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
„Pay what you wish” tours do not have a fixed price. It is up to you to evaluate your guide’s work and reward it. Some people give 10€, others 50€ depending on their satisfaction and abilities.
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 no matter the weather. High or low temperatures, rain or snow is not a reason for us to cancel our tours. We are always here for you. The only reason for cancellations are extreme weather conditions (like heavy storms…), guide's sudden sickness or no minimum number of people (5) to run the tour, but we will always let you know using the data you provided during registration for the tour.Booking rules
Booking is obligatory. Our pay as you wish tours are designed for individual travellers and small groups. We don’t accept parties of more than 7 people on them. If you travel in a party of 8 or more (school groups, bigger groups of friends etc.), please choose a paid option of 18€ per person or book a Private Tour. For more information on the latter, please contact us.
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.
7Testaccio 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
