True Rome Walking Tour: Aventine Hill & Testaccio District
True Rome: everyday life beyond the center. From ancient to modern, we explore Aventine Hill and Testaccio: Circo Massimo (with views of Palatine Hill), Basilica di Santa Sabina and the Orange Garden keyhole, Monte Testaccio, and Testaccio Market. Along the way, we weave in Rome’s food culture and its soccer passion.
Basic Information
Total time
2h 30m
Language
English (check the calendar for availability)
Price
Our “Pay What You Wish” tours don’t have a fixed price — you decide how much the experience was worth. At the end of the tour, please make a fair contribution that reflects your satisfaction and appreciation for your guide’s work. Most guests give between €10 and €50 per person.
Meeting point
Monument of Giuseppe Mazzini, Piazzale Ugo La Malfa (square in front of Giuseppe Mazzini's monument) Nearest public transport: Circo Massimo metro station; Aventino/Circo Massimo (MB) tram stop, Circo Massimo bus stop
Additional info
☂︎ This tour is organised by Walkative Rome guides. Look for the guide with the yellow umbrella.
♿️ Tour suitable for people with reduced mobility and strollers
❗Our tours run in all weather conditions. High or low temperatures, rain, or snow are never a reason for us to cancel. We’re always here for you! The only reasons for cancellation are extreme weather conditions (such as heavy storms), a guide’s sudden illness, or if there are fewer than 5 registered participants. In such cases, we will always notify you using the contact information you provided when booking the tour.Booking rules
Booking is obligatory. Our “Pay What You Wish” tours are meant for individual travellers and small groups. Large groups (8 or more people) cannot join these tours, as they significantly affect the experience for others and the guide. For school trips, organised tours, or groups of friends, please book our paid option (18€ per person) or arrange a Private Tour. For more information or to schedule a group visit, please contact us directly.
About the tour
Are you a little weary of the crowds and want to spend a perfect morning discovering some of the lesser known places? We have your back! Join our True Rome Tour to learn how the Romans lived and how the city changed over the centuries, but most of all to discover the essence of Italian dolce vita – a life ruled by good food, aromatic coffee and passionate love for football. And don’t worry – even though we will wander off the city centre, there will be no shortage of wonderful historical sights and stunning views!
We will meet at the monument to Giuseppe Mazzini and start the tour with stories about life in ancient Rome. We will then explore a peaceful, residential area nestled on the Aventine Hill, where wealthy Romans live, to admire the elegance of their villas and gardens. Passing beautiful gardens and charming parks known from cinema, we will experience places offering magnificent views of Rome and hidden treasures. The scenery will later change as we head to a former working-class district shaped by its industrial and food heritage, which has evolved into a vibrant area full of local culture, artistic spirit, and traditional Roman life. Our walk will finish just in time for an excellent lunch in a lively and colourful food market, right in the heart of this authentic neighbourhood—the very place where Romans come to eat honest, local food!
So join us on a tour off the beaten track, through both quiet and trendy neighbourhoods, to discover the Roman way of life, driven equally by love of elegance, simple yet delicious food, excellent wine and, of course, football!
Highlights
- 1
Circo Massimo
Ancient stadium for chariot races that could hold 150,000 spectators and offers views of Palatine Hill.
- 2
Aventine Hill
A peaceful, residential area with elegant villas, home to wealthy Romans and beautiful gardens.
- 3
Orange Garden
A charming park from the film "The Great Beauty," offering a magnificent view of Rome.
- 4
Aventine keyhole
A famous keyhole on the Aventine Hill through which you can see three countries at once.
- 5
Testaccio District
A former working-class neighbourhood, now a hip area full of artists and traditional Roman families.
- 6
Monte Testaccio
An artificial hill made from the fragments of an estimated 25 million ancient Roman amphorae.
- 7
Testaccio Market
A vibrant, colourful food market where locals come to eat authentic and honest Roman food.
Map
Monument of Giuseppe Mazzini, Piazzale Ugo La Malfa (square in front of Giuseppe Mazzini's monument) Nearest public transport: Circo Massimo metro station; Aventino/Circo Massimo (MB) tram stop, Circo Massimo bus stop
Our customers said about us
Rome
5.0Orly
Excellent tour in less known places
Lisa led a wonderful tour in less known and much less crowded places. It was very informative and a lot of fun. I highly recommend it.
Rome
5.0Joanna
Great experience
Fabio is a passionate guide with very wide knowledge. It was amazing to hear so many interesting stories in one tour ☺️
Rome
5.0Ross
Amazing tour!
Such a great tour with some fascinating sites and very interesting stories. He guide was so knowledgeable about all things Roman. Thank you!
Rome
5.0Joy
Rome’s History Made Simple
If you’re visiting Rome and love history, I highly recommend the Julius Caesar Free Walking Tour. It’s a great way to discover the story of one of Rome’s most famous leaders, while exploring beautiful parts of the city.
Rome
5.0Gretha
tour molto interessante
Abbiamo passato una bellissima mattinata alla scoperta delle gesta di giulio cesare. Fabio è riuscito a trasmettere le varie sfaccettature della figura di giulio cesare, in ambito politico, militare e sociale. Mi hanno affascinato tutti i luoghi del percorso e Fabio è stata una guida eccellente, pronto a rispondere ad ogni domanda. Consiglio vivamente questo tour!
Rome
5.0Chiara
An Amazing Tour with Fabio!
I joined the free tour with Fabio and I absolutely recommend it! It was super interesting, full of facts and curiosities I didn't know, and Fabio made everything even more engaging with his energy and passion. You can tell he really loves what he does, and it shows in the way he explains things. A truly enriching experience. Thank you, Fabio!
Rome
5.0Shani
Really enjoyed this tour with Fabio!
A great way to start your day in Rome. The main reason I took this tour in the first place is Fabio, who is an excellent guide and I was having the best time with him! (based on other tour I took with him). He was very informative and conveyed the essence of Julius Cesar in a light and interesting way. Highly recommended!
Rome
5.0Matteo
Beautiful day in Rome !
Fabio is an excellent guide , knowleageable , approachable, and always ready to assist. The tour covers some of the most beautiful sposts in Rome and discusses one of the most fascinanting in Roman history.
Rome
5.0Patricia
Great and informative tour
Thank you Fabio for a great tour!! Saw some interesting points that we wouldn’t think to normally visit, learned a lot about Julius Caesar’s life and legacy. Highly recommend this tour!
Rome
5.0Osvaldo
Very good and interesting tour
I liked it, I learned many new things about Julius Cesar's life and legacy, and also about politics and the society in ancient Rome. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly!
