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It’s just after sunrise and our small group is standing in front of the Trevi Fountain. While the city of Rome slowly wakes from its collective slumber, the five of us are the only people around to watch as the wishes cast over shoulders into the water are vacuumed up to be donated to charity. The fountain will soon flow again, and as the day unfolds, people will descend in droves with more wishes to make.
Waking up early and joining Isa with ArcheoRunning for a walking tour, it’s like we have the entire city to ourselves. After a few more photos of the fountain sans crowds, Isa leads us to the next stop: the often overlooked, still-functioning ancient Roman Vergine Aqueduct. She tells us it’s the only one of its kind still functioning today, supplying water to the city since it was built in 19 BC.
Even at the height of summer, there are plenty of ways to experience Rome away from the crowds. To showcase these types of experiences, Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese created its Rome For Repeat Visitors Guide, which is perfectly suited for first-time visitors, too. It’s how I met up with Isa, and over the course of my visit, stayed in the city and left the crowds of the Colosseum and the Pantheon behind. I enjoyed private tours of the palace and gardens at Villa Medici and Villa Farnesina with its ceiling fresco by Raphael. Again, it felt like we were the only guests in both of these stunning iconic spots in the bustling city.
Another way I experienced a different side of Rome was through a street food tour with Davvero Italy. American expat Lauren Caramico wound our intimate group through the busy Campo de’ Fiori to spots where the locals go. We enjoyed trapizzino, a pizza pocket stuffed with any number of ingredients, fried rice balls called supplì (a smaller cousin to arancini), pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) with myriad toppings at Antico Forno Roscioli, and, of course, gelato.
Beyond Rome
There’s more to Italy than Rome. In a country that’s slightly larger than the state of Arizona, you will find plenty to discover. Sure, there’s Venice and its canals, Pisa and its tower, Florence and its art and architecture and Milan and its fashion. But there’s something to be said for taking time to explore smaller cities and villages and visiting where Italians go for their holidays.
Take Modena, for example, in northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, easily accessible from nearby Bologna. The small city with roots in agriculture is the heart of Motor Valley, to the delight of car enthusiasts. Its charming historic city center, complete with cobblestone streets, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese farms, traditional balsamic vinegar villas and surrounding vineyards, provides plenty of reasons to linger away from the crowds.
Wine & Food Lovers
Speaking of vineyards, do as the Italians do and travel across the country from Rome to Abruzzo, which stretches from the mountains to the Adriatic Sea. This quiet Italian region is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and oenophiles, with vineyards as far as the eye can see and boasting three national parks, a regional park and more than 30 natural reserves — it’s no wonder Abruzzo is known as the Green Region of Europe. One must-do in Abruzzo is dining on fresh-from-the-sea fish at a trabocco, wooden fishing houses built on stilts over water dating back to the 1700s.
A stay at Castello di Semivicoli, a castle-turned-boutique-hotel, affords ample opportunities to explore the entire Abruzzo region, not to mention its proximity to Masciarelli, a prominent local winery. Back at the hotel, take a cooking class and make chitarra, guitar string-shaped pasta, with an accompanying meat-based tomato sauce.
Natural Splendor & Self-Care
For a completely different Italian experience, focus on wellness in the Naturno region of South Tyrol. In addition to vineyards and orchards, this part of Italy sits in the Dolomites and boasts year-round outdoor recreation. From downhill skiing to hiking, mountain biking and walking, there is plenty to do to keep busy. Or, simply sit back, relax and breathe it all in. Preidlhof, a spa hotel in Naturno, serves as a terrific home base for exploring the area, offering a plethora of outdoor activities with plenty of saunas and pools to help tired muscles after a day well-spent.
Have any of you been to Italy? Where did you go? Let us know in the comments below.
