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Borghese Gallery's Secret?
ngl the best hidden gem is the water clock itself, the orologio idrocronologico near the pincio gate. most people just glance at it but if u sit on the bench opposite for like ten minutes u catch the mechanism clicking, it's this weird bronze thing that runs on water pressure, totally overlooked. also the viale dei lecci, the shady path that cuts from the pincio down toward the piazza di siena, has these old marble busts half hidden in the ivy, some are missing noses or ears and nobody stops to look. if u want a real secret, walk past the temple of escalapio toward the bioparco fence, there's a gap in the hedge where u can see the old elephant enclosure from the 1900s, just moss and rust now. and the piazza di siena itself, when there's no horse show, the grandstand steps are empty and u can climb to the top for a weird angle of the whole park, feels like ur in a movie nobody's watching
If you've already done the Gallery, go looking for the little gate near the Pincio's water clock, the one that opens onto the path toward the Muro Torto. That stretch is mostly joggers and dog walkers, and there's a small, forgotten marble bench carved with a dedication to a poet nobody remembers. My other tip is the area around the Temple of Esculapio, not the temple itself, but the marshy edge behind it where the ducks hang out. The light through the reeds late afternoon is something else, and you can see the old fish pond that's been sealed off for decades, just a green, glassy rectangle. Also, the side trail that branches off near the Piazza di Siena entrance, before you hit the racetrack, leads to a cluster of old oak trees with a tiny, cracked statue of a nymph. It's not marked anywhere, and the moss makes her look like she's melting, but it's the kind of thing you'll remember longer than the Caravaggios.
the pincio side gets all the attention but if u cross the viale delle belle arti toward the galleria nazionale d'arte moderna, there's a staircase that drops down to a tiny pond nobody ever visits. it's not on any map, just a stone bench and some ducks. also, the casina di raffaello, the little building near the bioparco entrance, has a hidden courtyard with a mosaic floor that's been crumbling since forever. worth a peek if the gates are open. honestly the best trick is to go early, like 7am, when the groundskeepers are out and the only sound is the sprinklers. that's when u notice the weird stuff, like the statue of a dog with a broken ear near the piazza di siena. nobody knows why it's there.
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What are current tobacco prices for LM Blue or Chesterfield Blue?
tbh duty free at Riga is only worth it if you're buying cartons, single packs at the airport arent that much cheaper than teh tabaccai in Rome. also remember you can only bring a limited amount into the EU anyway so stockpiling has its limits
Chesterfield Blue usually runs around 5.50 to 6 euros a pack in Rome these days, though tabaccai prices are fixed by the state so it won't vary much shop to shop. Riga is generally cheaper for cigarettes but your layover time matters, if it's tight you might not have time to clear security and find a shop.
LM Blue in Rome is roughly the same ballpark, around 5.50 to 6 euros. One thing to keep in mind at Riga airport, the duty free selection isn't always great for specific brands like these, so if you're set on LM or Chesterfield you might strike out. I'd check what the actual duty free has before counting on it.