Have you ever thought about traveling around the world? Without going too far, the most beautiful journey begins right in the Eternal City!
With spring and the arrival of beautiful days, the desire to travel also increases. The irresistible urge to explore new destinations tempts us more and more every day, but with the current impossibility of going abroad, everything seems more difficult.
Fortunately, Italy is a wonderful country filled with incredible places we may not know well yet. And, without even straying too far from home, it’s actually possible to visit some of the world’s most beautiful places. How?
Discover, with the suggestions of iH Hotels, the hidden world destinations within the Eternal City for a unique and unusual journey through Rome!
The Flaminio District like Notting Hill
It is the "Little London" located in one of the most historic and charming areas of the Eternal City, aptly named because it is akin to the Notting Hill of the Capital: with its colorful houses, wrought-iron gates, and buildings with carefully crafted details, every aspect of this little street reflects the typical features of the London neighborhood that inspired the film with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Located on Via Bernardo Celentano, a private street built in 1909 in perfect British style and envisioned by the Anglo-Italian mayor Ernesto Nathan, it closely resembles the Chelsea and Notting Hill districts of London. A stroll at sunset will make you feel as though you are in England!
A corner of Russia inside the GRA.
Inside the Grande Raccordo Anulare of Rome, just a few steps from the Dome, you can experience a new emotion without the effort of traveling abroad! A real gem for those who love to discover different cultures in the eternal city: the Church of Santa Caterina Martire. Located near the Gianicolo, it is another of those hidden and little-known Roman wonders. The Church of Santa Caterina Martire is an Orthodox place of worship in Rome, part of the Moscow Patriarchate. Today, this enchanting Russian corner of the Capital allows you to admire the stunning Byzantine mosaics at the entrances, the iconic depictions on the interior walls, and its beautiful paintings. Where? Inside the park of Villa Abamelek, residence of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Rome, located at Via del Lago Terrione, 77/79. (photo from the web)
A trip to Turkey while staying in Rome!
There’s everything to see in the Eternal City, except for an incredible and large mosque. That is, the beautiful Mosque of Rome, designed by Italian architect Paolo Portoghesi and inaugurated on June 21, 1995. It is the largest Islamic place of worship in Europe! Nestled in greenery, it was built on 30,000 square meters of land and can host up to 2,000 people. Inside, there’s also a library, an Arabic language school, and a conference center. Visits can be made by appointment with a guided tour, and it is truly worth it. You will be enchanted just by the exterior and the perspective of the colonnade, the details, and the internal blue color that reminds you of the Hagia Sophia, the most famous mosque in Istanbul. It is located at the foot of the Parioli Hills.
(photo from web)
A touch of the Orient in Rome
In the Capital, we also find the largest Chinese Buddhist temple in Europe! Inaugurated on April 1, 2013, the wonderful Pagoda is located on Via dell’Omo in Rome, in the Prenestina area. This is a very vast area dedicated to business and retail, so it is not particularly touristy, making it a less crowded location and officially listed among the hidden gems of the Eternal City. Upon entering, you are greeted by a magnificent temple with classic 1800s Chinese imperial monastic architecture. At the entrance, two imposing stone lions guard the passage through an intricately carved wooden door. Inside, the environment is sober, elegant, and silent. A large white Buddha statue stands in the foreground, with three more divine representations behind it. At the back, another large room offers spaces for meditation, and in glass cases, you will find other Buddha statues. To visit, there are specific opening hours for the public, or guided tours with the temple masters are also available. (photo from web)
From Mount Putuo to Esquilino
In the multicultural Esquilino district, Rome's Chinatown, on Via Ferruccio, in a 300-square-meter ground-floor space, the first Chinese Buddhist temple in Italy was inaugurated in November 2005, also known as the "Putuoshan Temple." Although famous for its connection to the Church and the Vatican, the Eternal City contains countless other places of worship. If you are passionate about Eastern art, you can't miss the opportunity to visit this unique location, hidden behind the multicultural Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and dedicated for years to the Chinese Buddhist temple, also known as "The Buddha in the Garage" due to its unusual structure. If you're eager to learn about this ancient culture transported to the heart of the Eternal City, just take a short walk in the center, behind Termini Station.