There’s a long list of things to see and do when visiting Rome. You’ve got the famous Colosseum to explore, a trip to the Vatican City to fit in, some selfies to take on the Spanish Steps. Not to mention throwing some coins in the Trevi Fountain for good fortune.
But as well as visiting some of the ‘must-see’ sights, why not mix your trip up a bit and go to some of the stranger attractions Rome has to offer? And believe us, this city has a long list of those too – Here are some of our favourites!
Be a gladiator for a day
The main question we need to ask here is why this is not higher on the list of top Rome attractions? I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a gladiator for a day, seriously?
Well now you can be! The Roman Gladiator School runs a two-hour gladiator training programme where you will master the basics of hand-to-hand combat, get dressed up in all the gear and learn about Rome’s gladiator games and ancient history.
They even throw in free entrance to the Gladiator School of Rome Museum afterwards. The best thing about this attraction however, is that kids are invited to get involved too, making it a great day out for the whole family.
See a pyramid
Yes, you have read that correctly. Rome has a pyramid. You may be wondering what an ancient pyramid is doing right in the centre of Rome and to be honest, it’s a completely fair query to have.
The pyramid is actually a monument built around 12 BC as a tomb for Caius Cestius who was a member of one of the four great religious corporations in Rome at that time. Made with brick and white marble the Pyramid of Cestius is quite an impressive sight and definitely worth a visit if looking for something a bit random to see when in Rome.
Go to a Roman cat sanctuary
Currently home to 150 feline friends, the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary was set up as a volunteer project to care for some of the city’s stray cats. Volunteers feed, clean, look after and play with the kitties and what’s lovely is that visitors are always welcome to come in and see the cats too.
There are also schemes in place to allow visitors to donate money and even adopt any of the cats from a distance. And with the cats being sheltered in some of the oldest temples in Rome, this is not just a trip for the animal lovers.
Visit the Museum of Sanitary Arts
Perhaps not an attraction to visit after a big meal, the Museum of Sanitary Arts is not one for the faint-hearted. As you walk the halls of the Santo Spirito Hospital, now dedicated to the sanitary and healing arts, you will come across some very interesting exhibits. Expect to see babies with webbed feet, unicorn horns and even Siamese twins all preserved in jars – well we did warn you didn’t we? Maybe it’s a morbid curiosity that drives visitors here, or maybe it’s the free entry. Either way it’s an experience!
Look through a keyhole
It may not sound like the most exciting thing to do in Rome but trust us when we say that you will not be disappointed with this one. Located on Aventine Hill, the Aventine Keyhole is starting to become more popular among tourists, so don’t be surprised if there’s a bit of a queue.
It will probably seem quite odd initially but once you reach the keyhole you will see what the hype is about. Perhaps it was planned, or perhaps it’s just a very lucky coincidence, but the keyhole lines up a stunning view, with St. Peter’s Basilica right in your eyeline.
Get yourself over to Rome’s weird attractions pronto! We can help find great deals on flights, hotels and last-minute breaks!
