Exploring Rome’s Hidden Classic Gems

It is common knowledge that the capital of Italy is one of the best cities in which to experience the delights of a stay in a design hotel. Rome offers so much by way of art history and visually appealing sights that no sophisticated art lover wishing to immerse in the city is likely to be disappointed.

The city’s main monuments provide enough art to sate even the most demanding palate; visitors willing to delve a bit deeper, however, will find their experience to be even more satisfying. For guests willing to explore the city beyond the confines of their design hotel, Rome offers a wealth of galleries and exhibition spaces with showcases to suit all tastes. Many of these also offer a number of different rotating exhibitions throughout the course of the year, so returning visitors may well be lucky enough to catch two different exhibits at the same venue at different points in time.

Below is a brief overview of some of the most popular art galleries in the Eternal City, to help avid art explorers draw up a suitable schedule for their stay.

Medieval Merit

Lovers of classic art will find the city yields innumerable delights. As one of the main centres of the Italian Renaissance art movement, as well as the home of the ancient Roman people, it presents many remnants of both periods, just waiting to be discovered by art enthusiasts on a tour of Italy.

The basilica of Our Lady, in Trastevere, is a good example of a lesser-known masterpiece within the city limits. While everyone has heard of the Sistine Chapel and its famous ceiling, this monument remains somewhat lesser known. Visitors willing to give this 340AD church a try will find it to be one of the best examples of art from a little-known period in Italian history, the Middle Ages.

Exploration of this era in time can then be continued at the National Museum of High Medieval History. Set deep in the heart of a borough originally built to showcase fascist power, this understated venue will offer a fascinating glimpse into the period in between the demise of the Romans and the rise of the Renaissance.

Another interesting site to include in this classic tour of the city is Sant’Ignazio, the Church of Illusions. Dedicated to Ignatius of Loyola – hence the name – this church stands out for its visually deceptive frescoes, which achieve a very impressive 3D effect when viewed from below.

All three of these sites – as well as a few others further afield, such as Ostia Antica – are mandatory stops in the itinerary of a classic art lover wanting to explore the Italian capital beyond their design hotel. Rome is full of undiscovered spots like this, though, so make your own luck and set out to look for a few more.

Looking for a great hotel in Rome? Roberta Stuart is the Travel Manager for Worldhotels, a company offering top class accommodation in a design hotel, Rome, as well as a selection of unique four and five star hotels around the world.