Sign-In
Cart
Weird Rome Travel: Ancient Gladiators, Secret Keyholes, Talking Statues, Cat Sanctuaries, Vatican Oddities, and Other Roman Nonsense
Paperback
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Sep 3 2026
Pages: 214
Weight: 0.64
Height: 0.45 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Rome was not built in a day, but it has been blocking traffic ever since.
Welcome to a city where emperors fought as gladiators, sacred chickens influenced military decisions, sewer covers judged liars, and anonymous statues insulted popes before social media made public humiliation convenient.
Weird Rome Travel takes you beyond the standard ruins-and-gelato tour and into the stranger side of the Eternal City. Wander through the Colosseum and Roman Forum, descend beneath churches into forgotten temples, follow a papal escape passage to Castel Sant'Angelo, and meet the cats now ruling the ruins where Julius Caesar was assassinated.
Along the way, you will discover:
- The Roman emperor who treated the gladiator arena like his private talent show
- The pyramid standing beside a modern metro station
- A church decorated with thousands of human bones
- The mysterious Aventine keyhole and the sovereign order behind it
- Talking statues that became Rome's anonymous political critics
- Ghostly carriages, haunted handprints, and legends of headless women
- A daily cannon blast that tells Rome it is time for lunch
- Ancient gods displayed inside a former power station
- The disputed origins of carbonara, crispy Jewish artichokes, and pastries large enough to ruin a clean shirt
Written for travelers exploring by metro, tram, bus, and foot, this humorous guide blends useful neighborhood context with bizarre history, local legends, cinematic Rome, Vatican oddities, practical transportation advice, and enough pasta drama to threaten international relations.
Whether you are planning your first visit or already know your Pantheon from your pasta, Weird Rome Travel reveals a city that never removed its past. Rome simply built another church, apartment, road, café, or cat sanctuary on top of it.
Also from
Wann, Guy
Weird Outer Banks and the North Carolina Coast: Blackbeard, the Lost Colony, Wild Horses, Shipwrecks, Ghost Lights, Hurricane History, and Strange Bar
Wann, Guy
Press, Sparktrail
Paperback
Strange But True: THE WEIRD HISTORY OF FAILED INVENTIONS: Rocket Mail, Radioactive Products, Flying Cars, Exploding Engines, and Other Brilliant Ideas
Press, Sparktrail
Wann, Guy
Paperback
Strange But True: THE WEIRD HISTORY OF THE TUDORS: Executions, Rotten Marriages, Royal Tantrums, Religious Chaos, Phantom Pregnancies, and Other Compl
Wann, Guy
Press, Sparktrail
Paperback
Strange But True: THE WEIRD HISTORY OF FISHING: Ancient Hooks, Monster Fish, Bizarre Baits, Fishing Feuds, Record Catches, Tall Tales, and Other Stran
Wann, Guy
Press, Sparktrail
Paperback
Also in
Italy
Moon Florence & Beyond: Day Trips, Local Spots, Strategies to Avoid Crowds
Cohen, Alexei J.
Paperback
La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language
Hales, Dianne
Paperback
A Bite-Sized History of Italy: Gastronomic Tales of the Roman Empire, Renaissance, and Republic
Callegari, Danielle
Hardcover
Fodor's Best of Italy: With Rome, Florence, Venice & the Top Spots in Between
Fodor's Travel Guides
Paperback
Lonely Planet Italy: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Rome, Milan & the Lakes, Venice, Tuscany and More
Williams, Nicola
Bocco, Federica
Bonetto, Cristian
Paperback
Rough Guides Sicily: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Palermo, Catania, Mount Etna and More
Guides, Rough
Belford, Ros
Paperback
Rough Guides Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Naples,
Guides, Rough
Dunford, Martin
Paperback
Day Walks in the Dolomites: 50 Short Walks and All-Day Hikes in the Italian Dolomites
Price, Gillian
Paperback
Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World
Doerr, Anthony
Paperback
Rough Guides Rome: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: The Colosseum, the Vatican, Trastevere a
Guides, Rough
Paxton, Norbert
Paperback
Lonely Planet Experience Italy: Build a Trip to Remember Local Insights Maps & Planning Tools Covers Rome, Turin, Milan & the Lakes, Venice, Florence,
Raub, Kevin
Corrias, Angela
Bonetto, Cristian
Paperback
The Miracle of Castel di Sangro: A Tale of Passion and Folly in the Heart of Italy
McGinniss, Joe
Paperback
The Heartbeat of Italy 2026: From Historic Cities to Picturesque Villages
Marchetti, Alessandro
Paperback
Lonely Planet Pocket Rome: Discover Twice the City in Half the Time Top Sights Maps & Walking Tours Covers Colosseum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain an
Garwood, Duncan
Digaetano, Virginia
Paperback
Insight Guides Sicily: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Culture & Society Must-See Sights Stunning Photos Expert Advice Covers: Palermo, Mount Etna,
Belford, Ros
Insight Guides
Paperback
Lonely Planet Southern Italy: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Naples & Campania, Puglia, Calabria & Basili
Bocco, Federica
Bonetto, Cristian
Blasi, Abigail
Paperback
DK Top 10 Sicily: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
DK Top 10 Milan and the Lakes: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
Lonely Planet Florence & Tuscany: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Florence, Siena Central and Southern Tus
Zinna, Angelo
Bocco, Federica
Paperback
DK Top 10 Rome: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
Lonely Planet Rome: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Trastevere, Vatican City, Tivoli and More
Digaetano, Virginia
Blasi, Abigail
Garwood, Duncan
Paperback
Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Italy: 40 Driving Itineraries Detailed Directions & Maps Local Tips Covers Rome, Dolomites, Florence, Amalfi Coast, Tusc
Averbuck, Alexis
Atkinson, Brett
Clark, Gregor
Paperback
DK Top 10 Italian Lakes: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
Old World Italian: Recipes and Secrets from Our Travels in Italy: A Cookbook
Thorisson, Mimi
Hardcover
Insight Guides Tuscany: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Culture & Society Must-See Sights Stunning Photos Expert Advice Covers: Florence, Siena, Ch
Insight Guides
Steinhardt, Solveig
Paperback
Moon Southern Italy: With Sicily, Puglia, Naples & the Amalfi Coast: Best Beaches, Local Food & Wine, Ancient Sites
Moon Travel Guides
Sarris, Linda
Thayer, Laura
Paperback
Lonely Planet Naples, Pompeii & the Amalfi Coast: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Naples, Pompeii, the Ama
Sandoval, Eva
Digaetano, Virginia
Blasi, Abigail
Paperback
Lonely Planet Experience Tuscany: Build a Trip to Remember Local Insights Maps & Planning Tools Covers Florence, Val d'Orcia; The Central Coast; Pisa,
Gray, Mary
Zinna, Angelo
Geddo, Benedetta
Paperback
Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted
Hawes, Annie
Paperback
Italy Cocktails: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by Italia
Feinstein, Paul
Hardcover
Italian Wine: The History, Regions, and Grapes of an Iconic Wine Country
Leahy, Kate
Lindgren, Shelley
Hardcover
Italy's Shrines and Wonders: Discovering Sacred Spaces, Fascinating Places, and Destinations Off the Beaten Path
Tomeo, Teresa
Paperback
Lonely Planet Pocket Venice: Discover Twice the City in Half the Time Top Sights Maps & Walking Tours Covers Piazza San Marco, Mercato Dell'antiquaria
Hardy, Paula
Buckley, Julia
Paperback
Italy - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Culture Smart!
Tomalin, Barry
Paperback
DK Top 10 Florence and Tuscany: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
In the Abruzzi: Travels in Southern Italy at the Turn of the 20th Century; The History, Culture and Folklore
MacDonnell, Anne
Paperback
DK Top 10 Venice: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
Italian Verbs Made Easy Workbook: Learn Italian Verbs and Conjugations The Easy Way
Lingo Mastery
Paperback
Lonely Planet Venice & the Veneto: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers San Marco, Dorsoduro, Cannaregio and Mo
Bonetto, Cristian
Dragicevich, Peter
Paperback
Food of the Italian South: Recipes for Classic, Disappearing, and Lost Dishes: A Cookbook
Parla, Katie
Hardcover
Italy's Shrines and Wonders: Discovering Sacred Spaces and Fascinating Places in the Life of St. Francis of Assisi
Tomeo, Teresa
Paperback
The Rough Guide to Tuscany and Umbria: Travel Guide with eBook
Belford, Ros
Guides, Rough
Buckley, Jonathan
Paperback
A Rosie Life in Italy: Move to Italy. Buy a Rundown Villa. What Could Go Wrong?
Meleady, Rosie
Paperback
Magia a Venezia: An Italian Short Story for Beginners (A1-A2 CEFR) Learn Italian with a Simple Story Set in Venice
Capilli, Serena
Paperback
Michelin Travel Guides Short Stays: Rome: Fully Updated and Includes Detachable Map
Michelin Editions
Paperback
Seeking Sicily: A Cultural Journey Through Myth and Reality in the Heart of the Mediterranean
Keahey, John
Hardcover
Rough Guides Walks and Tours Rome: Travel Guide with eBook
Guides, Rough
Steinhardt, Solveig
Paperback
Lonely Planet Pocket Florence & Tuscany: Discover Twice the Region in Half the Time Top Sights Maps & Walking Tours Covers Duomo, Tower of Pisa, Flore
Zinna, Angelo
Williams, Nicola
Paperback
Alta Via 2 - Trekking in the Dolomites: Includes 1:25,000 Map Booklet. with Alta Via 3-6 in Outline
Price, Gillian
Paperback
Rough Guides Mini Milan: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Duomo, Brera, Navigli and More
Guides, Rough
Steinhardt, Solveig
Paperback