A spring walk in Rome to discover its hidden places.

There is no place like Rome in the springtime. The sun is shining, the air is warm, the trees are blossoming, and the flowers are blooming. La primavera arriva! This is the best time to go on an urban trek and to discover the lesser-known places of the Eternal City. Let’s seeking out these hidden treasures, places that only the savviest of Romans know. Churches, domed cathedrals, public squares, statues and fountains - all are steeped in symbolism and meaning that we shall discover together. 

Here's some places from the ebook UNKNOWN ROME from Amazon Kindle Store at 3,00 $ 

1. Through the Aventine Keyhole
Up on Aventine Hill there’s a wonderful view you’d never know existed. Head to the locked green gates of the Priory of the Knights of Malta and find the ornate keyhole. Look through this keyhole and you will see the impressive dome of St Peter’s Basilica standing majestically at the end of a tree-lined avenue. Such a view doesn’t stay secret for long so you may have to wait a little for you chance to take a peek – but it’s well worth it.

2. The Non-Catholic Cemetery
If the buzz and busyness of Rome city centre all gets a little too much, take some contemplative time out at the Protestant Cemetery, now known as the ‘Non-Catholic Cemetery’. This peaceful spot backs onto the Pyramid of Cestius and is a great place to relax in the afternoon sun. You’ll spot a few well-known names on a wander around the tombstones too, like English poets John Keats and Percy Shelley.

3. The Museum of the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Located in the back of the Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio on the banks of the Tiber, the tiny century-old Piccolo Museo Del Purgatorio, or "Museum of the Holy Souls in Purgatory," holds a collection of bibles, prayer books, tabletops, and articles of clothing said to have been singed by the hands of souls in purgatory.

4. The skeleton crypt
Located on Via Veneto, near Barbarini Square, the crypt  is a small space comprising several tiny chapels located beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. Entrance is by donation, the door manned by a Capuchin monk. The bones in this crypt are nailed to the wall and arranged in patterns: cross, floral, arch, triangle and circle, as well as forming objects. A large clock is composed of vertebrae, foot bones and finger bones. The single hour hand represents the idea that time has no beginning or end.

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