Rome/Nomentano

The Nomentano area is easily reachable by bus from Termini Station (90) from Piazza Venezia or via Nazionale (60) or by Metro Line  B  (stops: Castro Pretorio, Policlinico, Piazza Bologna, Tiburtina).

• 🌍 Villa Torlonia. A magnificent patrician house with beautiful gardens. Construction of this villa began in 1806. Mussolini rented it from the Torlonia family for one lira a year to use as his state residence from 1925 onwards. It was abandoned after 1945 and allowed to decay but has been restored and is open as a museum, the Casino Nobile. The landscaped gardens also contain the Casina delle Civette, 3rd- and 4th-century Jewish catacombs and thirteen garden pavilions representing exotic parts of the world, as well as an air-raid shelter built into the catacombs for Mussolini. 

• Casino Nobile Museum, Via Nomentana 70 (in grounds of Villa Torlonia. Bus 36 from Termini station), villeparchistorici@comune.roma.it. 09.00-16.00 in winter and to 19.00 in summer. In the first half of the 18th Century the Torlonia family were leading collectors of works of art. This museum brings together some of their collection. You can also see the furniture used by Mussolini when he was in residence, as well as photos and films of him in the grounds of the Villa. €6.50 for the two museums in Villa Torlonia. 

• 🌍 Casina delle Civette, Via Nomentana 70 (in grounds of Villa Torlonia. Bus 36 from Termini station), villeparchistorici@comune.roma.it. 09:00-16:00 in winter and to 19:00 in summer. This strange-looking, but delightful, building has undergone several transformations since its original construction as a rustic hideaway from the main villa in the park. It underwent a significant redesign in the early 1900s and again in 1917. The emphasis of the museum is on stained glass. The twenty rooms include 54 pieces of stained glass replaced, after restoration, in their original positions, 18 pieces of stained glass acquired and displayed on separate frames, and 105 sketches and preparatory cartoons for stained glass in churches in Rome. €6.50 together with Casino Nobile. 

• 🌍 Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Piazzale di San Lorenzo. Houses the tomb of St Lawrence. This basilica dates back to the 3rd century, when the area was already well populated. Surrounding it is Rome's cemetery, the Cimitero del Verano. San Lorenzo was damaged by Allied bombs in 1943 and the facade has been rebuilt. 

• Drinking in the open. Do what Romans (students in particular) do: buy a cheap beer in one of the countless bar around and just hang out or stroll, observing people and enjoying the mildness of a Roman evening.

• Arancia Blu, Via Dei Latini (Via Tiburtina). Posh, overpriced and not that good, but the wine list looks impressive. 
• SAID, antica fabbrica della cioccolata, via Tiburtina 135. This restaurant used to be an old chocolate factory and preserves the original decorations. Very nice ambiance and a delicious buffet for lunch that varies every day and costs €10. A lot of veggie options, some fish and meat; only a few dishes a la carte. There is also a dessert buffet with lots of types of chocolates and chocolate cakes. 
• Da Armando, piazzale Tiburtino 1-3-5. Wednesday closed. A traditional Roman osteria with traditional Roman dishes as well as pizza. Lots of choice for both food and wine. Delicious homemade pasta. Prices are very reasonable and only few tourists. 
• Bar delle Scienze, via dei Liburni 28. A bar next to the university. Lots of students and faculty have lunch here. They have sandwiches and a small selection of dishes. Ideal for a quick lunch. 

• Pourquoi!, via dei Sardi & via dei Volsci. Impressive selection of (mostly Belgian) beers. A bit on the pricy side (a beer is €5), but they have a nice buffet for appetizers which comes with your drink for only €2-3 more.