Create meetup in Romechevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
want to meet at fmd_good City Zoo
want to meet at fmd_good The Donut Shop
explore Rome Guides
bar_chart Trends in Rome
Villa Borghese Mysteries?
ngl the ghostly gardener thing hits different if you go at golden hour when the shadows get long. i live near porta pinciana and sometimes cut through the park at night, the fog off the lake makes it easy to imagine stuff. there's a specific bench near the galleria nazionale d'arte moderna where the rose thing happens, my buddy swears he saw one appear at dusk last autumn.
if you want weird statues that aren't in any guide, find the marble dog fountain near the pincio terrace. it's tucked behind some ilex trees and the dog's face is all worn down so it looks kinda sad and creepy. also the old puppet theater near the bioparco entrance is usually locked but the facade has these faded frescoes of monsters that are cool to stare at. the park's got way more character at the edges than the main drag.
honestly the ghostly gardener thing is real enough that the park guards have stories about it too. i've talked to a couple of them near the lake at closing time and they all said they've seen shadows moving where no one should be, especially around the old hedges near the tempietto di diana. one guy told me he found fresh dirt on a grave plot that hadn't been touched in decades, just shrugged and said "il giardiniere".
if u want a spot that's genuinely empty most days, head to the aviary near the piazza di siena entrance. it's this giant wire dome from the 50s with a bunch of parrots and peacocks that escaped ages ago, they just hang out in the trees now. no one goes there because it looks abandoned but the birds are cool and the light through the wire is pretty for photos. also the little cafe on the viale delle magnolie side does a better espresso than the touristy one near the museum, and it's half the price.
fwiw the ghostly gardener thing is real in the sense that locals genuinely tell it, not just a tourist thing. my roman friend said it's tied to an old groundskeeper who died in the 1800s and supposedly still trims the hedges near the lake at night. you'll notice some older benches there have a single rose left on them sometimes, locals say it's his doing.
if you want something truly off the beaten path, look for the "water theatre" near the eastern edge, it's a crumbling fountain with these weird marble masks that no one ever photographs. most people walk right past it because it's behind some overgrown bushes. also the little temple of aesculapius on the lake island is worth a slow walk around, the fake roman ruins vibe is kinda charming.
load 1 more reply
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.