Accidentally Wes Anderson here 👋
What began as a personal travel bucket list back in 2017 has blossomed into a vibrant Community of nearly 2 million Adventurers from across the globe. As lovers of travel, design, and the unexpected, we explore off-the-beaten-path, real-world wonders that seem plucked from the vibrant world of Wes Anderson. Join us on a visual adventure through Rome as we uncover the people, places, and stories that bring the Eternal City to life. We’ll share some fun facts along the way, and perhaps leave you with a few interesting stops for your future itinerary!
Beyond the Colosseum: A Wandering Guide to Rome’s Hidden Wonders
A whole host of hidden gems and unique experiences are sprinkled between Rome's most well-known landmarks - and they're easy to spot if you know where to look. So let's take on the Eternal City in the only way we know how: a perfectly planned off-the-beaten-path itinerary with room for espresso in between. What's on the agenda? We'll amble through ancient alleyways to uncover 2,700+ years of whispered secrets, peek behind scaffolding at the ever-ongoing restoration of lesser-known chapels, and trade stories with a living legend at one of the oldest running family-owned Italian institutions. Andiamo!
Catch a flight to Rome
Did You Know? Rome Edition
Welcome to Rome, where every cobblestone has a story—and most of them are wildly entertaining. From mythical tales to domes that defy logic, pint-sized countries hiding in plain sight, and stairs with a serious case of mistaken identity, this isn’t just a city—it’s a living, breathing time machine with a flair for the dramatic. Buckle up as we dive into some of the Eternal City’s most curious, captivating, and occasionally confusing highlights.
Myth and Metal
Rome's origin story reads like a bit of a fantasy thriller—abandoned twin infants Romulus and Remus survived thanks to a nurturing she-wolf before founding a civilisation that would rule the world! This iconic wolf-and-twins image isn't just ancient history—it's become Rome's unofficial logo, immortalised in the striking bronze sculpture on Capitoline Hill that's watched over the city for centuries
A Mysterious Marvel
The Pantheon's perfect dome wasn't just architectural showmanship—it was an engineering marvel that was unmatched for nearly 2,000 years - as it remained the largest dome in the world until 1958. Even more interesting? Historians still debate which brilliant mind deserves credit for the ancient achievement! What’s undeniable is it has outlasted empires, dark ages, and even survived when modern buildings couldn't.
The Tiniest Country in the World
Only in Rome can you cross international borders while crossing the street. The Vatican isn't just the world's smallest sovereign nation—it's a 109-acre country - the tiniest in the world - completely surrounded by Rome, created in 1929 as the final chess move in Italy's unification saga. Before that? The Pope effectively ruled Rome for centuries, making the eternal city both religious HQ and a political battleground throughout history.
The Not-So-Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps pull off history's most successful identity theft—they're actually an Italian design, funded by French money, connecting a French church to an Italian piazza! The 'Spanish' connection? Just a nearby former embassy. These 135 sweeping marble stairs have hosted painters, poets, models, and millions of tourists—all oblivious to their international identity crisis that continues to confuse visitors centuries later.
The unwritten rules
What are the unwritten rules, tips & tricks every visitor to Rome should know?Where to stay
A few spots to stay to get the most out of your time in the Eternal City, whether on foot, or to take in some beautiful scenery from the comforts of your bed.
Masterful Mending at Merlini-Storti & Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pace
If you find yourself wandering through Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pace anytime soon, you might notice a massive hole where magnificent art once hung. Fear not, for this 'missing' masterpiece is undergoing Rome's time-honoured tradition: restoration. Just a few blocks away at the Merlini-Storti workshop, a dedicated mother-daughter duo breathes new life into treasured works from museums, churches, and private collections. While their artistic sanctuary remains closed to curious visitors, we toured the church to envision how the fully revitalised piece will revive the walls of this sacred space.
Brushstrokes & Botanicals: Where Art and Nature Bloom in Rome
Beyond the grand ruins and crowded landmarks, Rome quietly cultivates a world where creativity and cultivation go hand in hand. Whether it’s restoring centuries-old masterpieces, sipping espresso among marble muses, strolling through once-forbidden papal gardens, or discovering the art of tailoring divine threads, the Eternal City reveals its softer, greener, and more refined side. Join us as we wander through hidden studios, sacred spaces, and verdant escapes—where the past is preserved with passion and the present is infused with artful charm.
Papal Paradise Unbolted: Centro Laudato Si
Just 13 miles southeast of Rome's ancient alleys lies Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's prestigious summer sanctuary—privately preserved since the first century and perpetually off-limits to the public... until now! The Holy See commissioned Centro Laudato Si in 2023 to accomplish the unprecedented: throwing open the gates to these forbidden gardens while simultaneously schooling visitors on sustainable stewardship. This once-exclusive ecclesiastical escape is finally emerging from centuries of seclusion, inviting curious pilgrims and plant-lovers alike to wander where only pontiffs previously strolled.
Cappuccinos Among Colossal Creations: Caffè Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini
Rome regularly rewards the observant with unexpected wonders behind unassuming façades. Once the creative headquarters of Adamo Tadolini—favourite pupil of the legendary sculptor Antonio Canova—this space now serves as a coffee bar with a monumental twist. While sipping your macchiato or nibbling a flaky cornetto, you'll find yourself surrounded by larger than life plaster statues and magnificent marble works, remnants of the artistic legacy that lasted in in the former studio until the 1960s. Even when the café sits seemingly empty, there's still plenty of 'people-watching' to enjoy—though your silent companions have been frozen in stone for centuries!
The Artisan of Affogatos: Angelo at Bar Farnese
Masterfully mixing morning beverages at Bar Farnese since he was 17, the beloved blazer-wearing barista Angelo - now 85 years young - embodies Rome's enduring spirit. This living landmark has perfected his craft since 1956, creating countless cappuccinos with the same careful precision that's made him a cherished character in the city's collective memory. Allow this artisan of the everyday to prepare your perfect espresso—the same hands that have served hundreds of thousands of Romans over seven decades will craft your caffeine with unmistakable affection and authenticity.
“Get Your Pope Socks Here”: Gammarelli’s Holy Habiliments
Since 1798—spanning six generations of master tailors—Gammarelli has adorned the Catholic Church's most revered leaders. This hallowed haberdashery crafts everything from ceremonial robes to papal socks for the Vatican's elite. Step into this historic shop around the corner from the Pantheon and you too can clothe yourself in garments cut from the same cloth as popes and cardinals, experiencing a shopping tradition of truly biblical proportions.
More Roman wonders await
With countless centuries of culinary creations and captivating cultural corners to explore, you could wander Rome's winding ways for weeks—or even months—and barely brush the surface of this storied city. Like a sample scoop of the Eternal City's legendary gelato, our brief but blissful days of discovery were pure ambrosia—that great food of the gods that leaves mortals forever craving just one more taste of Roman magic.
More AWA Q&A
From pasta debates to pyramid sightings, we’ve rounded up a few curious questions (and equally charming answers) to help you roam Rome the Accidentally Wes Anderson way.
