SOUTH ROME

When you think about Rome, chances are you only know about the main city center area. There's actually so much more to the Eternal City, and we spent a good chunk of our time in Rome this trip exploring the South side of the city! Starting at the city center and heading south, you'll run right into the bustling Testatccio neighborhood. The site of one of ancient Rome's original walls- this place is full of culture and history. You can find an amazingly preserved ancient pyramid (that's right- a pyramid in Rome!) and one of Rome's most vibrant food scenes in places like Mercado Testaccio, arguably the hottest spot in the city for street food. (Need I say more?) Head south from Testaccio to the next stop on our South Rome guide, Ostiense. The Ostiense neighborhood is an incredible area of Rome currently in the midst of a total transformation, and is quickly becoming one of the hottest young neighborhoods in the city. We spent our first few years of marriage living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, well known as one of the most "hipster" neighborhoods in the world. Williamsburg is full of culture, art, cool bars, restaurants and cafes. We've found that most major cities in the world have similar neighborhoods, and we always search for them because it's generally our favorite spot- Ostiense was just that! From Museums, cafes and art installations by day to a thriving nightlife scene by night, It's a must-visit area of Rome in our opinion. If you're looking for a rad part of the city without all the selfie-stick-swinging tourists but still close to city center and full of life, definitely plan some time in Ostiense. Beyond Ostiense, and a little further south you'll find one of the most intriguing areas of the city- the EUR area (EUR standing for Esposizione Universale Roma). This lesser-known neighborhood is an area of the city built under the rule of Mussolini in the early 1900s to commemorate 20 years of Fascism in Italy. Italy was chosen to host the 1941 world's fair, a #historicculture#bestislandtraveltowns#nationalpark