Beyond the Colosseum: Exploring Rome’s Best Hidden Historic Sites as a Teen

The following blog was written by a student intern on a Summer 2025 CIEE high school summer abroad program. Read on for some excellent "boots on the ground" tips on places to visit off the beaten path while on a high school summer abroad program in Italy. 

When visiting Rome, one of the first recommendations you’ll get is to visit the Colosseum, the Vatican, or the Pantheon. While these are all exceptional places to see, there are also so many other sites that are often overlooked. So if you want to get away from the crowds, and enjoy a unique journey through Rome’s historical past, here are some places you should include on your trip.

1. Doria Pamphili Gallery

Location: Via del Corso, 305

View Time: 1-2hrs

Price: €35

The Doria Pamphili (or Pamphilj) Gallery is part of a palace belonging to the Doria Pamphili family. With a long line of aristocracy, the palace was once home to Giambattista Pamphilj, who later became Pope Innocent X. The estate became property of the Pamphili’s in 1647, and was later inherited by the Doria-Pamphili branch of the family in 1760. 

The museum houses a large collection of paintings and sculptures from artists like Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio and more. If you’re looking for a majestic, fairy-tale like destination to explore, this is the perfect place to visit.

2. Camerette di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola

Location: Piazza del Gesu 45

View Time: 15-20 mins

Price: Free!

The Camerette di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola is covered floor to ceiling in intricate works of art. The rooms originally served as the work and living quarters for Saint Ignatius of Loyola; the founder of the Jesuit order and the priest for which the rooms are named. 

Originally built in 1544, the building was destroyed by flooding in 1598, it was quickly reconstructed with great effort to preserve Saint Ignatius’ rooms. Inside, the rooms are furnished with the original desks, chair, and other relics of the priest. Additionally, the corridor walls and ceiling were re-decorated in the fresco-painting style, and make for beautiful pictures. 

3. Centrale Montemartini

Location: Via Ostiense, 106

View Time: 45 mins

Price: €10 or free with Mic Card

This museum stands out amongst the others due to its unique curatorial style and location. Once the first electrical power station in Rome, the Centrale Montemartini now houses a collection of classical sculptures belonging to the Capitoline Museums. This museum offers a distinct and stylistic blend of ancient and industrial architecture. 

4. Musei di Villa Torlonia

Location: Via Nomentana, 70

View Time: 1-2 hrs

Price: €17 or free with MIC Card

The Museum of Villa Torlonia is a villa turned museum with rich history and a controversial past. The museum comprises three buildings; the Casino Nobile (Noble Casino), the Casina delle Civette (Little Owls House) and the Casino dei Principi (Casino of the Princes). 

Opened to the public in 1997, the villa has been home to many influential groups, including the Roman School (a group of 20th century artists), Prince Torlonia, and even Benito Mussolini, who installed a bunker and gas shelter in the basement of the villa.

Aside from its rich history, the museums are filled with numerous works of art from a range of different mediums and eras. The Serra Moresca- a greenhouse of sorts- is covered in colorful stained glass, and provides a lovely place to relax and take in the atmosphere. 

(Psst! Expect to see lots of dogs and parrots when you visit here!)

5. Palazzo Braschi

Location: Piazza di S. Pantaleo, 10

View Time: 1 hr

Price: €9 or free with MIC Card

This museum is a great place to go if you’re looking for a gallery with open space and integral architecture. Built, and designed in 1806 by architects Giuseppe Valadier and Cosimo Morelli, the building was commissioned by Luigi Braschi Onesti, nephew of Pope Pius VI. 

The main stairway of the building is decorated by sculptures and stucco designs inspired by the Iliad and the myth of Achilles. In the center of the roof above the main stairway, is a large circular window that allows sunlight to dramatically illuminate the upper and lower levels. 

6. Santa Maria in Portico in Campitelli church

Location: Piazza di Campitelli, 9

View Time: 15 mins

Price: Free!

Are you a movie buff? Or a Gaga fan? The church just across from CIEE was actually used in the wedding scene in the 2021 film, House of Gucci. Iconic Italian-American singer and actress, Lady Gaga, acted here as Patrizia Reggiani, the former wife of Maurizio Gucci. The church exhibits arrangements of paintings and statues, reflective of the Baroque and Renaissance era. This is a great place to visit if you want to enjoy a classic Italian church atmosphere, (while being mindful that you are in a religious space)!

7. San Nicola in Carcere

Location: Via del Teatro di Marcello, 46

View Time: 15-20 mins

Price: €4

If you want to explore the Roman catacombs without the large crowds and high entrance fees, this is the perfect place to go. Beneath the church, is a preserved section of the Roman Forum. These ruins include three of Rome's oldest pagan temples, merchant booths, a prison, and even part of a cemetery, (including the bones of those once buried here). This destination is just a few blocks down from the CIEE center, and the perfect place to explore during a break. 

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