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Fondazione Pastificio Cerere
Pastificio Cerere, located in San Lorenzo, is an aged factory for pasta production of the city for more than 50 years. Name after Ceres, the goddess of fertility, the factory was established in 1905 that played a big role in feeding the capital during World Wars I and II.
The production stopped in the 1960s and after 10 years, the factory once again opened its doors as multifunctional artist space. Today, it serves as the home to design and artist studios, galleries, a photography school, and artist ateliers. The acclaimed Pastificio San Lorenzo restaurant is located on the lower level.
Palazzo Farnese
The stunning Piazza Farnese as well as its namesake Palazzo Farnese can be found just behind the tourist-filled Campo de’ Fiori. Palazzo Farnese houses the French Embassy in the city and is among the most significant High Renaissance villas in the entire area.
This was designed for the prominent Farnese family during the early 16th century and features some important works of art such as the elaborate ceiling fresco The Loves of the Gods by Annibale Carracci.
Piccola Londra
Found in the northern neighborhood of Flaminio, the small residential Via Bernardo Celentano street is truly a gem that is off the beaten path. With its row of multicolored houses of Liberty-style that features fences and private gardens, the place looks more like a little version of London instead of an alley in Rome.
The architect Quadrio Pirani designed the street during the early 20th century in the time of Mayor Ernesto Nathan who envisioned the city as a proper metropolis in Europe. While the urban project wasn’t able to spread beyond the tiny street, it was preserved really well and remains to be one of the best-kept secrets of the city.
Pozzo Corridor at St. Ignatius
The mother church of Society of Jesus, Church of the Gesu boasts of ceilings with striking trompe l’oeil effects. However, a more peculiar visual effect remains hidden in the Rooms of St. Ignatius next door. Andrea Pozzo, a Baroque painter, decorated the elaborate Pozzo Corridor that took inspiration from the Galleria Colonna in the nearby Palazzo Colonna featuring scenes of St. Ignatius’ life.
This is fascinating since the corridor itself was relatively tucked away and creates the impression that it was longer due to the slanted way it was painted. This why the figures become distorted when you approach them and look stretched if you look at them up close.
The vastness of Rome, both in terms of size and history, is the reason why some of its hidden treasures remain hidden to this day.