Slow Rome in a Weekend: Aventine, Testaccio and the Appian Way
Rome can be enjoyed like this too: no endless queues, no rushing from one monument to the next, just a few well-chosen places and the time they deserve. I studied and worked in Rome for years, and these are the routes I always suggest when someone asks me what to see in a weekend.
This piece has a second purpose, though: to show you how a trip can become a page in your Blogness portfolio. First the itinerary, moment by moment; then a few ideas for telling it through photos and captions, plus a template you can borrow.
Saturday morning — The Aventine
Begin on the Aventine, one of the calmest corners of central Rome. The Orange Garden (Parco Savello) sits beside the Basilica of Santa Sabina, and from its terrace the view sweeps from the bend of the Tiber all the way to St Peter's. Give yourself a few quiet minutes here: it is the best way to settle into the pace of the weekend.
A short walk on is Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, designed by Piranesi. Through the keyhole of the gate of the Villa Magistrale of the Sovereign Order of Malta you see the dome of St Peter's perfectly framed. There is often a short queue, but it moves quickly.
Saturday lunch — Testaccio
Walk down to Testaccio, a down-to-earth, authentic neighbourhood. Its local market is the place to taste Roman cooking among stalls of fruit, vegetables and quality street food (see Lonely Planet's entry). Take your time: this is a place of everyday life, not a tourist attraction.
Saturday afternoon and evening — Along the Tiber to Trastevere
After lunch, follow the river towards Trastevere. Skip the busiest streets and lose yourself in the lanes around Santa Maria in Trastevere and San Francesco a Ripa, where the neighbourhood keeps its character. Stay in the area for dinner, and choose a neighbourhood trattoria over the spot with the most photographed view.
Sunday morning — The Appian Way
Spend the second day outdoors. The Appian Way Archaeological Park protects one of the most famous Roman roads in the world, with original paving stones, tombs, villas and aqueducts. It is best explored by bike or on foot: according to Turismo Roma, the park area offers bike hire and a cycle path, and the Appian Way is closed to traffic on public holidays. Do check the latest information on the official websites before you set off.
Ride or walk the stretch between the Tomb of Caecilia Metella and the area around the Villa of the Quintilii, stopping whenever something catches your eye.
Sunday afternoon — The Park of the Aqueducts
If you still have energy, head to the Park of the Aqueducts, part of the regional park. At sunset, the ruined arches across the meadows are a sight few visitors ever see, and the perfect ending to a slow weekend.
How to turn the weekend into a portfolio page
A trip told well is not a list of places but a short story with a beginning, a middle and an end. This is how I would shape it.
Fewer photos, carefully chosen. Eight to ten images are enough: one for each moment of the day, mixing wide views with details (a market stall, a stone on the Appian Way, the light at sunset).
Captions that tell a story. Not just "Orange Garden", but how it felt to be there. For example: "Saturday morning: Rome from above, before it is fully awake."
A note on what you would do differently. This is the most useful part for readers: perhaps you would start earlier, or give the Appian Way more time. Honesty makes a portfolio credible.
Clear keywords. Pick three to five keywords, such as #rome, #slowtravel or #itineraries, so that people looking for inspiration can find your story more easily.
A template to borrow
Title: place + mood (e.g. "Rome, unhurried").
Introduction: two lines on why you chose this trip.
Day by day: morning, lunch, afternoon, evening, with one photo each.
One practical tip for every stop.
"What I would do differently": three honest lines.
Useful sources: the official websites you relied on.
Practical tips
Get around on foot, by bike and by public transport: cars are restricted in the historic centre by limited-traffic zones (ZTL).
Wear comfortable shoes: cobblestones and Roman paving test even seasoned walkers.
Bring a refillable bottle: Rome has countless public drinking fountains (the "nasoni").
Always check opening times on the official websites before you go, especially on public holidays.
You never finish discovering Rome, which is exactly why it is worth slowing down. How would you tell the story of your Roman weekend? Create your page in your Blogness portfolio and share it: we would love to see your Rome.
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