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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Rome

134 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Rome, Italy

Updated January 9, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in Rome

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Rome

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NEW — Italian Food & Wine: Eating Regionally

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

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Explore Rome, Italy

Roman 34
Sacred Spaces 24
History & Culture 23
Ancient 21
Churches 20
Ruins 15
Statues 13
Relics And Reliquaries 11

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Stories About Rome

A detail from a third-century mosaic depicting two gladiators in combat from the House of Gladiators on Cyprus.

The Surprising Roots of Ancient Rome's Gladiator Fights

The quintessential Roman spectacle, originally a way to honor the dead, was not Roman in origin.
by Nicky Nielsen
Apicius doesn't specify decorating this dish with rose petals, but it adds a nice touch.

Make Ancient Roman Brain and Rose Soufflé

Somebody in the fifth century combined these ingredients into one recipe, and probably no one has since.
by Andrew Coletti
Jupiter riding an eagle in a detail of Caravaggio’s painting.

A Hidden Caravaggio Masterpiece, An Inheritance Feud, and a Roman Villa up for Sale

The future of a mysterious painting by the famed 17th-century "rebel artist" hangs in the balance.
by Monika Schmitter
One of the olive trees at Hadrian’s Villa dates back to the 13th century.

A Roman Emperor's Villa Is Now Producing Olive Oil

Hadrian's estate has trees found nowhere else on Earth.
by Vittoria Traverso
Pages with etchings from 16th-century cookery books.

The Roman Museum With a Taste for Historical Cookbooks

A former pâtissier's culinary collection is now available to the public.
by Eric Millman
Astronomer Gianluca Masi captured this image of the International Space Station passing directly over Rome's Colosseum.

A View of the Space Age From the Classical World

This mesmerizing image brings the International Space Station and Rome's ancient Colosseum together.
by Gemma Tarlach
An early inspiration for macabre banquets was a story about a hellish feast hosted by a Roman emperor.

Before Haunted Houses, There Were Hell Banquets

The macabre feasts have their roots in ancient Rome.
by Sam O'Brien

Podcast: The Capitoline Wolf

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
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Lists Featuring Rome

Inside the Golden House.
The Colosseum seen from the Ludus Magnus.
St. Francesca Romana

The 11 Most Interesting Places to Visit Near the Colosseum for Curious Travelers

11

Including Domus Aurea, Ludus Magnus, and Santa Francesca Romana

Crypt of the Three Skeletons.
Inside the Golden House.
Mithras slaying the bull - Context Travel
Vatican Necropolis.

10 Places to Explore the Dark Underbelly of Rome

St. Valentine's city isn't all roses and romance.

10

Including Santa Maria della Concezione Crypts, Domus Aurea, and The Mithraeum at Circus Maximus

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