Once you arrive in Piazzale Ostiense you cannot fail to notice a huge pyramid with concrete bricks. You are standing in front of the Piramide Cestia the tomb desired by Caius Cestius, politician and member of the priestly college of the epuloni, who ordered in his will the construction of a pyramid-shaped tomb. Built between 18 and 12 BC. it is the only monument of its kind in Rome.

An inscription in Latin is still partly visible on the pyramid today, through which Cestius urged his heirs to erect the funerary monument within 330 days, under penalty of losing their rich inheritance! The heirs obviously wasted no time, indeed it seems that the pyramid was built a few days early, between 18 and 12 BC.

Following the conquest of Egypt in 31 BC, the fashion of funerary construction of that period was greatly influenced by Egyptian tradition. The burial chamber has barrel vaults and was originally walled up.

Between 272 and 279 the monument was incorporated into the "Aurelian walls", the city walls built on the initiative of the emperor Aurelian and this is how it can still be seen today.

It is also possible to take guided tours that will take you inside the Pyramid to the tomb of Gaius Cestius.

Once you have finished visiting the pyramid of Cestia, head towards Via Marmorata and take the right side street of Via Asinio Pollione. Follow the road and in less than a kilometer you will have reached the top of the Aventine. Worth visiting are several baroque churches, the orange garden and the famous keyhole: an exciting panorama which, from the keyhole of the gate of the Priory of the Knights of Malta, allows you to "spy" on the Dome of St. Peter's in a perspective new and different. A unique emotion in the world.

It is located right next to the Circus Maximus, on the slope coming from the Aventine Hill.

We are talking about one of the greenest and most colorful places in the whole city. On spring weekends you cannot skip this stage.

In this green corner there are more than 1000 different species of roses that come from all over the world. A stop to make especially if you are taking a romantic trip or if you have children with you.

If you love photography you can really indulge yourself as there is certainly no shortage of colours.

It is an ancient Roman circus that dates back to the 2nd century BC. It was a gigantic structure dedicated entirely to shows and remains one of the largest structures ever built by man. Chariot races took place here over 2,000 years ago. Today

it is mainly used for concerts,

If you want advice, visit the Circo Massimo at sunset, the sky turns red and creates a truly unique atmosphere, with the Palatine in the background.

A few steps from the Circus Maximus, Rome offers us some things to see that many underestimate. Usually tourists focus more on the area of ​​the Colosseum and Via dei Fori Imperiali (not far away), but a 15-minute walk from the Circus Maximus there are other stops, among these the Terme di Caracalla.

This is a very important archaeological area for Rome and beyond. Here you can see some of the imperial baths of ancient Rome, surrounded by greenery, offering impressive structures that date back to more than eighteen centuries ago.

It is one of the few basilicas in Rome with 12th century architecture.

Inside you can find frescoes from various eras, the Cosmatesque floor, beautiful mosaics and the crypt which preserves some parts of the Ara Maxima of Hercules, the first cult center of Hercules built in ancient Rome.

From the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin the triumphs began and ended on the Capitoline Hill. This church is rich in history

The Bocca della Verità: a marble mask 1.80 meters in diameter made immortal by the film Roman Holiday with the unforgettable protagonists Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. Legend has it that the mouth bites the hand of those who do not tell the truth. Try it too and let us know how it went.

Its peculiarity is that it was used as a manhole in ancient Rome because at that time it used to represent the Water Deities on the city's manholes. This gave the impression that the deities were swallowing rainwater.

The Fontana dei Tritoni it is located in Piazza della Bocca della Verità, right in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. It was completed in 1715 by the architect Bizzaccheri on the occasion of the redevelopment of the square. The entire structure is in travertine and represents two tritons on a rock holding up a large shell.

Rome really has a lot of fountains. Each one is unique in its own way and looking at them up close makes you fully understand how much beauty there is in this city. This fountain is very reminiscent of the Triton Fountain in Piazza Barberini, it is recommended to see it.

A stone's throw from the Triton Fountain is the beautiful Tempio di Ercole Vincitore. It dates back to 120 BC, which is precisely why it is the oldest marble building in Rome currently in existence. Its conservation was made possible because it was transformed into a church.

The great thing is that in this area you can still find so many wonders of ancient Rome in one fell swoop. Right here was also the Foro Boario, the sacred and commercial area of ​​ancient Rome.

Tempio di Portuno, another temple of ancient Rome located in Piazza della Bocca della Verità. Also in this case we are talking about one of the best preserved buildings of ancient Rome. Consider that this monument dates back to the 3rd century BC, so it has absolute historical importance.

Also in this case we are talking about a temple that has been transformed into a Christian church. Once upon a time the popes had the habit of appropriating the buildings of ancient Rome to build other buildings. The fortune of these last two temples was precisely that of having been transformed into churches; this is the same reason why the Pantheon has remained intact over time.

The Arco di Giano, a historical monument that was perhaps a triumphal arch of ancient Rome (today there is no certainty). It is located near the Temple of Portunus and that of Hercules.

It dates back to the 4th century, so also in this case we are talking about a monument that has a strong importance for Rome. Its peculiarity is that it is made up of four arches, one on each side, which is why it is one of the most beautiful and unique arches in the whole city.

A stone's throw from Piazza della Bocca della Verità there is a different building than usual: the Casa dei Crescenzi. We are talking about a residence that dates back to the Middle Ages. Its peculiarity is that the structure is formed in some parts by elements coming from ancient Roman buildings. Looking at it you can immediately understand how special it is.

The house takes this name because the Crescenzi family managed the water mills on the Tiber and this building was the tower that allowed them to be controlled. The thing that cannot be missed is the uniqueness of this house in the middle of a street in the center of Rome made up of more modern buildings, which is why it immediately catches the eye

The Teatro Marcello it is a very important theater of ancient Rome which is located a few steps from the Capitoline Hill and very similar to the Colosseum. The Teatro Marcello was built years before the Colosseum.

From this you can guess that its architecture was used as the basis for the design of the most famous amphitheater in the world. So if today you can admire the Colosseum in all its beauty, it is precisely thanks to this theatre.