The Eternal City: 35 Local Secrets to Unlock the Magic of Rome

31. Parco degli Acquedotti: Rome’s Ancient Backbone

This vast park in the Appian outskirts showcases towering remnants of the ancient aqueducts that once fed the empire. More than a photo op, it’s a lesson in infrastructure, engineering, and empire-building. Locals jog beneath these stone giants, children play football in their shadows, and shepherds still tend sheep nearby. The contrast is surreal: pastoral calm framed by the colossal bones of civilization. Go for the walk, stay for the humility.