Hidden gems in Rome and beyond

There is nothing quite like Rome, The Eternal City. Sure it’s dirty, and there are scooters motoring about like schools of fish, but it’s a place everyone, Catholic or not, should visit at least once.

You will love St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, Vatican City, the Trevi Fountain, the Forum and so many other landmarks, that you may not want to come back.

But we want to talk about some of the lesser known, but equally stunning sites in Rome and beyond, that may not be in every guidebook.

THE COOLEST KEYHOLE
IN THE WORLD

I found out about this from my friend, Vic, whose mother was born in Milan and has been to Rome many times. It’s best to take in this site when you are near the Colosseum, because it’s a short walk away.

And before we get into the good stuff, I would recommend walking to as many places in Rome as you can. And plan the trip yourself! My wife and I booked hotels and train trips before we left, but then did everything on the fly. It’s much more fun and exciting, and you can eat as much pasta as you want and not feel guilty.

Anyway if you are near the Colosseum, head over to Palatine Hill, then cross over Via del Cerchi and Circus Maximus — famed for its chariot races — is right in front of you. Continue down Viale Aventino then turn right and head up to Aventine Hill.

It’s a magical place with great views and umbrella pines. But there is one more place that holds the most magic.

You will see an ordinary building, which is a now a church but remains the Priory of the Knights of Malta. Yes, the crusader Knights! Then simply look through the keyhole and be amazed. As your eyes focus, you see the Vatican come into view in the distance perfectly aligned in the center of the keyhole. Was it constructed that way on purpose? That appears to be lost to history, but this is one stop you want to keep your eye on!

TOP OF ST. PETER’S DOME

St. Peter’s looks massive when you are on the floor staring up. But what if you are at the top of St. Peter’s Dome (cupola) looking down? It’s equally impressive and worth putting on your calendar.
There are 551 steps in all to get to the top, the first 321 you can take by using the elevator, but you must walk the rest of the way from there. When you arrive at the inside of the dome you will be looking straight down on the main altar some 400 or so feet down from an interior balcony. The height of the dome is 450 feet, so if you are afraid of heights, this may not be for you, but give it a shot.
From there the stairs get progressively narrower but you are rewarded because they lead you outside on top of the dome and a glorious view of Vatican City and Rome.

APPIAN WAY

You should go see the catacombs and we chose Via Appia Antica, because the remains of the actual Appian way are a short walk away. This is outside the walls of Rome, so if you aren’t with a tour, it’s challenge to get there. But rewarding. You can take either the 118 or 218 bus from Rome which takes you out to the catacombs. After you see the catacombs, you make a right and keep walking until you run right into the Appian Way. Visions of Kirk Douglas from “I’m Spartacus” fill your head as you gaze down at the interlocking stones. Even though “All Roads lead to Rome,” it’s best to take the bus back. It arrives “about” every 20 minutes or whenever it wants to get there. Plan on this being an all-day adventure.
MILAN
Hopefully the Milanese won’t kill me for this, but I am putting “The Last Supper” on the list, because the people that I have talked to who have gone to Italy, usually don’t make it to cosmopolitan, fashion-crazed Milan. The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci is one of foremost images of Western Civilization, right up there with the Mona Lisa, but how many people have seen it in person?

When in Milan, find the Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses the work of art and is a short walk east of the Duomo di Milano (Cathedral of Milan).
So you get 15 minutes to gaze at the masterwork which sits on one end of the hall of the convent with the Crucifixion by Giovanni Donato da Montorfano on the other end.

While also in Milan, who can also walk on top of the Cathedral and get up close with the spires, carvings and gargoyles, while getting a great view of the city as well as the Piazza del Duomo down below. Also don’t forget to visit Panzerotti Luini — a local landmark that opened in 1888 — which makes panzerotti, sweet, fried dough stuffed with tomato, cheese, spinach or salami. It’s as close to a religious experience without being in a church.

NOTE: I also want to point out one thing about getting tickets in general. In the second week we were there, all of the museums, churches, you name it, were free for that week. But that was in April, so if you are going in summer, plan ahead, buy tickets in advance and get skip-the-line tickets if possible.