Rome is a city that needs no introduction, but the best hidden gem in Rome Italy is the secret spot away from the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and St. Peter’s Basilica crowds.
I love Rome and have visited five times, and love to wander Rome’s winding streets and hidden corners. From a tiny keyhole with a million-dollar view to an ancient theatre, and the best part? Most of these hidden gems in Rome Italy are either free or cost just a few euros to visit, AND you won’t need to book tickets months in advance or fight through hordes of tourists.
Let’s get into my favourite areas away from the crowds.
The Aventine Keyhole: A Must-See Hidden Gem in Rome Italy
Almost every tourist visits the St. Peter’s Basilica to take photos, but much fewer visit the Aventine Keyhole to take an Instagram-worthy picture of the church.
The Aventine Keyhole is one of Rome’s most charming hidden attractions. It’s located on the Aventine Hill, in the green door of the Villa del Priorato di Malta (the headquarters of the Knights of Malta).
What makes this keyhole special is the view through it; when you peer through this tiny bronze keyhole, you see a perfectly framed view of St. Peter’s Basilica’s dome in the distance through a tree-lined garden pathway that creates a natural tunnel effect.
How to get to the Aventine Keyhole
Start at the Clivo dei Publicii, left of the Circus Maximus. Follow the road, which leads into Via di Santa Sabina. Keep walking! You’ll land at Piazza dei Calvieri di Malta: the location of the keyhole!
Good to know before visiting:
- Get here early! Even though the keyhole is still considered a hidden gem, a lot of people still make the trip up here. I got here around 1.30pm and waited 1 hour before it was my turn to peep through the keyhole.
- Bring a good camera: I waited 1 hour to get a photo through the keyhole, however my iphone 14 was not very good at adjusting to the high contrast between the dark keyhole and bright background. So I didn’t get very good photos. If you have a camera, I’d highly recommend bringing it, to be sure you can capture the beauty of this monument.
- Be quick: everyone understands how it feels to stand in line for hours and when it’s finally your turn, you want to savour it. But for the love of god, do not linger. Have a look, take 1 or 2 pictures and then MOVE.
The location also offers lovely views of Rome from the nearby public gardens on Aventine Hill, making it worth the visit even beyond the famous keyhole itself.
Why the Aventine Hill is One of the Best Hidden Gems in Rome Italy
The Aventine Hill is much quieter than central Rome, with tree-lined streets and upscale residences. There’s plenty of public gardens here as well, including the Orange Garden (Giardino degli Aranci / Parco Savello), which offers stunning panoramic views of Rome and St. Peter’s dome.
Teatro Marcello: An Ancient Hidden Gem in Rome Italy
Located in the Jewish Ghetto Area in Rome, this amphitheatre, also known as the Jewish Colosseum, looks like a smaller Colosseum. This ancient Roman theatre remains one of Rome’s most impressive and well-preserved classical structures, often completely unnoticed by tourists. A true hidden gem in Rome Italy.
The theatre was begun by Julius Caesar but completed by Emperor Augustus between 13-11 BC.
The monument can’t be visited inside but it can be viewed from the outside at all times.
Address: Via del Teatro di Marcello, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Galleria Spada: A True Renaissance Gem in Rome Italy
Palazzo Spada is a magnificent Renaissance palace (built in 1540) located near Campo de’ Fiori, which houses gallery with the Spada family’s art collection.
One of the coolest areas of the palace is the Perspective Gallery (Galleria Prospettica), where it looks like there’s a long gallery with a big statue at the far end. However, the statue is only about 60 cm tall.
On the first floor of the Palace, in a seventeenth-century wing, is the Spada Gallery , which, within four rooms, houses a famous collection of Baroque paintings , created during the seventeenth century.
Opening hours: 8.30am – 7.30pm (closed on tuesdays)
Entry fee: €6 (free admission on the first Sunday of the month)
Reduced ticket for 18-25 years old EU citizens: €2
Get tickets here
Address: Piazza Capo di Ferro, 13, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle
Known for its impressive dome (which is the third-largest dome in Rome after St. Peter’s and the Pantheon), this is one of the most impressive churches in Rome italy. Construction started in 1591 but the impressive two-story Baroque facade wasn’t complete until 1665.
Many visit Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola because of the famous mirror picture, but did you know that Basilica of Sant’Andrea Della Valle also have a mirror? The best part… it’s free to use!
Opening hours: 8:30 am–7 pm
Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Entry: free
Religious order: Theatine order
Galleria Sciarra: An Art Nouveau Hidden Gem in Rome Italy
A 5-minute walk from the Trevi Fountain and yet almost never crowded, the Galleria Sciarra is an excellent way to escape the crowds. From the outside, the building looks rather normal (and can be a little hard to find), but the frescoes here are totally worth a small detour. The frescoes have a specific theme: women, or even more specifically, female virtues.
It’s a very short visit, as the building itself is used for offices today, so you can only see the small courtyard open to visitors during standard business hours. Unfortunately I visited on a Sunday, so the gallery was closed. But I did get a little peek, and still wanted to include this gem here.
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