This car-free park covers 100 acres of wooded glades, gardens and grassy banks and offers plenty of space to run around in. Among its attractions are the landscaped Giardino del Lago, and a panoramic terrace on the Pincio Hill. Film buffs should head to the area around the Piazzale San Paolo del Brasile entrance, where the Casa del Cinema hosts regular film-related events.

Rome's highest hill is a superb viewpoint with sweeping panoramas over Rome’s rooftops, and has several summer-only bars that are blessed with thrilling views.

A great place to unwind, Rome’s botanical garden cloaks the steep slopes of the Gianicolo Hill. With 8000 species, including some of Europe’s rarest plants, Rome’s 30-acre botanical gardens are a little-known but must-visit gem.

This walled park is a romantic haven with towering umbrella pines and lawns planted with blooming orange trees. Be sure to bask in heavenly sunset views of St Peter’s dome and the city's rooftops.

With its grassy banks and colorful flower beds, this leafy park is a wonderful place to escape the crowds and enjoy a relaxed summer picnic. At its center is a 16th-century villa housing the Italian Geographical Society, while to the south stands a 12m-plus Egyptian obelisk. Legend surrounds this ancient monument with one story holding that the globe on the top contains the ashes of the emperor Augustus.

Stretched out on the slopes of the Aventine Hill, this idyllic garden boasts more than 1100 of the rarest roses, coaxed into life each spring by a team of horticultural experts. The ancient Circo Massimo plays backdrop, and is just as striking as the grounds themselves.

Once the private estate of King Vittorio Emanuele III, Villa Ada is a big rambling park, measuring in at about 395 acres. With shady paths, lakes, lawns and woods, it is ideal for a long walk. It explodes into life in summer when outdoor concerts are staged during the Roma Incontra il Mondo festival.