Exploring Rome’s byways brings out the romance of the eternal city.
There is nothing quite like the city of Rome, with its history, its busy hub of Italy’s colourful population, its popular tourist sights, and of course all the mystery and romance of its little alleys and shops.
In what seems to be a household bookcase, the book shop on via Tomacelli welcomes the passer-by with its enormous windows showing shelves of books and the ladder used to reach them.
It is one of those wonderful suprises in Rome.
When you least expect it, between the fashion shops and Rome’s Ferrari Store, a real antique bookshop features; and stepping inside you do feel like you’ve entered an ancient part of the city that isn’t just about the Colosseum or the Pantheon.
In fact, the bookstore on via Tomacelli is full of vintage postcards and maps of ancient Rome.
Other gems in the shop include advertising from the turn of the century and autographed texts, and you can ask the owners just about anything, and they’ll ferret it out for you.
If you have a day to dedicate to Rome, away from the tourist sights and crowds, exploring Rome’s boutique shops and out-of-the-way places could be just what brings you closer to the kaleidoscope essence of the city.