Sneak off for a weekend getaway to Rome and stay in Testaccio, one of the coolest hidden treasures of the city.
What is now the Testaccio neighborhood in ancient Rome was a city port where huge pots of oil were dropped off from boats that transported them from the port at Ostia. Broken clay pots over the years collected and ultimately created a mountain of broken pottery, known as the monte dei cocci. Now over grown with vegetation and businesses built into its base, the hill seems like a natural part of the landscape. But those millions of pieces of ancient pottery tell the story of the Testaccio neighborhood. An area often forgotten, at the turn of the century it was zoned for industry and labor housing but now it’s having it’s renaissance as the site of innovation, gentrification, and appreciation for it’s raw beauty.
Testaccio is rich with modern Roman culture, a neighborhood teeming with new innovative restaurants carved into the industrial landscape, trendy boutiques selling hand crafted clothes, accessories, and and art. Street art by local and international artists adds another dimension to the curb appeal as well as a visual investigation into the city’s social dialogue. The charming AP02 Testaccio vacation rental is located at the heart of the neighborhood, near all the area’s sites, and walking distance to the Piramide train and metro station.
The perfect weekend getaway holiday apartment
The AP02 Testaccio vacation rental is a charming 1 bedroom apartment on the second floor (no elevator) of a typical historic palazzo. The living room is spacious with an open kitchen and dining table as well as a pull-out sofa bed for children or another couple. The bedroom features a comfortable double bed and large wardrobe. The apartment offers comfortable climate control with air conditioning and independent heating, a washing machine and safe, as well as complimentary wifi access.
The apartment was recently redesigned with industrial touches to reference the historical influence of Testaccio. A large mural on the wall, the brain child of Italian actress and artist Anna Dissabo, brings an unexpected artistic flourish inside the apartment.
Spacious living room with eat-in kitchen, dining table, and pull-out sofa bed for a child or another couple.
Well-lit bedroom with a tasteful design
Spacious bath
Living room with eat-in kitchen, dining table and pull-out sofa bed for a child or second couple.
The exterior of the building, a typical palazzo for the Testaccio area.
The MACRO Museum, Cestia Piramide, and Mercato di Testaccio
A few of the sites not to miss in Testaccio include the MACRO art museum, Rome’s only piramide – the Cestia Piramide, and to grab a nosh, the recently opened Mercato di Testaccio.
The MACRO Museum (Museum of Contemporary Art) was built in the area’s old slaughter houses. Despite the macabre history of the place, the building was completely refurbished with lofty, bright spaces that host permanent and temporary exhibits by both Italian and international artists. For more information about current exhibits and the museum, visit the museum’s official website.
The stunning Carrera marble piramide of Cestius located adjacent the southern gate of Porta San Paolo has recently reopened to the public after several months of brilliant restoration. The piramide was built between 18 and 12 B.C. as a tomb for Caius Cestius, a wealthy magistrate. The piramide, a fashionable architecture taken from the Egyptians, is the last one to survive from ancient Rome. Now visitors can even enter the piramide to view the restored frescoes. Click here for more information on visiting the Piramid of Cestius.
The Mercato di Testaccio is a beautiful indoor market complex that houses dozens of local vendors from vegetables and meat to sandwiches and handmade leather goods. For our favorite stalls, read our blog post on the Testaccio Market here.
For even more of our go-to’s for Testaccio, have a look at our 10 lesser known monuments near Testaccio, our guide to non-tourist restaurants in Testaccio, and our Testaccio area guide!
What other guests have to say about the Testaccio vacation apartment by ROMAC.
Here are some of our most recent reviews from AP02 Testaccio apartment.
Phylis from the UK said:
We decided to make a 5 day trip to Rome just after Christmas. This apartment had a lovely bed room, the bathroom was large and there was a washing machine. The location was great-you can walk anywhere but also the bus line is just a couple of blocks away and the Metro at Piramide is a bit further but also an easy walk. The neighborhood was wonderful. The bar/coffee shop owners were friendly. We would highly recommend this apartment for a couple who might expect visitors to come.
Brigette from the UK said:
We had a wonderful stay in Rome. A very nice place Testaccio, and while we were there the inhabitants of Testaccio had a yearly celebration with a lot of music all day and night on Piazza Testaccio. And best of all no tourists but us.
