April 18th is the International Day of Monuments and Sites (IDMS), established in 1982 by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), followed by its adoption by UNESCO during the 22nd General Conference the following year.
Every year, ICOMOS proposes a theme for the activities to be organized by its members, national and international scientific committees, partners and anyone who wants to celebrate this day. The 2024 edition is dedicated to “Heritage changes“, a theme that is part of the Three-Year Scientific Plan 2024-2027 “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage – Preparedness, Response and Recovery” adopted during the 2023 General Assembly in Sydney.
Since 1980, UNESCO has included the historic center of Rome in the list of World Heritage Sites. Precisely for this reason, a walk in Rome is an opportunity to learn more about the hidden beauties of the capital. Furthermore, according to the GuruWalk portal, the Eternal City is in first place in the ranking of the 100 cities in the world to be explored by foot.
In honor of this occasion, Rome International recommends some walking tours to discover unusual places in the Eternal City:
Villa Torlonia: the complex of buildings and villas which takes the name of Villa Torlonia is located in the Nomentano district. Formerly owned by the Torlonia family, it was Mussolini’s residence, and since 1978 it has been a public park. Inside the villa it is possible to visit various museums: the Casino Nobile where the gas shelter and the anti-aircraft bunker have recently been reopened; the Casina delle Civette; the Museum of the Roman School; the Casino dei Principi and the Serra Moresca Complex.
Parco degli Acquedotti: one of the green lungs of the south-eastern quadrant of the Capital, the park is the perfect place for a walk in nature. Walking through the 240 hectares of greenery, you will have the opportunity to visit the remains of Rome’s ancient water network, including the Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus aqueducts. The last improvements to the park for the water and landscape restoration of the Acqua Mariana marrana date back to 2023.
Aventine Hill: we all know the Aventine as one of the seven hills of Rome, linked to the legend of the foundation of the city. Its relaxing beauty makes it an excellent place for walking. Among the recommended places cannot be missed Parco Savello, better known as the Orange Garden (Giardino degli Aranci) due to the presence of orange trees along the avenue. From here it is also possible to admire Rome from above. Near the entrance to the garden is the Villa del Priorato di Malta, known for the famous keyhole from which it is possible to see the Dome of St. Peter. Going back towards Circus Maximus, the building where ancient shows, competitive competitions and gladiatorial games took place, you also come across the municipal Rose Garden, a place where more than 1200 species of roses from all over the world are collected and which will reopen on the occasion of Rome’s birthday, April 21st. Not far away, there are also the famous Baths of Caracalla, one of the best preserved thermal complexes of antiquity.
Villa Borghese: this villa is another park in the city center. Its construction was started by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V, in 1608 but only in 1903 was it purchased by the Italian State. In addition to the large park, the villa offers other suggestive places. Among these, the Lake Garden where it is possible to rent boats and get closer to the center of the Water Mirror. You can also visit the Borghese Gallery, a museum where you can find a large part of the art collection started by the creator of the villa. Right from the park, you can also access the Pincio panoramic point, which offers an incredible view of Piazza del Popolo.