Rome, Districts Beyond the Historic Center: what to see and complete itinerary

📌 All the stops summarized here are structured in the Itinerary Table 📊 with days, opening hours, prices, and Wikipedia 🌐 and Google Maps insights.

Day 1

⬇️ starting point

X. Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana

The itinerary begins at the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, also known as the “Square Colosseum”, one of the most iconic buildings in the EUR district. This masterpiece of Rationalist architecture reflects the modern face of Rome and stands as one of the most recognizable symbols of the contemporary city.

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A. Museo delle Civiltà

The visit continues to the Museo delle Civiltà, a large museum complex dedicated to the cultures, arts, and traditions of the world. It houses important collections from different historical periods and geographical regions:

• Museo Preistorico Etnografico “L. Pigorini”: displays archaeological finds and evidence of prehistoric and ethnographic cultures.
• Museo Nazionale d’Arte Orientale “G. Tucci”: features artworks and artifacts dedicated to Asian and Eastern civilizations.
• Museo delle Arti e Tradizioni Popolari “L. Loria”: preserves objects and testimonies related to Italian folk culture.
• Museo Nazionale dell’Alto Medioevo “A. Vaccaro”: showcases artworks and archaeological finds from the Early Middle Ages.
• Piazza Guglielmo Marconi and its obelisk complete the visit to the monumental EUR district.

✨ A journey through distant cultures and diverse traditions, where prehistoric artifacts, Eastern art, and folk heritage reveal the extraordinary diversity of human civilizations.

❌ Allow approximately 150 minutes to visit the different sections of the Museo delle Civiltà; a shorter stop will only allow for a partial visit of the complex.

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B. Museo della Civiltà Romana

The EUR complex also includes the Museo della Civiltà Romana, a museum dedicated to the history, art, and daily life of Ancient Rome, renowned for its extensive collection of reconstructions, scale models, and replicas that illustrate the city’s evolution through the centuries.

In the same area, you will also find the Planetario di Roma, an immersive experience among stars, planets, and galaxies, where you can explore the universe as if it were just a few steps away.

📌 The Museo della Civiltà Romana is currently closed. Please check for updates on its reopening before your visit.

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C. Abbazia delle Tre Fontane

The itinerary concludes with a visit to the Abbazia delle Tre Fontane, a (National Monument) of great historical and religious significance. The complex includes three important historic churches:

• Chiesa dei Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio: one of the oldest churches in the complex, preserving an intimate atmosphere and bearing witness to the abbey’s long spiritual history.
• Chiesa di Santa Maria Scala Coeli: an evocative underground church associated with Christian tradition and the cult of the martyrs, distinguished by its particularly peaceful atmosphere.
• Chiesa di San Paolo alle Tre Fontane: according to tradition, it stands on the site of Saint Paul’s martyrdom, where three springs are said to have emerged at the moment of the Apostle’s beheading.

✨ The Abbazia delle Tre Fontane is a peaceful corner of silence and spirituality hidden within the EUR district, where history, nature, and religion come together to offer a surprising escape from the bustle of the city.

Day 2

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D. Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

One of the four papal basilicas, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (UNESCO World Heritage) is well worth a visit for its impressive scale and extraordinary artistic heritage. Entering through the monumental quadriportico, with the statue of Saint Paul at its center and the colonnade surrounding the basilica, leads you into a place of remarkable beauty. Inside, you can admire the magnificent mosaics, visit the Pinacoteca with its works of art, and explore the archaeological area containing the remains of the original basilica.

✨ Walking into the quadriportico of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls means entering one of the most evocative spaces of Christian Rome, where the colonnade, mosaics, and monumental architecture create a truly unique atmosphere.

❌ A complete visit requires more time than exploring the basilica alone: allow extra time for the quadriportico, the Pinacoteca, and the archaeological area.

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E. Abbazia di San Paolo Fuori le Mura

Visit the Abbazia di San Paolo and its magnificent medieval cloister, as well as the Monastic Garden and the Necropoli di San Paolo, which tell the story of the site and its Early Christian origins.

📌 The Monastic Garden can be visited upon request, while access to the Necropoli di San Paolo requires advance booking. You can find the phone numbers in the respective Google Maps listings accessible through the links in the table.

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F. Centrale Montemartini – 2nd Capitoline Museums Venue

Continue to Centrale Montemartini, a one-of-a-kind museum where sculptures from ancient Rome stand alongside turbines, engines, and machinery from a historic power station. This extraordinary contrast between classical archaeology and industrial archaeology creates one of the most original museum displays in the capital.

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G. Acquedotto Alessandrino

Continuing the route, you will reach the Acquedotto Alessandrino, built by Emperor Alexander Severus in the 3rd century. It is a remarkable testament to the engineering brilliance of the ancient Romans.

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H. Catacombe dei Santi Marcellino e Pietro

The Catacombs of Santi Marcellino e Pietro are another Early Christian site, featuring well-preserved frescoes and ancient sarcophagi. Nearby stands the Mausoleo di Elena, dedicated to the mother of Emperor Constantine.

✨ Descending into the underground catacombs means entering a hidden Rome, among ancient galleries, Early Christian frescoes, and the remains of the first Christian community.

📌 Visits to the Catacombe dei Santi Marcellino e Pietro and the Mausoleo di Elena require advance booking. You can find the phone number in the Google Maps listing accessible through the link in the table.

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I. Basilica Sotterranea di Porta Maggiore

End the afternoon with a visit to the fascinating Basilica Sotterranea di Porta Maggiore and the Sepolcro di Eurisace, one of Rome’s most mysterious archaeological sites. Discovered by chance in the 20th century, this underground monument preserves refined decorative elements and reveals a lesser-known chapter in the city’s history.

📌 The Basilica Sotterranea di Porta Maggiore can be visited upon request. You can find the phone number in the Google Maps listing accessible through the link in the table.

📌 All the stops summarized here are structured in the Itinerary Table 📊 with days, opening hours, prices, and Wikipedia 🌐 and Google Maps insights.

Day 1

⬇️ starting point

X. Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura

The day begins with the Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, one of the seven churches of the Roman pilgrimage and among the oldest religious buildings in the city. Built on the burial site of San Lorenzo, it preserves precious medieval mosaics, an elegant cloister and numerous testimonies of the Christian history of Rome.

Next to the basilica is the Catacomba Ciriaca, an important early Christian funerary complex that preserves ancient burials and tells the story of the origins of the Roman Christian community.

📌 The Catacomba Ciriaca can be visited upon request. You will find the telephone number in the Google Maps listing accessible through the link in the table.

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A. Chiesa di Santa Maria Immacolata

Continue towards the Chiesa di Santa Maria Immacolata dei Cappuccini, one of the most unusual places in Rome. In addition to the church, you can visit the Museo dei Frati Cappuccini, which tells the history of the order through works of art, documents and liturgical objects.

The most famous attraction is undoubtedly the Cripta dei Frati Cappuccini, decorated with the bones of thousands of religious figures according to a symbolism that invites visitors to reflect on the fleeting nature of life.

✨ Entering the Cripta dei Frati Cappuccini is an experience that is difficult to forget: a unique place in the world, capable of surprising and inspiring reflection at the same time.

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B. Musei di Villa Torlonia

The visit continues at the Musei di Villa Torlonia, one of the most fascinating museum complexes in the capital, set within an elegant historic park. The villa’s buildings house art collections, original architectural features and historical testimonies from the 20th century, offering a rich and varied itinerary.

During the visit you can discover:

• Casina delle Civette, decorated with magnificent artistic stained-glass windows;
• Serra Moresca, with its unique architectural elements;
• Teatro di Villa Torlonia and the Catacombe di Villa Torlonia;
• Rifugio antiaereo di Mussolini, which illustrates the historical period of the Second World War.

📌 A visit to the Musei di Villa Torlonia requires a reservation. You will find the telephone number in the Google Maps listing accessible through the link in the table.

📌 Teatro di Villa Torlonia, Catacombe di Villa Torlonia and Rifugio antiaereo di Mussolini can be visited upon request. You will find the telephone number in the Google Maps listing of the Musei di Villa Torlonia accessible through the link in the table.

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C. MACRO Roma

End the day at the MACRO – Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Roma, one of the main spaces dedicated to contemporary art in the capital. Housed in a modern design building created from the former Birra Peroni factory, the museum features installations, photography, multimedia artworks and temporary exhibitions by Italian and international artists.

✨ Every visit to the MACRO is different from the previous one: exhibitions and installations change regularly, always offering new ideas and perspectives on contemporary art.

Day 2

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D. Museo Storico dei Bersaglieri

The second day of the visit starts at the Museo Storico dei Bersaglieri, located next to Porta Pia, one of the symbolic places of the Italian Risorgimento. The museum retraces the history of the famous military corps through uniforms, weapons, memorabilia, photographs and historical documents.

Outside, you can also admire the Monumento al Bersagliere, dedicated to the courage and sacrifice of Italian soldiers.

📌 The Museo Storico dei Bersaglieri can be visited upon request. You will find the telephone number in the Google Maps listing accessible through the link in the table.

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E. Museo “Hendrik C. Andersen”

Continue towards the Museo Hendrik C. Andersen, housed in the residence of the Norwegian-American artist. The museum preserves monumental sculptures, paintings, photographs and architectural projects that tell the artistic vision of Andersen and his ambitious project of a “World City”, conceived as a symbol of art, culture and international cooperation.

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F. MAXXI Roma

The MAXXI – Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo is one of the main Italian museums dedicated to contemporary art. Designed by the architect Zaha Hadid, the building is considered a masterpiece of modern architecture thanks to its fluid lines and large exhibition spaces. Inside, you can admire permanent and temporary exhibitions dedicated to art, architecture, photography and design, featuring works by Italian and international artists.

✨ The futuristic lines designed by Zaha Hadid transform the museum itself into a work of art: it is worth visiting even before entering the exhibition halls.

❌ If you have little time, focus on the exhibitions that interest you most: a complete visit may take more hours than expected.

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G. Catacombe di Priscilla

The Catacombe di Priscilla represent one of the most important early Christian funerary complexes in Rome. Along the underground galleries, you can observe ancient frescoes, burials and testimonies of the first Christian communities, including the famous depiction of the Madonna con Bambino, considered one of the oldest known representations.

Not far away extends Villa Ada Savoia, one of the largest public parks in the city, ideal for enjoying a walk surrounded by greenery.

📌 A visit to the Catacombe di Priscilla requires a reservation. You will find the telephone number in the Google Maps listing accessible through the link in the table.

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H. Museo della Zecca di Roma

The Museo della Zecca di Roma allows visitors to discover the history of Italian coin production through ancient machinery, minting tools, medals and a rich collection of historical and modern coins. The visit offers an interesting journey dedicated to the evolution of manufacturing techniques and engraving art over the centuries.

📌 The Museo della Zecca di Roma can be visited upon request. You will find the telephone number in the Google Maps listing accessible through the link in the table.

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I. Basilica di Sant’Agnese fuori le mura

End the day at the Basilica di Sant’Agnese fuori le mura, built on the site where, according to tradition, the young martyr Sant’Agnese was buried. The basilica preserves precious medieval mosaics and a peaceful atmosphere that makes it one of the most evocative churches in Rome. Next to it stands the Mausoleo di Santa Costanza, famous for its circular plan and the splendid early Christian mosaics that decorate its interior.

✨ The tranquillity of the basilica and the beauty of the nearby Mausoleo di Santa Costanza offer one of the most authentic and intimate corners of Christian Rome.