[ROME, ITALY] — When you get sick of all the tour buses and streets clogged with tourist groups, head up to the top of the Via Venato to the Villa Borghese Gardens, one of the most tranquil parts of Rome.  Vast, sprawling acres of grass, trees and cool little features, like a picture perfect rowing lake….with its own temple of course.  And because it’s high up, great views of the city and Piazza del Popolo.

PRO TIP: Here’s a great little secret way to get there. Save walking a thousand steps as you climb the hill by taking a series of free escalators from the Piazza de Spagna Metro stop.  Go into the entrance, but instead of buying a ticket, look for the escalators opposite the entrance to the subway, they pop you right off the edge of the park, on the top of the Via Venato.  Follow the signs for Village Borghese or Via Venato.  It’s an awesome way to scoot around.

I’ve never heard anyone say: “Yeah, they have way too many umbrella pines there….”

More Information on the Villa Borghese Gardens in Rome

Here’s a link to the Villa Borghese website. Recommendation on TripAdvisor. And on the official Rome Tourism site.