Do you want to know some cool and unusual things to do in Rome, Italy?
Rome is known for the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, and ancient history. Here you can visit famous fountains, partake in delectable food, and experience Stendhal syndrome galore. With lots of cool things to do in Rome, you really can’t ask for anything more in the Italian capital!
However, we dare you to go off Rome’s beaten paths and tour its macabre and haunted past – and other different ways to experience this fantabulous city.
14 Cool and Unusual Things To Do in Rome, Italy
Here are 14 cool and unusual things to do in Rome – from the curiosities to downright macabre, not necessarily in that order.
1. See the skull of St. Valentine at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin
St. Valentine lived in the 3rd century, martyred on 14 February in the year 269, for breaking a Roman ban on performing weddings. Because he is the saint associated with courtly love, his feast day came to be known as Valentine’s Day. This special day for lovers has been observed since at least the 8th century.
Myth and mystery surround this celebrity saint. Rome is just one of several European churches that lay claim to his remains. His skull is purported to be kept in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
A visit to this macabre relic is among the most unusual things to do in Rome – a must when in this enchanting city. However, please note that you can only enter the Basilica of Santa Maria if you are modestly dressed.
Check out these tours to enjoy these cool and bizarre parts of Rome.
2. Check out the embalmed hearts of popes
Would you like to get close to papal hearts? You can literally do it at Chiesa Rettorio di Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio Church, just across the Trevi Fountain.
The little Baroque church is dedicated to two saints, St. Vincent and St. Anastasius. It is where the embalmed hearts and precordia of 22 pontiffs are preserved in special urns. A must-see because nothing’s quite like it!
Want a guided tour? Find the best deals here.
3. See thousands of bones of friars in the Capuchin Crypt
The crypt under the Church of Saint Mary of the Conception of the Capuchins houses is decorated with the bones of more than 4,000 Capuchin monks. This includes an entire “crypt of pelvises.”
It’s a quick tour – you’re in and out in half an hour – but totally worth it!
4. See Jesus’ footprints and Benini’s bust of Salvatore Mundi
Once a pagan cemetery, the Catacombs of St. Sebastian have been used by Christians since the Middle Ages.
Here you can see Benini’s bust of Salvatore Mundi. To see the alleged footprints of Jesus imprinted on a stone, head to the Chapel of Relics, situated directly across the nave.
Also marvel at St. Sebastian’s martyrdom at one of the legendary arrows that struck him along with a part of the post to which he was tied. In case you’re curious, this did not kill him.
Learn more about this exciting tour here.
5. See the head of St. John the Baptist
The Basilica of San Silvestro in Capite is in the heart of Rome. It houses a famous relic – a fragment of a head said to be that of John the Baptist.
A very fine example of the most lavish Baroque style, the Basilica of San Silvestro in Capite was built in the 8th century and rebuilt at the end of the 16th. It is a gem you can admire without the oppressive tourist crowds.
Seeing a piece of the man who baptized Jesus is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Rome.
6. Visit the only “Egyptian” pyramid in Europe (The Pyramid of Cestius)
If an Egyptian pyramid in Europe surprises you, you are not alone.
First-time visitors to Rome will be surprised to realize just how much Egyptian stuff there is in the Italian capital.
The Romans actually built at least two pyramids and one them remains – the Peramide Cestia or Pyramid of Cestus. So this one we’re talking about is essentially a Roman pyramid. This is certainly one of the most unique things to do in Rome.
The immense pyramid – about 120 feet high – was built around 2,000 years ago as a mausoleum for the Roman magistrate Caius Cestius and his family. While its design is more reminiscent of Sudan’s Pyramids of Nubia, the Pyramid of Cestius is certainly an Egyptian influence on the Roman Empire.
If you’re visiting the “Roman” pyramid, make sure to also stop by the Cimitero Acattolico (Non-Catholic Cemetery) next door, one of Italy’s most fascinating cemeteries and also among the coolest things to do in Rome.
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7. See the cats in the ruins where Caesar was killed (Torre Argentina)
In Rome, cats are quite spoiled – by law. They can’t be bugged wherever they like to live. They seem to particularly like the site where Julius Cesar was murdered by conspirators in 44 BCE.
Colonia Felina di Torre Argentina is Italy’s most famous cat sanctuary and also the oldest in Rome. It is home to hundreds of felines that, by the Roman city laws, are free to live as they please. They are taken care of by volunteers called gattare (“cat ladies”) and some of these cats are available for adoption.
You must come by Torre Argentina – it’s an integral part of any trip to Rome. And while you’re here… both the gatti and the gattare will appreciate your donations!
More details about this tour here.
8. See the tombs of Roman emperors (Mausoleum of Augustus)
“… That one nearby, it teaches us that the gods themselves can die,” wrote the greatest Latin epigrammatist Martial on the first Roman emperor Augustus (and his relatives) entombed in il Mausoleo di Augosto.
At 87 meters in diameter, the Mausoleum of Augustus is the largest circular tomb in the world. Built in 28 BC, it had seen countless different uses since – from the original resting place to a garden, a bullfighting ring, and a theater.
9. Discover a hidden Art Nouveau courtyard (Galleria Sciarra)
A mere 2-minute walk from the Trevi Fountain, the elegant palace atrium called Galleria Sciarra is a feast for the eyes with its lavish frescoes and a glass-and-iron roof built in 1885.
This building is easy to miss if you don’t know where to look. But be assured that the interior courtyard is far more impressive than its façade – one of the absolutely cool things to do in Rome and definitely worth a visit, whether you’re an art or architure buff or not.
Find out more about this tour here.
10. Get “swallowed” by a monster house (Zuccari Palace)
Hidden from tourists in a famous place like the Piazza della Trinità dei Monti, right next to the Spanish Steps, lies the Zuccari Palace. Built as a studio in 1590 by the artist Federico Zuccari, this residence is well-known for its front door and windows that were designed to look like monsters’ heads.
If you’re in the area for the Spanish Steps, you should also definitely drop by the Zuccari Palace and take pictures. This is one of the most unique things to do in Rome, something you won’t experience in many places.
11. Hike a hill of Roman jars (Monte Testaccio)
This hill – called the Broken Pot Mountain in English – is an artificial mound made entirely of ancient Roman jars.
Monte Testaccio (spelling variant: Monte Testaceo) is also called Monte dei Cocci. It dates back to the time of the Roman Empire and covers an area of nearly 5 acres, making it one of the biggest garbage dumps in the ancient world. Monte Testaccio is 115 ft. high and deemed to have been higher back then.
Today, the area is teeming with bohemian life, night clubs, crowded restaurants, and street parties – the reason for its party reputation. Here you will also find one of Rome’s large produce markets.
Monte Testaccio is a wonderful place where you can spend some time looking at everything.
Book a tour to Monte Testaccio here.
12. See the ruins of the oldest shopping mall in the world (Trajan’s Market)
Trajan’s Market is an ancient market that is often considered the oldest shopping mall in the world. It is a large complex of ruins, an extension of Trajan’s Column, found at the opposite end to the famous Colosseum. It was built between 100 and 110 AD by Emperor Trajan’s attendant.
Trajan’s Market is now being used for archaeological research, an absolute must-see for anyone visiting the Italian capital.
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13. Enter an alchemist’s “magic door” (Porta Magica)
Also known as the Porta Alchemica (Alchemy Gate / Alchemical Door), the Porta Magica (Magic Portal) is a monument erected by a marquis sometime between 1678 and 1680. This “magic door,” situated in the middle of a Roman park on a hill near Piazza Vittorio, is the only remaining gate of the marquis’ grand villa.
Porta Magica bears alchemical inscriptions, hence, the monicker “alchemist’s magic door.” It also has statues of Egyptian gods.
Although it sits behind a massive fence, the Magic Portal in the park is a delight for anyone who needs a break from the crowded Pantheon and Colosseum.
14. Eat your hamburgers and fries next to a 2,500-year-old Roman wall
Fancy eating hamburgers and French fries beside an ancient wall? Then McDonald’s in Rome’s Termini Station is the place to go!
The fast-food restaurant has a preserved section of the Servian Wall that dates back to the 4th century BC.
This is the best – though not necessarily the healthiest – way to eat your fatty burgers and fries!
Once you’ve had enough of fast food, check out the following dining places in Rome:
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