Churches are a popular attraction for tourists and there are so many that it is almost impossible to see all of them in one visit. Of course there are the more popular ones and the Sistine Chapel, but there are also lesser known ones like this on in the piazzale of Ponte Milvio with great architecture from the early 1930′s. This chapel was requested by Pope Pius XI in 1931.

I like visiting Churches mainly for their art and architecture. Each church has a different story inside. Once you go inside this one, you will notice right in front of you a statue of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus and in front of the statue to your left Jesus on the Cross.

This Church is not a popular tourist attraction but it is worth it. Afterwards, you can go to one of the many bars that surround the area for either a cup of coffee or a glass of wine!

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Gran Madre di Dio | Art & culture | Free
Via Cassia 1 | Parioli & Flaminio
Open daily

Santa Sabina is one of my favorites, and not only because the name is so similar to mine!

The church itself is beautiful and just to touch a little bit on the history of the church; it was built in the fifth century to honor Saint Sabina and was ordered by the Priest Peter D’Illiria (which is also the name of the street), and her relics are found here and it is said that they protect the church. The church inside is quite big and the art inside is simple yet beautiful.

While up here, since it lies on a hill, you get a chance to overlook the city of Rome from the Church park. The view is amazing you get to see the dome of St. Peter and the surrounding areas near the Vatican-this view has a relaxing effect…at least on me it does, especially in the evenings and you see Rome all lit up!

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Santa Sabina | Art & culture | Free
Piazza Pietro d’Illiria | Appio Tuscolano | +390669886235
Daily

The Museo crocetti is the former house of the artist. VenanzoCrocetti is a 20th century artist born in 1913. He came to Rome in 1928, and lived there until his death. The mansion is divided in 3 stories.

Most of the spaces are dedicated to his work as painter and a sculptor. His work is very simple yet elegant, the same way the museum exposes the artwork. His sculptures are famous because they are done in bronze.

Inside the museum you will find about 90 sculptures in bronze and one in marble. They also exhibit other pieces, or paintings of other artists, changing them every month.

What I like about this museum is the crisp and minimalist feel to it. Also, the art is exhibited in a very simple way (you will for example notice the lack of creativity in the title of the pieces), yet the art is amazing and elegant.

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Museo Crocetti | Art & culture | Free
Via Cassia 492 | Cassia & Montemario | +390633711468
Oct – May Thu – Mon 10:00 – 17:00 | Jun – Sep 11:00 – 18:00 daily

This is one of Rome’s unknown gems because not many people know that the tower that is on the bridge is actually a small museum/art gallery.

You are able to see different types of arts and sometimes there are special events or a different variety of artists, but in the cases of events you may even find that every Sunday during a specific month you can enjoy wine tasting, not to mention the fantastic view from up there!

When I have visitors from out of the country or even the city I make sure to bring them here because it is such a surprise for people to know that the tower is also a museum. As a matter of fact, I actually recently went to a wine tasting event with a friend that has been living in Rome all her life and she did not know about it.

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Torretta Valadier | Art & culture | Free
Piazzale di Ponte Milvio | Parioli & Flaminio
11:30 – 20:00 daily

Il Papiro is a neat bookstore next to my house in the north area of Rome. I like to come here because they have a vast selection from the new bestsellers to any genre you can find.

I am an avid and fast reader so I like to come and check out the books and I always find something such as thrillers, mystery and real life stories, plus I like the feel I get when I enter the store it has a nice feel to it and very relaxed with bar stools in front of the registrar and in the back a nice little corner for children.

I also was able to buy different books for my ninety four old grandma who loves to read mystery novels and was also satisfied with the readings! The owners, which are brothers, are very friendly and helpful too if you cannot find what you are looking for they will go out of their way to get it.

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Il Papiro | Art & culture, Shopping | Mystery Novel Book € 9.40
Via Cassia 901/G | Cassia & Montemario | +390630316424
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 13:00 & 16:00 – 20:00

Piazza Navona is definitely my favorite piazza or square, during any time during the year. I love the people, the architecture and the art of the square making it the most beautiful place in Rome.

I love it during the winter and especially Christmas time since they have stands all over and carnival like games. But it does not lose its fascination during the rest of the year with one of the barmen always trying to persuade you for an iced tea or hot chocolate and the people that just stroll in the piazza admiring it.

I just had a friend visit me from the States and even though she is familiar with Piazza Navona, she is always in awe with the beauty, the architecture and the street art that you find. I find it interesting to see the city from a tourist point of view because when you live in a place you take a lot for granted.

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Piazza Navona | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Piazza Navona | City center
24 hours daily

The last thing you expect to find when you’re walking the Navona Square area is a non-Italian bookstore. But this is exactly what you see just a few steps away from Bernini Four River Fountain. I suspect they sell more Rome guides and postcards than actual books, but inside you will find Patrizia and Pablo, the two librarians who will kindly find the right book or present (they have a well varied selection of souvenir, paper products and small gifts) for you and, of course, will give you directions to get to your next tourist spot or a place where you can have a good meal.

While you’re inside, don’t forget to take a look at the variety of funny titled agendas in the tables near the cash register. You will surely find one with a humorous title that suits your lifestyle.

They also have available a part of Fabriano’s collection, one of the oldest and finest Italian paper makers, and a wide selection of postcards, but not with the views of ancient Rome, but ones with scenes of daily life in the Eternal City, done in a aesthetically rich point of view. They may be pricier than the regular kind, but nonetheless, worth it.

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Libreria Spagnola | Art & culture, Shopping | Average book price € 15
Piazza Navona, 90 | City center
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 21:00

Spending holidays in Rome makes one think of, doh, Roman Holiday, the film starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck that immortalized their image riding on a Vespa through the Eternal City. I even have one small poster of that scene in my office.

It wasn’t easy to get hold of it, but I found in the Libreria del Cinema, (roughly translated as Films’ Bookstore), a small space with bookshelves, DVDs and a restaurant-bar in the Trastevere neighborhood.

Almost anything about cinema can be found in here. Whether it is a poster like mine, or a rare director’s cut of an old film, books or original scripts you’re looking for, you will surely in the meantime find something interesting to look at or to take home. The guys in charge know a lot about the topic, so if you are in doubt, just ask them.

The place opens after lunch. In the wifi area of the bar it is possible to spend hours and hours reading or looking at their extended catalogue. Keep in mind that here you will not find about the latest chick flick or the romantic comedy of the year. Their idea of cinema is more about the artistic side, the work of extraordinary directors, or cult movies. They, however, do not offer popcorn. Enjoy!

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Libreria del Cinema | Art & culture, Cinemas, Relaxing | Dvd € 10
Via dei Fienaroli, 31 | Trastevere
Mon – Sat 14:00 – 21:00

Are you Protestant, Jewish, or Christian Orthodox? If so, and if you happened to die while visiting Rome in the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries, perhaps of ‘mal-aria’ in the summer months, chances are that you would be buried in the Cimitero Acattolico near Piramide, aka as the Protestant Cemetery.

Catholic law in fact used to prohibit any non-Catholic from being buried in Catholic churches or cemeteries. Given that there were growing numbers Danes, Germans, English, Americans, Russians and Swedes who came to visit, study or live in Rome during in the 1800′s, the Cimitero Acattolico became the designated area to bury these ‘stranieri’.

Now, it is the place where you can get away from it all while contemplating the graves of the Great. In what seems like a peaceful garden just meters away from the bustle of the Piramide area, you will find the tombs of Shelley, Keats, and Gramsci, to name the most famous of the many poets, historians, archaeologists, painters, sculptors, diplomats and intellectuals buried here. For a complete listing please visit the Cemetery’s website or the Cemetery’s Information Center.

In addition to Keats’ gravestone where you will be able to read the famous ‘here lies one whose name was writ in water’, a lovely gravestone is that of sculptor William Wetmore Story and his wife with the statue of the grieving angel.

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Cimitero Acattolico | Art & culture, Relaxing | Donation € 2.00
Via Caio Cestio 6 | Testaccio & Ostiense | +39065741900
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 17:00, Sun 09:00 – 13:00 (last entrance 16:30 & 12:30)

Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas, Uri Caine, Mark Turner, Joe Locke, Eddie Gomez. If you are a jazz lover, Rome’s Casa del Jazz is the place for you.

Inaugurated in 2005, by then mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni, this is now one of the best venues in Rome to get a chance to listen to world-renowned jazz musicians.

In the winter months, you can attend concerts in the indoors auditorium, cozy yet large enough to seat about 150 people. Great acoustics, great experience. In the summertime, concerts take place outdoors, al fresco, in the villa’s beautiful park close to the Aurelian Walls.

Many events are free while others cost only €10-15. Casa del Jazz also houses a restaurant and a bookstore. To get to it with public transportation you can either take bus 714 from Termini or get off at subway station Piramide on line B and walk a little.

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Casa del Jazz | Art & culture, Music | Concert from € 10
Viale di Porta Ardeatina 55 | Testaccio & Ostiense | +3906704731
Check website for opening times