[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.

Few people visiting Rome really know about, or think of visiting, Villa Borghese Gardens. People totally overlook that big green blob in the upper left of their Roma map and head with the hoards to the old stuff.

But when you’re hot and sweaty and tired of the bus tour crowds, pack some vino and pannini and head up the hill to this tranquil, enormous shady park for a picnic, complete with its Dr Seussian trees, giggling ragazzi, couples strolling and a respite from the screaming Vespas… and only the occasional used condom.

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 turnstyles to the subway — the escalators are some of the steepest and longest in the Roma Metro and a hoot in themselves. Follow the signs for Villa Borghese or Via Venato.

The escalators poop you out right off the edge of the park, on the top of the Via Veneto. It’s an awesome little scoot-around.

When you’re in the heart of crowded Rome, there are very few places that you can get a stunning view over all the rooftops, monuments and churches. And, my favorite, where else can you get a birds-eye view of a 3,000 year old obelisk the Romans dragged all the way from Egypt just to stick in the middle of a traffic circle? God, I love Rome.

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.