12 Unusual things to do in Rome you need to know

When you hear the word Rome, the first image that comes to your mind is a famous postcard-worthy sight, such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and of course, St. Peter’s Basilica.

And hey, those iconic attractions are lifelong must-sees for a damn good reason. Ain’t no way you’ll regret having them on your bucket list!

However, I’ve got a little secret for you…

Unusual Things To Do In Rome

Rome holds some secret really beautiful places which are just waiting to be discovered by those who are willing to go beyond the ordinary traveler.

Can you imagine being in the streets and being in the presence of one of the Roman “Statue Parlanti” (Talking Statues) without knowing it?

These figures were created by the locals and served the purpose of voicing their complains about the government in anonymity.

How cool is that?

And get this – there are all sorts of mysterious, little-known artworks scattered throughout the city, hiding in plain sight. 

I’m getting excited just thinking about being your guide on an adventure to uncover Rome’s unusual treasures!

We’ll veer off those typical tourist paths and really immerse ourselves in the magic and mysteries of this place.

Every corner has a fascinating story to tell, my friend. 

So what do you say?

Are you ready to experience the secret, enchanting side of the eternal city?

I guarantee you’ll be captivated by the surprises awaiting you there.

It’ll be like getting access to the hidden heart of Rome itself!

Let’s go explore.

More Travel info:
How to Visit Rome in 3 Days!
How to plan a trip to Italy
When is the best Time to visit Italy
How To Travel by Train in Italy

Experience the Piccola Londra (Little London)

I’ll kick off this post on unusual things to do in Rome with “La Piccola Londra” (Little London) – but not because I think it’s a must-see.

Quite the opposite, actually.

I was intrigued by posts from influencers on Instagram hyping up this neighborhood in the Flaminio district as a place where you feel transported straight to London!

They claimed it’s such a charming area that somehow blends British elegance with classic Italian flair.

The streets are lined with all these buildings done up in a totally London style.

And that you’ll love the balustrade wrought-iron balconies, the sash windows, and you’ll find here fantastic architectural details that just remind you of the Victorian era.

Well, let me tell you, I was disappointed.

It’s a private residential neighborhood, so you can’t even really take pictures or videos of the English-style houses up close.

If you happen to be in the area already and want to sneak a peek, sure, go for it. But if you have to cross half of Rome just to come see “La Piccola Londra” (Little London)?

Not worth the trek.

Unusual things to do in Rome: Bar Canova Tadolini

I recommend instead visiting this amazing little place in Rome, which I discovered by a sheer chance on my last visit, and I fell in love with it completely.

It is called “Bar Canova Tadolini” and, trust me, it is like stepping into a time machine that lets you travel right to the core of Italian art and culture.

In the olden days, this was the very same workspace of two marvelously gifted sculptors – Antonio Canova and Adamo Tadolini.

Can you imagine?

These headmasters of their craft, remodeling the marble right next to where you can now drink espresso or taste a wine glass.

It’s mind-blowing!

When you get in, you are immediately absorbed by their works of art.

Sculptures, sketches, the works.

It’s as if your own personal museum comes to life, but snugger and more welcoming.

The feeling is just so welcoming and classy; definitely the kind of place where you can linger over a light lunch or have a drink with friends during the aperitivo.

However, the most amazing thing about it is that the venue is in an absolutely fantastic place.

Bar Canova Tadolini is delightfully set on the picturesque Via del Babuino street, right next to the popular Piazza del Popolo.

This way, you can spend a whole day exploring the area’s attractions, and then treat yourself with a break at this artistic paradise.

Unusual things to do in Rome: Palazzo Zuccari

Palazzo Zuccari, in the quaint Rione Ludovisi (the “Monster House”), is just as crazy on its outward appearance.

The facade has scary masks and monsters, and everything in between.

It’s almost too surreal to be real, but in the coolest dream ever way.

Step inside and you will get the same feeling as entering an art gallery that’s just as unique and untraditional as the palace.

The gallery is a host to contemporary artists, so the next time you visit you might be amazed at encountering some avant-garde masterpieces.

It stands for the perfect environment where you can release your creative talent and be fully involved in the avant-garde of Roman art.

But to be really honest, Palazzo Zuccari is like one of those places where you just have to be there yourself to fully appreciate.

It’s unique, it’s mesmerizing, and it’s an undeniable proof of how Italians tend to make the most of their art and architecture.

Oh, and if you need the address, it is Via Gregoriana, 28, 00187 Rome.

Chiesa del Gesù: Baroque Splendor

Alright, get ready for one of the coolest things you’ll see in Rome!

Over at the Chiesa del Gesù (Jesus Church,) they’ve got this wild contraption called the “Macchina Barocca” (Baroque Machine) that’s straight out of an Indiana Jones movie.

Every afternoon around 5:30pm, the high altar area turns into a full-on theater show.

There’s this massive painting up front, but then…boom!

With a system of pulleys and curtains that move like magic, the painting dramatically reveals a statue of St. Ignatius himself!

It’s like the church is putting on its own little spectacle just for you.

One second there’s a painting, the next a sculpture appears out of nowhere.

The whole experience just oozes that classic Baroque flair for drama and dazzling visual effects.

Can you imagine being in one of the first crowds to witness this crazy machine back in the day?

It must have totally blown people’s minds!

Even modern visitors can’t help but be awestruck as the statue emerges from behind the canvas.

If you’re in Rome, catching the Baroque Machine in action is an absolute must. Head over to the Gesù Church at Piazza del Gesù in the late afternoon and get ready for jaws to drop.

It’s Baroque art and engineering at its absolute wildest!

Galleria Spada: An Optical Illusion

Art and architecture nerds out there – this one’s for you!

I’m talking about the totally trippy Borromini Gallery tucked away in Rome’s Piazza Navona neighborhood.

Did someone say “hidden gem”? 

So this unassuming little contemporary art gallery is housed inside an actual 17th century palace designed by the one and only Francesco Borromini.

If that name doesn’t ring a bell, just think of him as the Baroque period’s Willy Wonka of weird architecture.

The guy was obsessed with playing crazy mind games through his buildings.

The facade is all ornate columns and geometry that hints at Borromini’s creative brilliance.

But nothing – and I mean nothing – could have prepared me for the perspective gallery inside.

Just wait until you see this thing.

There’s a hallway that seems to stretch on forever into the distance.

Like, an impossibly, get-out-the-measuring-tape long colonnade.

Except when you start walking through it, your brain slowly melts as you realize it’s actually way shorter than it appears!

Borromini was an evil genius, I tell you.

After having my perception of reality completely shattered, I wandered around catching my breath amid the contemporary art exhibits.

There’s all kinds of cool, thought-provoking installations and canvases to admire from Italian and international artists.

Definitely some conversation-starter pieces!

Listen, I’m no art snob, but I freaking loved this quirky little gallery.

It’s the perfect spot to embrace your inner weirdo and have your mind blown for an afternoon by Borromini’s perspective games and modern artistic vision.

Just schedule a good chunk of time to get delightfully lost inside the Borromini Gallery – you won’t regret it!

Orto Botanico di Roma: Botanical Oasis

So you know how Rome can be a total sensory overload sometimes?

Like, one minute you’re wading through mobs of tourists, the next moment you’re getting blasted by aggressive motorino exhaust.

It’s enough to make you want to retreat into a lush, green oasis just to breathe again, am I right?

Well, that’s exactly what the city’s Botanical Garden is – a verdant safe haven from the urban chaos.

This place is Rome’s version of that magical forest in those old-school ’90s fantasy movies where the main character finally finds peace and tranquility.

Except instead of frolicking CGI creatures, you get to commune with some seriously impressive plant life.

I’m talking towering trees that were around back when your ancestors were slinging spears, funky tropical flowers that seem like they belong in an Avatar sequel, fragrant herbs that’ll make your nose exclaim “Mamma mia!”

You name it, this garden’s got it growing in full bloom and Technicolor glory.

Rather than rushing through, the move is to go full Zen mode and just meander along the impeccably manicured paths at your own chill pace.

Stop and smell the literal roses, do a few sun salutations amid the greenery – whatever vibe you’re craving.

They’ve got this awesome greenhouse called “Casa Delle Farfalle” (butterfly house,) where biologists will accompany you on your visit and explain the many species of butterflies inside.

There are also themed areas that’ll make you feel like you’re traversing multiple continents in an afternoon.

One second you’re trekking through an arid desert scene, the next you’re getting misty in a straight-up cloud forest habitat.

Though lowkey, just finding a secluded bench and zoning out while surrounded by nature’s vibrant hues and intoxicating aromas is pretty transcendent in itself.

So do yourself a favor and get yourself to Largo Cristina di Svezia, 23A to experience this lush oasis for yourself.

Rome Botanical Garden is like a great big reset button in the heart of the city chaos.

Trust me, your mind and soul will thank you for it!

Il Cuore di Nerone in Piazza San Pietro

In case you’re going to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, make sure you keep your eyes wide open for a small thing there.

I’m talking about “Er Core de Nerone” – Nero’s Heart.

Now, at first glance, the square just looks like a sprawling expanse of those classic Roman “sanpietrini” (cobblestones,) right?

But here’s the deal – hidden amongst the thousands upon thousands of those little basalt pebbles is a single one shaped like an actual heart.

No one really knows for sure who put it there or why, but that hasn’t stopped people from cooking up all sorts of romantic theories.

Some say it represents God’s love for the world, while others reckon it was the work of Michelangelo, sculpted out of heartbreak from a failed romance.

There are those who believe it was actually carved by a woman, driven by anguish over her husband’s unjust imprisonment.

Whatever the real story is, that heart-shaped “sanpietrino” has low-key become a symbol of love and hope for those in the know.

The legend goes that if you’re in Rome with your significant other and you both find the heart-shaped stone together, in perfect unison, it means your love is truly everlasting and you’re destined to be together forever.

Kinda cool when you think about it, right?

A tiny, secret detail amid all that overwhelming Vatican grandiosity.

So here’s what you do – make your way to the “Vento di Libeccio” tile (that’s the south-westerly wind marker for you non-Italian speakers).

From there, just mosey on over towards St. Peter’s Basilica, squinting hard at the ground as you go.

If you’ve got eagle eyes, you should be able to spot that little heart stone winking up at you.

That tiny detail makes for a strangely satisfying scavenger hunt amidst all the historical heavyweights.

Prospettiva del Colonnato di San Pietro: Optical Views

This is one of the true highlight that can be found in the Vatican – St. Peter’s Colonnade.

This exceptional masterpiece of marble is probably the most typical monument in all of Rome.

If you look at it from a particular perspective, St. Peter’s columns seem to be magically aligned into a single line of sight.

The colonnade is the work of the Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which can be dated back to the 17th century.

He designed this semi-circular colonnade with not four, not three, but FOUR full rows of huge Doric columns forming that signature embrace around St. Peter’s Square. 

We’re talking 284 columns altogether, plus 88 pillars – it’s like the mother of all classical archways!

Bernini himself said the outstretched “arms” were meant to symbolize the Church wrapping its loving embrace around the faithful.

But here’s where it gets really wild.

If you stand at “Centro del Colonnato” one of the focal point of the square and look through the columns, something crazy happens.

Suddenly those multiple rows start blending into a single, seamless line.

It’s straight-up optical illusion witchcraft!

The reason for that mind-bending optical illusion is because St. Peter’s Square is built in an elliptical shape, and the “Centro del Colonnato” (vanishing point) where the colonnade seems to merge is one of the two focal points of that ellipse, creating that trippy perspective effect.

Bernini was an ingenious master at using perspective tricks to mess with people’s minds.

Nowadays, you’ll see all the tourists migrating to that special viewpoint and gawking in disbelief as the colonnade seemingly folds in on itself.

Orologio ad Acqua del Pincio: Water Clock

Now, let’s shift attention to that fascinating little treasure buried in the depths of the Villa Borghese park, a well-known landmark.

I’m referring to the “Orologio ad Acqua Del Pincio” (Pincio Water Clock), a design by a skilled craftsman and engineer from the 1800s.

The clock’s mastermind was a Dominican friar named Gian Battista Embriaco, He had a crazy passion for both art and hardcore mechanics.

And in 1867, he combined those two loves to construct the most intricate, bizarre timepiece.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – how extra does a water clock even need to be? But trust me, Embriaco took it to the next level.

This whole contraption is built from nothing but wood, stone, and good ol’ H2O. No batteries, no electronics, just pure hydraulic witchcraft.

It works like this: water flows in from a nearby fountain, powering a whole series of wheels, gears, and who knows what other sorcery.

Somehow, someway, all those spinning parts harmonize to keep those hands ticking in perfect time.

The whole design is all elegant curves and that classic Roman stonework aesthetic.

It honestly looks like it was plucked straight from some utopian clock-maker’s wildest fantasies.

You’ll find this hidden gem near the Villa Borghese’s Galoppatoio area, half-tucked amid the shady park trails.

Just keep your eyes peeled for what looks like a baroque outdoor furniture piece housing a bunch of spinning gears and wooden mechanisms.

Once you lurk it, you’ll be enchanted for hours watching the hypnotizing show of nature’s elements powering human ingenuity. Siiiick.

Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio: Macabre Beauty

Do not miss “La Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio” (The Church of the Sacred Heart of Suffrage) when you are around the Prati area.

This place challenges the architectural norms with a high spiritual potential for the soul that is intriguing as well as mind-blowing.

Now, they’ve got a couple nicknames for this church that pretty much sum up its whole haunting vibe.

It’s known as the “Church of the Souls in Purgatory” and the “Piccolo Duomo di Milano” (Small Milan Cathedral) – both of which make total sense once you see it.

The facade is already an eyebrow-raiser, with the creepy statues jutting out from the facade walls… which are literally depicting suffering souls emerging from purgatory.

Metal AF, right?

The spooky atmosphere just amplifies once you step inside.

The walls are lined with freaky biblical scenes and depictions of souls being tormented in the afterlife.

It’s like a medieval heavy metal album cover brought to life through frescoes.

But here’s maybe the wildest part – there’s a whole chapel area called the Chapel of the Souls in Purgatory where they keep urns filled with prayers written by the dead.

I’m talking little handwritten notes from people’s dearly departed loved ones just…chillin’ there. So. Eerie.

Even if you’re not super religious, you can’t deny the haunting beauty and devout passion that went into this place.

It’s like the church’s design was meant to humble you through sheer mystical power.

If you’ve got a taste for the darker, more spiritually provocative side of religious architecture and art, the Sacred Heart of Suffrage needs to be locked into your Roman itinerary.

Just prepare to catch some deeply unsettling vibes while you’re there!

You’ll find this spooky gem at Lungotevere Prati.

Giardino degli Aranci: A Romantic Retreat

If you’re looking for a chill green space to escape the nonstop chaos of Rome, you gotta check out “Il Giardino degli Aranci” up on Aventine Hill.

This little slice of paradise is exactly what your overstimulated mind needs.

First off, despite the fancy “Parco Savello” official name, everyone just calls it “Giardino degli Aranci” (the Orange Garden.)

And oh man, does it ever live up to that citrusy moniker!

You’ve got lush orange trees punctuating the whole park, filling the air with those intoxicating zesty aromas.

It’s as if nature’s own perfume and massage parlor are kindly waiting for you up there.

The beautiful floral scents, no doubt, deserve the credit, but I would argue that the grandeur of the majestic views should get the standing ovation.

This means picture-perfect views of the roman skyline, and what could be better than that view of the iconic St.  Peter’s dome, something that postcards are made of?

It truly is the perfect union of romance and beauty encapsulated in just one small spot.

That’s why the move is to pack up a breezy picnic spread and just laze away an afternoon at the Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden.)

Snag a shady spot, crack open some local vino, and drink in those unreal views and scents.

You’ll feel those chaotic city tensions melting away in no time.

If couple’s canoodling and cheesy selfie photoshoots aren’t your vibe, no sweat – the gardens are also prime for just a chill solo stroll to clear your head.

The serene ambiance makes it one of Rome’s low-key most restorative escapes.

Just make your way up to Piazza Pietro d’Illiria on Aventine Hill, and you’ve arrived at the Giardino degli Aranci oasis.

Consider it your own personal Roman retreat to recharge those batteries whenever the city’s intensity gets too extra.

Buco della Serratura dell’Ordine di Malta: Secret Keyhole

Just a stone’s throw from that idyllic Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) you’ll find one of Rome’s most underrated visual money shots.

We’re talking the iconic “Buco della Serratura dell’Ordine di Malta” (Keyhole View.)

So here’s how it goes down: you mosey on out of those fragrant orange groves, hang a right, and you’ll end up at this unassuming little Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta.

Nothing too crazy, right? Well, that’s what you think!

Nestled in the big metal door to the “Priorato dei Cavalieri di Malta” (old Knights of Malta headquarters,) there’s this utterly random, tiny little keyhole.

I’m talking pinkie finger sized.

But get this – if you bend down and peek through that sucker, BAM!

You’ll be blessed with potentially the most flawlessly framed, picturesque view of St. Peter’s Dome in the whole damn city.

It’s honestly like the aperture setting from heaven.

There’s the iconic basilica, sitting pretty as a postcard between some lush trees from the Orange Garden in the foreground.

And the best part?

Nobody ever seems to be lining up for this totally free, wildly Instagrammable viewpoint!

You might have to duck a few oblivious tourists ambling by, but that’s all part of the fun.

So if you want to impress all your followers with some effortless illusion-of-depth photo trickery, you’ve gotta hit up the Keyhole View at Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta 4.

Just be ready to feel like Rome’s most elite insider as you frame up that money shot through the tiny peephole. Bellissimo!

Overall thoughts on Unusual Things to do in Rome

Alright, let’s cut right to the chase – if you’re trying to experience the true weird side of Rome, you gotta get off the beaten tourist path.

We’re talking ditching the Colosseum crowds and Vatican lines to hunt down the city’s bizarre, macabre, and totally obscure gems.

Trust me, once you peek behind the curtain of those textbook attractions, you’ll find a whole underground realm of unusual sights and experiences that’ll mess with your mind in the best way possible.

This city’s got no shortage of visually and existentially disorienting discoveries waiting around every corner.

And let’s not forget about all the other quirky, forgotten-about nooks and curiosities that most tourists simply walk right on by without batting an eye.

From bone churches and mind-bending architectural illusions to secret keyhole viewpoints and ancient overgrown ruins.

The point is, you haven’t really experienced the Eternal City until you’ve walked the road less traveled into its delightfully weird underbelly.

Trade in those basic itineraries for a sense of adventure and curiosity, and who knows what uncanny surprises await?

So ditch the crowds and step off the well-trodden path for once.

Rome’s unusual, bizarre, and supernatural treasures are waiting to blow your mind. You just have to know where to wander…

If you need tips on where to find these off-beat gems, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or drop a comment below.

I’m always happy to share the weird side of Rome with my fellow adventurers.

Ciao and buon viaggio!