For centuries, Rome has captivated the world\u2019s imagination. Its rich history and iconic landmarks, such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum, continue to inspire visitors. But to truly experience the Italian capital, you need to delve deeper.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s more to the city than just the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. I recommend you get lost in its side streets and alleys,\u201d says historian Alexander Mariotti. \u201cRome is a magical, mysterious and intoxicating city that never ceases to surprise you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Half-British, half-Italian, Alexander lives between Rome and London. His extensive knowledge of the Italian capital\u2019s history has made him sought-after by Hollywood superstars such as Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, as well as tourists who enlist him as a guide.<\/p>\n
It all started when Bill Gates asked Alexander to show him and his family parts of the city the average visitor never saw. Since then, the great and the good have all sought his services.<\/p>\n
He unveils the passion, artistry and history of Rome through trips to local markets, restaurants and archaeological digs.<\/p>\n
Why your visit to Rome should start at the market<\/h2>\n
When in\u00a0Rome<\/strong>, the first place Alexander heads to is the market, where he delights in the hive of activity from dawn to dusk, as market traders haul their wares over the cobbles providing a gateway to the past.<\/p>\n \u201cRoman markets are an orchestra of life; full of smells and sights rooted in history,\u201d he says. \u201cYou can buy huge tomatoes grown on the sulfurous slopes of\u00a0Vesuvius<\/strong>\u00a0for centuries, gargantuan oranges from Sicily and an array of colourful spices.\u201d<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find food markets dotted across the city on any given day of the week. According to Alexander, all are as good as one another, but for a true local experience he recommends Mercato San Giovanni di Dio in Monteverde.<\/p>\n \u201cWatch a theatre play out on the piazza until it is swept up and the piazzas become spaces to eat and drink.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to dining, Alexander opts for artistry over location. He believes it\u2019s the people behind a restaurant who imbue true luxury.<\/p>\n Massimo, the chef at Trattoria La Rosetta, is a third-generation restaurant owner and a true artist in the kitchen. He uses the freshest fish and\u00a0ingredients<\/strong>\u00a0available, crafting them into dishes with palpable passion. The result is incredible food that makes La Rosetta one of the best seafood restaurants in\u00a0Rome<\/strong>, Alexander says.<\/p>\n Over the years, he has dined there with the likes of \u2018Gladiator’ star Russell Crowe and Kourtney Kardashian.<\/p>\n In some places, artistry and location collide to make magic. Hostaria Antica Roma, run by chef Paolo Magnanimi on the Appian Way, is a prime example. The restaurant is surrounded by an ancient wall that dates to the first century BC, and you can also find ancient tombs and a circus area in front of it.<\/p>\n Paolo makes cheeses and bread to the exact recipe used in\u00a0Pompeii<\/strong>\u00a0almost 2,000 years ago. \u201cYour tastebuds will experience the same sensations someone had on the morning of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD,\u201d says Alexander.<\/p>\n For coffee, Alexander is loyal to his great-grandfather’s favourite shop, Sant’ Eustachio Caff\u00e8. For\u00a0gelato<\/strong> he heads to Flor or Gelateria Artigianale Corona Roma, a family-owned shop across the road from where Caesar took his last steps.<\/p>\n Get your coffee to go and visit an\u00a0archaeological<\/strong>\u00a0dig on the Appian Way, Alexander recommends.<\/p>\n Here, you can unearth\u00a0Rome<\/strong>‘s heritage as you walk on ancient cobblestones in the footsteps of soldiers returning from wars and gladiators’ great parades.<\/p>\n The archaeological excavation at Via Appia Antica 39 is open to the public and runs educational workshops.<\/p>\n For further glimpses into the city\u2019s enthralling past, head to\u00a0Largo Argentina<\/strong> square. Thought to be the scene of Julius Caesar\u2019s assassination, it opened up to the public with a new walkway last June. Where to dine like a local in Rome<\/h2>\n
Visit an archaeological dig on the Appian Way<\/h2>\n