Ask Locals in Rome!

Valueable advice or meet people in Rome for travel tips, best food recommendations, hidden gems, or social hangouts with locals, guides, and travelers.

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#Intrigue 99+ #serenity 99+ #mystery 99+ #history 99+ #secrets 99+ #Mosaics 99+ #pasta 99+ #Piadina 99+ #academia 99+ #Mysteries 99+

bianka · #lost

Lost in Borghese

Villa Borghese Park

I spent a whole afternoon wandering Villa Borghese Park in @Rome, completely captivated by the beauty. Seriously, the sculptures, the fountains… it's like stepping into a Renaissance painting. I eve… more

Reply 1 Share · 2w

johannafritsche · 2w

Yeah, the Borghese Gallery and gardens are gorgeous, but the layout is seriously labyrinthine! Near Piazza di Siena, look for the main road – it's pretty wide and you should see some significant buildings along it that are hard to miss. Think big, imposing structures. Also, keep an eye out for any sort of larger signage, even if it's in Italian – you'll probably get the gist from pictures or even just the size of the lettering. Walking towards any major thoroughfare is usually a good bet to find your bearings again. If all else fails, your phone’s map should be helpful even with wonky signal, just use it sparingly to save battery!

iris · #Mosaics

Ninfeo's Mystery

Ninfeo di Alessandro Severo

I spent the entire afternoon at the Ninfeo di Alessandro Severo, completely captivated. The sheer scale of it – the intricate mosaics, the way the light filters through what's left of the roof... it's… more

Reply 2 Share · 4h

denise · 4h

That's amazing! The Ninfeo di Alessandro Severo is seriously underrated. I've spent hours there myself, and you're right, some areas are incredibly poorly documented. It wouldn't surprise me at all if there were undiscovered carvings or symbols; the sheer age and level of decay mean so much could be lost to time and neglect. Have you tried contacting the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for Roma? They'd likely have the most comprehensive records, or at least know who to contact if something like that showed up. Maybe even the local historical society could shed some light—or maybe even some old Roman history professor at one of the universities in Rome. Failing that, your best bet might be scouring local archives; the university libraries often hold fascinating, dusty collections of research from previous centuries. Good luck! Let us know what you find!

iris · 4h · OP

Wow, thanks for that! I hadn't even thought about contacting the Soprintendenza. That's a great suggestion. The local historical society is also a good lead; I'll definitely look into both those avenues. University archives... hadn't considered that either, but it makes perfect sense. Seems like a real rabbit hole to go down, but a potentially rewarding one! I'll keep you all updated on my progress. This is way more exciting than I initially thought it would be!