoy a more intimate, unique side to Rome and get a feel for the local spirit. Find the city’s essence amidst the stately homes and impressive gardens of Aventino and in the trattorias, markets and nightclubs of Testaccio. Both districts will put you touch with another side to the city, far removed from the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain.
Whilst it is far from the heart of the city next to the Tiber River and the Circus Maximus, Aventino is still popular with visitors and many people go there to walk along Via di Santa Sabina and peer through the keyhole in the palace. It is the most famous of all the palaces in Rome because of the magical views of Michelangelo’s dome that it affords. It is worth taking the time to observe the Basilica of St. Sabina and stepping into Orange Tree Garden, particularly as the sun goes down. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy the city from the unique vantage point on top of the southern-most of the seven hills that formed the geography of Ancient Rome.
The Caracalla baths are another of the most popular parts of Aventino. They were built between 212 and 217 A.D. to honour the emperor. Despite the fact that they are in ruins, they are still very impressive and you will be amazed by the magnitude of the arches and the beauty of the mosaics that pay homage to the splendour of the capital city of the Roman Empire.
Testaccio, on the other hand, is renowned for its nightlife but you can’t deny that it is also a great place to feel the real soul of the local neighbourhoods. Some of the best places are the Nuovo Mercato di Testaccio, a market where you can buy everything from fresh pasta to barrels of wine, bouquets of flowers and local crafts. The best thing about it, though, is that there are more locals than tourists.
There is a hill in Testaccio, too, although this one is artificial. It’s called Monte dei Cocci and it was the result of dumped fragments of oil amphoras. Shockingly, the waste ended up forming a hill that is 20,000 m2 in size and 35 metres high.
However, the most iconic monument in the neighbourhood is, without a doubt, the pyramid that’s right next to Via Raffaele Persichetti. It was built between 18 and 12 B.C. as a tomb for magistrate Caius Cestius. The Egyptian influence in the design is clear and it is a rather exotic feature in the midst of modern city life. The protestant cemetery is right next to it. If you are a lover of English poetry, then you really should stop off and visit the graves of two of its leading poets – Keats and Shelley.