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<\/figure>\n\n\nPhoto Credit: <\/em>Max Dawncat<\/em><\/a>, Text Overlay: <\/em>Devour Rome Food Tours<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rome is a city of many layers. Almost anywhere in the historic center, you are probably walking on at least three levels of history. One of the city\u2019s newest metro stations gives you the chance to see how extraordinary this really is. While digging to create a new very modern metro line \u201cC\u201d stop at San Giovanni <\/a>workers came across thousands of archeological treasures. For the price of a metro ticket (\u20ac1.50) descend from the Middle ages through Imperial Rome and to Imperial Rome. The deeper you go the farther back in time you travel. At 100 feet below street level is the deepest part of the station and where there are remnants from the Pleistocene age. On display are fragments of painted ceramics and marble statues, tiny gold coins and colossal amphora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the enormous 2,000-year-old pyramid and you will know you are close to one of Rome\u2019s most peaceful spaces. Located on the edge of the Testaccio neighborhood<\/a> is the Non-Catholic Cemetery<\/a>. Since 1716 this green and lush expanse is where foreigners and non-catholic residents and visitors to Rome could be buried. This is famously the final resting place of literary notables like John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley and the co-founder of the Italian Communist Party Antonio Gramsci. Take your time to quietly meander amongst the elaborate tombs and thoughtfully tended exotic plants and flowers and pay your respects to Sarah Parker Remond who was an African-American anti-slavery activist and doctor and the heartbreaking sculpture dedicated to Emelyn Story by her husband the renowned sculptor William Wetmore Story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Walk past the line that snakes up and around towards the Campidoglio<\/em> for the Bocca di Verita<\/em> and look for the door to the 8th-century church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin<\/a>. Inside is a small glass reliquary rimmed in gold that holds the flower-crowned skull of Saint Valentine. The history behind the 3rd-century Roman martyr who became the patron saint of couples is murky at best. As far back as 354 AD, people talked about at least three different Saint Valentines that are connected to the date of February 14. No matter, embrace your romantic side and celebrate love with a visit to the unusual site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insider’s tip:<\/strong> Make sure to look down and admire the intricate and colorful marble floor in this church. The distinct Cosmati style was laid by a small and influential guild of Roman marble craftsmen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The distinctive dark gray cobblestones that pave the streets of Rome are called sanpietrini. <\/em>They are made from volcanic basalt stone and are still hand laid just like the first Roman streets during the reign of Pope Pius V almost five hundred years ago. Pay attention and you will notice golden-hued stones in front of some doorways. Made of brass, these plaques are called <\/em><\/strong>stolpersteine<\/a><\/em>. Translated from German this word can mean to stumble across something or to find out (by chance). These special stones are the work of a German artist Gunter Demnig to commemorate the victims of National Socialism notably people murdered by Nazis and also their surviving family members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ostiense is a modern and residential neighborhood a few metro stops from the Colosseum. The area in-between Piramide and San Paolo is rich in modern street art<\/a> in conversation with the ancient history of the area. Dozens of works were commissioned by the city of Rome. Roman artists include Alice Pasquini, Sten Lex, and Hitnes. The work of international stars like Blue covers an entire building on via del Porto Fluviale and the block’s long JBRock mural of famous faces called Wall of Fame on Via dei Magazzini Generali<\/em> is perfect for an interesting selfie-shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Escape the hoards that are crowded into the Vatican Museums and instead head across the river to the charming Palazzo Altemps<\/a>. You will likely have entire rooms filled with Roman-era sculpture all to yourself. Because it is so close to the Tevere the site was one of the largest marble warehouses in the ancient city. The 15th-century palace was once the home of Cardinal Marco Sittico Altemps who had a great eye for ancient artifacts. Like so much in Rome it is a historic jumble with remains of a 12th-century tower, Renaissance plaster decorations and 17th-century frescoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insiders Tip<\/strong>: Buy the combined ticket for \u20ac12 and you have entrance to all of the four Museo Nazionale Romano that is valid for 3 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Is Your Metro Station a Museum?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2. Visit the Non-Catholic Cemetery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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3. Find the Skull of Saint Valentine
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n 4. Hunt for Stolpersteine
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n5. Street Art in Ostiense<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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6. Palazzo Altemps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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7. La Rinascente
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