Q&A with Local Expert Guides – Top Rome Favorites

Local Expert Guide Mauro Girella getting ready to drive his scooter around Rome!

Every traveler knows that the best places to get answers about anything is a local! We’ve invited some of our local expert guides to give us their insider information on what to do in their city. Who better to get advice about Rome from than a true Roman!

Mauro Girella:

What is your favorite trip outside the city? – Tivoli Villas. Emperor Hadrian built one of the best villas an emperor has ever conceived, with full harmony between the architecture and nature. A visit among the ruins is still fascinating today. Then Cardinal d’Este, in the mid-1500s built one of the most celebrated villas of Europe, the Villa d’Este – particularly famous for the hundreds of fountains decorating the spectacular gardens, almost all still working today! This can be a nice day, since it’s just 45-minute drive away from the city of Rome.

What/where is your favorite hidden gem in Rome? – The Barberini Palace and art collection. This spectacular papal residence, built by the best architects of the early Baroque, has been recently restored and shows all its beauty now. The collection is really breathtaking: hundreds of paintings, well-exhibited and well-lit, cover European painting mainly between 1500 and 1800.

When is your favorite time of the year in Rome? – Late February/early March. The weather is normally sunny, temperatures perfect for walking all day, but the city is still not invaded by hordes of large tourist groups.

What is your favorite annual event in the city? – The International Rome Film Festival. It normally takes place between the end of October and early November. You can see many movie stars in the luxury hotels around the glamorous Via Veneto, and there are a lot of events and presentations going on all over the city.

Mario Bernardi:

Local Expert Guide Mario Bernardi in action on the Appian Way

What is your favorite way of getting around the city? – I always recommend walking as much as possible, because Rome has hundreds of amazing spots and hidden views which will bring unexpected surprises. In case you need to use public transport, the Metro is always the best choice, as buses can be jammed in traffic for ages. Taxis can be a good option at night or for quick transfers in the city center, especially if traveling in groups of 3 or 4. Personally, I use my scooter to get around which is definitely the fastest – and also cheapest – way to get around; but unless you are an expert driver, I would not recommend driving a scooter around town as it can be very challenging.

What is the most touristy thing to do that you absolutely enjoy? – I have to say the view from the dome of St Peter’s or from the Vittoriano are spectacular, as well as any of the views that you can enjoy from one of the hills – either the Palatine Hill at the Roman Forum, the Aventine or the Gianicolo.

What is one thing you would recommend to avoid in Rome? – Public buses: they are awfully crowded and get stuck in traffic easily.

- Viator Travel Team

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Rome tours and things to do, Rome attractions, and Rome travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Rome, with Mauro or Mario for example, for a customized tour!