How many parks do we have in Rome? Loads. Sometimes greener, sometimes more romantic, sometimes astonishing. Villa Latina might not be an amazing one: it’s far too small and far too isolated from the city center to be known, but it’s precisely for this reason that this park has something special to offer those who visit it.

This park unfolds along an old Roman road, the Via Latina, between the many Roman arteries of the past. It’s most probably one that dates back to the pre-Roman era. Nowadays you can just see two sections of the old Roman pavings and many ruins of ancient tombs, some in good condition, and others less well preserved.

The great feature of this park, aside from being generally pretty empty, and thus a perfect place to relax, is the wonderful atmosphere you can breathe in here.

Dozens of pine trees cover you from the sun and play for you a sweet melody, as the wind rustles their needles. Villa Latina is one of those places in Rome where you feel that the time has never passed, where the old Romans are still around, where you can forget the concept of time and immerse yourself in these infinite repeating breaths.

Take a good book with you, a pen and a paper to write, or just the patience to let yourself rise up again from the bustle of the city and take yourself back in this idyllic park.