Day 3 - Aventine Hill, Testaccio and Sunset on Tiber Island
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5/22/20262 min read
Your final day is about quiet views, Roman food culture, and the river.
Morning Transfer from Studio Paolina
From Cavour Metro Station, take Metro B toward Laurentina and get off at Circo Massimo. From there, walk up toward the Aventine Hill. The journey is usually around 10-15 minutes, plus the uphill walk.
Morning - Giardino degli Aranci
Start at the Giardino degli Aranci, the Orange Garden. In the morning, the air can smell faintly of citrus and damp stone, and the terrace offers one of Rome’s most beautiful views over the Tiber and the historic center.
It is a soft, romantic beginning to the day - quiet enough to feel private, even when other visitors are around.
Late Morning - Santa Sabina
A few steps away, enter Santa Sabina, one of Rome’s oldest basilicas. Its beauty is austere and graceful: ancient columns, wooden doors, pale light, and an atmosphere of deep calm.
Late Morning - The Aventine Keyhole
Continue to Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, famous for the keyhole view that perfectly frames the dome of St. Peter’s.
It is a tiny theatrical moment: one eye, one keyhole, one perfect Roman surprise.
Lunch - Da Bucatino
Walk down into Testaccio, one of Rome’s great food neighborhoods. For lunch, go to Da Bucatino, a classic spot for traditional Roman cooking.
Testaccio is the opposite of polished tourist Rome. It is generous, direct, flavorful, and full of local character.
Afternoon - Testaccio Market
After lunch, wander through Testaccio Market. You will find produce stalls, street food, fresh pasta, Roman snacks, and the hum of everyday life.
This is a good place to taste something small even if you are not hungry: a supplì, a slice of pizza bianca, or a seasonal fruit from a vendor.
Late Afternoon - Riverside Walk
In the afternoon, follow the river along Lungotevere Testaccio toward Isola Tiberina. This is a slower, quieter walk, with plane trees overhead and the sound of the Tiber below.
By the time you reach the island, the city begins to change color.
Sunset - Isola Tiberina
End your itinerary on Isola Tiberina, one of Rome’s most atmospheric places at dusk. The bridges, the water, the reflections, the old stone - everything feels suspended.
It is a beautiful final chapter: less spectacular than the Gianicolo, perhaps, but more intimate.
Dinner - Sora Lella
Book dinner at Sora Lella, a historic Roman trattoria on the island. It is a fitting finale: traditional, beloved, and full of Roman soul.