Aventino and Testaccio

From party times and fine-dining to leafy retreats
Noteworthy for: Aventino and Testaccio are two of the Seven Hills of Rome.
Popular plate: Try 00100 Pizza. This innovative boutique pizzeria has quickly gained notoriety for its twist on the classic dish as well as their own-recipe arancini ('Suppli').
The bacchanalian parties of Old Rome provide the foundations for today's in the southern quarter of Testaccio. A former ghetto, the area is now a melting pot of bohemian art types, culinary excellence and eclectic nightlife.
Testaccio restaurants serve some of the best food in the city - simple, rustic, and explosively delicious. The real draw of Testaccio however, is the nightlife. An abundance of nightclubs spill into the streets, and here resides a vibrant gay scene. You can find everything from sprawling electro clubs to salsa bars pumping Latin beats for people generally impeccably good at dancing.

Leafy Aventino, meanwhile, is quieter and replete with ancient temples and villas. Wander through the delightful Parco Sevello - surrounded by 12th century fortress walls - beneath the boughs of orange trees, or seek out the beautiful church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin and try your luck in the Bocca della Verita - his open mouth is fabled to bite off a liar's hand when placed inside.

For Guidepal's mobile app, click here