Private Self-Guided Tours: Must-See Roman Neighborhoods

On this very spot stood the Temple of Marcus Aurelius, erected by Commodus to deify his father and make people regard him as a God. Learn about ancient Roman architecture and the city’s melding of ancient and modern history.

Visit the Pantheon, one of the most impressive structures still standing in the city which is a temple to every single Roman God! Originally built by Marcus Agrippa, a lieutenant of Augustus, in 27BC, it burnt down and was redesigned and reopened around 125AD, during the reign of Hadrian. Head inside this amazing structure, one of the most important relics of Imperial Rome standing today. Visit the last surviving remnants of one of the great bath complexes in Rome. The ones in this location were the second largest in Rome and were originally built sometime around 60 AD, during the reign of the infamous Emperor Nero. See the merging of old and new in person.

Originally built in the 3rd century as part of the Via Flaminia, an ancient road linking Rome to the North and the Adriatic sea, Via del Corso is one of the city’s most famous streets. The ‘Corso’, in its current name, relates to the horse racecourse which ran through here, as part of the carnival celebrations.

Cross Ponte Sant’ Angelo and arrive at the Castel Sant’Angelo. Then take a look to your left to see the breath-taking St Peter’s Basilica.

Pop into Caffe Guilietti for one of Rome’s best espressos. Coffee and the coffee bar are a huge part of Italy’s history and culture and, whilst they certainly did not invent coffee, they have been importing it since the 16th century. Learn about Luigi Bezzara’s invention, a machine that used pressurised steam and forced hot water through coffee grounds in seconds, creating a quick, small, hot drink that made coffee break shorter.

Welcome to the beautiful, vibrant Piazza Navona. Spot the Fountain of Neptune and the Fountain of the Moor. The figures here represent the rivers from the four known continents at its time of unveiling in 1651- the Rio de la Plata for the Americas, the Danube for Europe, the Nile for Africa and the Ganges for Asia.

Wander into the Mercato di Testaccio, the number one place to pick up the very freshest artichokes or source the best salty Pecorino Romano. Take in the sights, the smells, the sounds, the good-natured ease of neighbours drinking at the super-cool Chicchi & Lettere, the ebb and flow of market life in this old area.

Say hello to the cooks at Food Box, who serve mainly Roman street food with other regional dishes like Suppli and Carciofi alla Guidia. Learn about Rome’s relationship with fast and slow food.

Head through the city gate and into the ancient part of the city. Poke your head into one of Rome’s best traditional restaurants, Flavio al Velavevodetto, and pick from Rome’s four famous pastas: the Carbonara, the Gricia, the Cacio e Pepe, and the Amatriciana. Visit what once the largest butchery of its time in Europe, somewhere that remained the abattoir of Rome until 1975. Learn what defined Old Testaccio and how this part of Rome became a place for the people.

Casa Manco is known all over Testaccio afield as some of the finest Roman pizza in the city. While Italy cannot claim to be the birth of pizza, people have been putting toppings on flatbread since time immemorial and Italy can claim the birth of the modern pizza, in 18th century Naples

Weave into Piazza Testaccio, the old location of the market and home to a wonderful water fountain. This is also home to L’oasi della Birra or ‘the oasis of beer’. There are over 500 types of beer there and it’s an equally great location to grab cured meats like prosciutto or that lovely guanciale pig cheek that makes carbonara what it is! You can get cheese, chocolate or even wine!

Panna & Co's Gelato is stunning, made on site, fresh and tasty – with seasonal flavours of fruit or a simple taste of ecuadorian chocolate or pistachio.

Learn about Quinto Quarto, a cuisine known throughout the city and famous at Mordi e Vai. This stall is owned by the retired butcher Sergio Espesito, who takes one freshly baked crispy panino, chooses which offal dish to fill it with and, as the name says, go!