{"id":2198,"date":"2019-09-30T15:31:13","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T15:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\/blog\/?p=2198"},"modified":"2026-01-08T17:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T17:18:12","slug":"top-roman-history-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\/blog\/top-roman-history-sites","title":{"rendered":"10 Best Sites for Ancient History Lovers (which aren\u2019t overrun by tour groups)"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

You\u2019ve come to Italy to indulge your love of ancient history and to your frustration, the sites are full of slow-moving tour groups that are ruining the experience.\u00a0 Luckily, Italy is home to thousands of incredible sites, many of which are ignored. So when the crowds are getting you down, head in the opposite direction and indulge yourself in the beauty of the ancient world.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1. Herculaneum & Oplontis<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If Pompeii is on your bucket list, it’s on your neighbors list, as well. \u00a0Inching through streets filled with groups all heading to the same places can get in the way of you seeing what you came for. \u00a0Luckily, the UNESCO site that includes Pompeii also recognizes 2 other incredible nearby sites.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The smaller town of Herculaneum <\/a>is becoming more popular as people look for alternatives to Pompeii. <\/a>\u00a0 It\u2019s also much more informative for history buffs as the ruins are more in tact. \u00a0Falling volcanic rock destroyed the roofs and upper levels of most of the houses in Pompeii.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Also nearby is the modern town of Torre Annunziata, where the wonderful site of Oplontis is often overlooked.\u00a0 The ancient villa, which belonged to the imperial family, preserves brightly-colored frescoes in almost every room.\u00a0 Only the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii has anything comparable, but here you won\u2019t be competing with the masses.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Wall\r\n
Wall Painting from Oplontis<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

2. Ostia Antica<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you are strapped for time this trip, taking only half a day from Rome is a good solution. \u00a0The ancient port town at Ostia i<\/a>s a short train ride from the Porta San Paolo (Metro Piramide) train station in Rome, where trains leave about every 15 minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Many of the structures you will see are connected with trade and commerce, the source of the town\u2019s wealth during the heyday of the empire. We recommend getting a guide to accompany you and explain where each piece fits into the historic jigsaw and how buildings were re-purposed over time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"\r\n
The Greek theater at Ostia Antica<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

3. Ravenna<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The mosaics of Ravenna <\/a>are a good enough reason to come to Italy, yet their fame is drowned out by more well-known sites.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This tiny town in Emilia Romagna, which was briefly the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th<\/sup> century, is home to the most impressive examples of mosaics from this period.\u00a0 The town today is itself a gem, lovingly preserved and well-kept by the locals who are proud to show it to those who make the effort to visit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Detail\r\n
Details from the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Ravenna<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

4. Paestum<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It takes some determination to get to the temples at Paestum<\/a>, which is why this extraordinary site is often overlooked.\u00a0 The best-preserved Greek temples on the Italian mainland are about a 2 hour drive south of the Amalfi Coast. \u00a0To save time and increase your comfort, we highly recommend going with a private driver.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The awe of seeing these temples in person can not be substituted by anything in Rome or Pompeii. Delight in wrapping your arms around the columns and seeing how many people it takes to join hands!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"\r\n
Paestum<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In addition to the temples, the Salerno province is also known as one of the few places in Italy allowed to produce mozzarella di bufala<\/em>.\u00a0 While you\u2019re here, why not visit a local mozzarella farm to see the water buffaloes lounging in their pools and watch authentic mozzarella being made by hand?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

5. Tarquinia and Cerveteri<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you are interested in the more ancient periods of Roman history, there\u2019s plenty to discover about the Etruscans- the inhabitants of central Italy before the rise of Rome.\u00a0 Although the peaceful Etruscan city-states were wiped out by the war-loving Romans, the development of Roman civilization owed a great deal to them.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Villa Giulia museum in Rome is dedicated to the Etruscans, but the best sites are in the north of Lazio.\u00a0 The two best examples of Etruscan towns today are Tarquinia <\/a>and Cerveteri<\/a>, close to the Civitavecchia port.\u00a0 Both are UNESCO-protected sites.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Etruscan\r\n
One of the thousand tombs in the Etruscan necropolis at Cerveteri

<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The necropolis at Cerveteri is easily accessible, and you can walk in and out of the hut-like tombs, most of which are now sadly empty.\u00a0 Thankfully, the underground Tarquinia necropolis was discovered later and has been better preserved.\u00a0 The museum is filled with the treasures discovered in the tombs and a vast collection of sarcophagi. Clearly less vain than the Romans, the funerary sculptures are far more realistic depictions of the inhabitant. Wrinkles, receding hairlines and protruding bellies are all visible. Not like anything the Romans would later produce.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

There are dozens of tombs which can be visited, each with distinct and fascinating paintings. It may be best to avoid the narrow staircases if you suffer from claustrophobia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

6. Villa Romana del Casale<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In\u00a0Piazza Armerina,<\/a>central Sicily, an aristocratic villa was discovered. It was filled with the largest single collection of Roman mosaics ever found. Miraculously they have been left where they were discovered and not moved into a more accessible museum.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"\r\n
Scenes from daily life: The Bikini Girls exercising at Villa Romana

<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The 4th<\/sup> century mosaics are believed to have been made by African craftsmen, and include wonderful scenes of hunting, mythology and every day life.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

While the villa does make a good stopping point when moving from Palermo or Syracuse to see the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, we recommend going with a private driver.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

7. Hadrian\u2019s Villa at Tivoli<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Despite being a UNESCO site, the summer residence of the Emperor Hadrian isn\u2019t particularly well-kept these days.\u00a0 As there are not many markers to explain what you’re looking at, we highly recommend going with an expert guide who can bring the place to life. \u00a0You will be delighted by the world he created to escape the heat and the pressures of Rome.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While in Tivoli<\/a>, make sure to visit the town\u2019s other UNESCO site of Villa d\u2019Este and marvel at the incredible water gardens which operate entirely on the pressure of gravity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Hadrian's\r\n
Detail from Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

8. The Appian Way<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The ancient road of Appia Antica offers the perfect retreat from a crowded Roman day.\u00a0 \u00a0The road once connected Rome with the port of Brindisi in the south, from where the Romans set sail for Africa.\u00a0 Today, it is a green park surprisingly close to the city center.\u00a0 Come here on a Sunday when it is closed to traffic and makes for a wonderful walk or bike ride.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you\u2019re feeling energetic, walk from Circus Maximus, pass the Baths of Caracalla, until you come to the ancient city gate of Porta San Sebastiano.\u00a0You can also get a taxi here.<\/p>\r\n

Check out the museum inside the gate to walk along part of the ancient wall and go to the top of one of the turrets for great views of the park.\u00a0 Like the other sites on Via Appia, the museum is free (though donations are always welcome).\u00a0 Other sites include the Circus of Maxentius and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Via\r\n
The Appian Way<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You\u2019ll also find the Catacombs of San Sebastiano (closed Sunday) and San Callisto (closed Wednesday). The Catacombs of Domitilla (closed Tuesday) are also close by.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

9. Naples<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Not an unknown site, but far too many people think of it as a transfer point to the Amalfi Coast or the islands of Capri and Ischia. \u00a0Naples <\/a>once had a bad reputation with visitors, but the city has really cleaned itself up.<\/p>\r\n

The driving is still a harrowing experience and we wouldn\u2019t recommend renting a car here, but the city center is brimming with incredible history. \u00a0Don\u2019t be surprised to see rundown and abandoned buildings in the city center, change comes slowly here. Aim to stay in the more elegant areas around Piazza del Plebiscito and you will feel perfectly safe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Don\u2019t miss the spectacular (if rundown) archaeological museum,<\/a>which houses an amazing collection of ancient statues and the best discoveries from Pompeii. Other noteworthy sites are the Naples Underground tour of the Greek aqueducts and the Catacombs of San Gennaro.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Vesuvius\r\n
Naples<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

10. Baia & Pozzuoli<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Just a short train ride from Naples brings you to the volcanic Phlegraean Fields<\/a>, a supervolcano which is home to 24 craters (most underwater) and the phenomena of bradyseism <\/a>\u2013 where underlying magma and thermal activity causes the Earth\u2019s crust to rise and fall.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

In the case of Baia, this has caused parts of the ancient town to become submerged below the sea.\u00a0 It can be visited by a glass-bottomed boat, or for the more adventurous, by scuba diving or snorkeling.\u00a0 Parts of the town still remain above ground and the site is worth visiting just for the so-called echo chamber, which was modeled after Rome\u2019s Pantheon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Make sure to also visit the nearby\u00a0Piscina Mirabilis<\/a><\/em>, a monumental ancient cistern which is reminiscent of a cathedral. Then head back to Pozzuoli to see Italy\u2019s third largest amphitheater.\u00a0 Although not very impressive on the outside, the tunnels underneath where animals and gladiators were kept are particularly well-preserved.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Pozzuoli\r\n
Underground at the Pozzuoli Amphitheater<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For private tours of these and other ancient sites throughout Italy, contact our team of experts at team@italyvacationspecialists.com<\/em><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Italy is home to hundreds of incredible sites, so why compete with the crowds? Here are some of our favorite, often overlooked sites which are well worth visiting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":2207,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[130],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-luxury-private-italy-travel"],"yoast_head":"\n10 Best Sites for Ancient History Lovers (which aren\u2019t overrun by tour groups) - Italy Vacation Specialists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you want to enjoy Roman history without the crowds, take a look at our suggestions for sites which are usually free of big tour groups\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\/blog\/top-roman-history-sites\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 Best Sites for Ancient History Lovers (which aren\u2019t overrun by tour groups) - Italy Vacation Specialists\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you want to enjoy Roman history without the crowds, take a look at our suggestions for sites which are usually free of big tour groups\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\/blog\/top-roman-history-sites\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Italy Vacation Specialists\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ItalyVacationSpecialists1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ItalyVacationSpecialists1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-09-30T15:31:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-08T17:18:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/cerveteri.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"333\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jesse Andrews\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ivs33708249\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ivs33708249\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jesse Andrews\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\\\/blog\\\/top-roman-history-sites#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\\\/blog\\\/top-roman-history-sites\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jesse Andrews\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9916dd774692ae8aaee76b8d841ef908\"},\"headline\":\"10 Best Sites for Ancient History Lovers (which aren\u2019t overrun by tour groups)\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-09-30T15:31:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-08T17:18:12+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\\\/blog\\\/top-roman-history-sites\"},\"wordCount\":1554,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\\\/blog\\\/top-roman-history-sites#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/cerveteri.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Luxury & Private Italy Travel\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\\\/blog\\\/top-roman-history-sites#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\\\/blog\\\/top-roman-history-sites\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.italyvacationspecialists.com\\\/blog\\\/top-roman-history-sites\",\"name\":\"10 Best Sites for Ancient History Lovers (which aren\u2019t overrun by tour groups) - 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