The Art of the Eternal City: 7 Ways to Avoid the Tourists and Enjoy Rome's Artistic Heritage

Rome is more than just a cheap holiday destination. The Italian capital is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is brimming with world-renowned landmarks like the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. 

As a location that sees plenty of sunshine and very little rainfall all year round, the city is perfect for exploring on foot, and a free walking tour of Rome can help to uncover many of the capital’s most beautiful sights. 

With as many as 32 million visitors expected to arrive in Rome in 2025 due to the city’s Jubilee celebrations in connection with its deep Catholic roots and the nearby Vatican City, the capital will be as popular as ever among tourists. 

Rome’s popularity this year may also mean that Scousers can be richly rewarded for heading off the beaten path to enjoy Rome’s artistic heritage away from the crowds. With this in mind, let’s take a look at seven of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of the Eternal City in 2025: 

1. Camere di Sant'Ignazio

Located in the heart of the city, Camere di Sant'Ignazio is a beautiful space that forms a loving tribute to the life and visions of Saint Ignatius. 

Located next to the Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola, the Camere di Sant'Ignazio is adorned with three-dimensional images that can create the illusion that you’re in an expansive space that gives the impression that it can go on forever. 

The space is rarely visited by tourists, helping you to feel one with the art within. With free entry, the Camere di Sant'Ignazio is an ideal place to include on any itinerary in Rome. 

2. Museo di Roma

Another hidden gem, this time in Trastevere, is the Museo di Roma, a museum that’s dedicated to the Eternal City and depicts the daily lives of residents throughout history with paintings, photos, and accounts of folk traditions. 

The beauty of Museo di Roma is that it allows you to really immerse yourself in the city’s culture, from its ancient rituals to festivals and long-lost communities. With the Museo di Roma, you can finally do as the Romans do. 

3. Pyramid of Gaius Cestius

You don’t have to travel to Egypt to see pyramids, and the Pyramid of Gaius Cestius, known locally as the Piramide di Caio Cestio, is an amazing feat of architecture and a fitting resting place for local magistrate and religious figure Gaius Cestius. 

Constructed between 18 and 12 BC, the 2,000-year-old structure is an unmissable sight in the city and even has its own metro station at Piramide. 

The Pyramid of Gaius Cestius is located on the edge of Rome’s Non-Catholic Cemetery, which is home to the final resting place of John Keats, Mary Shelley, and Antonio Gramsci. 

4. Teatro Marcello

You could be forgiven for mistaking Teatro Marcello for the Colosseum at first sight, but it was once home to a 20,000-seat amphitheater completed in 12 BC. 

The location has undergone plenty of transformations over the years and was once a 16th-century palazzo, and now it also contains luxury apartments. 

Teatro Marcello doesn’t gain the level of attention that other ancient Roman architecture enjoy, but that only paves the way for a pleasant and tranquil experience as you stroll along the ruins in the grounds of the building. As a free-to-visit site, there aren’t many better examples of Roman structures in the city. 

5. The Tomb of Cecilia Metella

Daughter of a Roman Consul and daughter-in-law to Roman general Marcus Crassus, Cecilia Metella was a popular figure in ancient Rome. So much so that when she died, her wealthy relatives built a grand tomb to honour her memory. 

The Tomb of Cecilia Metella was so expansive that it was later used as a fortress, and still stands today as an excellent piece of historical architecture that captures the essence of ancient Rome. 

Inside, the tomb is divided into upper and lower corridors, the west compartment, and the iconic cella, which takes the form of a tall circular shaft that provides the structure with plenty of character. 

Built during the reign of Augustus, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella is a monument that deserves to be included in any itinerary. 

6. Street Art in Pigneto

Rome’s answer to the Baltic Triangle, Pigneto is one of the capital’s most hip and vibrant neighborhoods, adorned with restaurants, drinking spots, and plenty of alluring street art. 

If you’re looking for a taste of Rome’s counterculture, Pigneto is a popular spot among students and Rome’s LGBTQ+ communities and forms the soul of the modern city. 

Its main road, Via del Pigneto, is an arty hub with murals, cafes, bookshops, and vintage stores that offer the perfect venue for an afternoon stroll. 

7. Mostra di Leonardo

Another museum that celebrates the art of one of Rome’s most famous residents is the Mostra di Leonardo. Dedicated to the work of Leonardo da Vinci, the museum showcases the creations of history’s most inventive minds. 

Located in Piazza della Cancelleria, Mostra di Leonardo features 200 designed machines, 65 working models, nine animated holograms, and seven thematic showcases. 

Finding the Best of Rome

The city may be one of the world’s best-loved capitals, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy Rome without having to endure the tourist traps. 

At its best, the Eternal City is a place to enjoy the finest art and architecture of the past 2,000 years. It’s a low-cost city break that deserves to be enjoyed.