We are hitting one month since the global traveling activities were decreasing to almost zero. My dear travelers, you are probably like me, missing the good feelings of walking outside, visiting the new places, meeting the different people, and experiencing different cultures and events. Actually, traveling is a way to understand our world and a journey of self-education. We can also do it at home easily! For example these days, I find a rabbit-hole on Youtube for the history and the secrets of ancient Rome! Literally, I am a Rome virtual tourist now! Guys, there are so many virtual resources online, and more excitingly, they are absolutely free (let’s not count the cost of the Internet and electricity)! Just in case you want to take the chance to learn more about Rome, I’ve made a list of all free virtual resources to which we can have easy access from our sofa or bed!
Short stories from the Instagram accounts
Rome is More
@romeismore is my all-time favorite. Why? Her account feeds are beautifully designed and curated, but more importantly, I love her very hilarious interpretation for each old Roman word or slang. Probably, I’ve been entertained more than been educated by her content.
Rome Guides
@romeguides is the first Instagram account I’ve followed to dig the Rome secrets. They are running Rome culture and art tours as a business, but also sharing many Rome stories and secrets in relation to history and art. Each day a short piece of Rome-related knowledge, not bad at all.
Musei in Commune Roma
@museiincommuneiroma is the official Instagram account for a network of Rome museums. I mainly get inspirations from their photos to plan out which museum or what artworks to visit next. Since it’s an official portal, you can also take it as a notice board for the latest events and announcements in your future Rome trips.
I’ve only listed three Instagram accounts above because I think they are typical enough to give you an idea of what you can learn about Rome in different ways. Personally, I use Instagram daily to get inspirations and sometimes, knowledge as well. I’m following much more than I’ve shared here, so if you are also frequent Insta-user, head to my Instagram Accounts To Follow For Rome for more suggestions.
In-depth reading in the blogs and local media websites
Blog: An American In Rome
If you search Rome local information or Rome blog on Google, you will probably see Natalie’s blog, An American In Rome. She’s awesome! She’s blogging about nearly everything about Rome, and plus some about Italy, from art to food, from history to city secrets. And she’s really hard-working. Her blog is closely following the latest news in Rome and Italy. My recent learn from her is about the origin of the word “Quarantine”, if you are interested, have a look from here.
Tour website/Blog: Walks of Italy
For art and history lovers, I highly recommend Walks of Italy. Yes, it’s about Italy, but you will find a good amount of topics covering Rome. They are running tours in the major Italian cities, but you can get very professional insights from their blog section. I love to read theirs when they are talking about history, art, and religion.
Magazines: Romeing & Wanted in Rome
Romeing and Wanted in Rome are two local magazines in English, as the valuable resources for the Rome expats, so they are perfect for us to find the local information. They have physical magazines, but I find their online presence easier to follow. These two are more suitable when I need some local news and get myself updated about what’s going on in my city. If you are looking for suggestions about what to do in Rome, what’s the current events and exhibitions in Rome, or even which restaurants are good to try.
Entertaining and also educating time on Youtube
Meet the Romans with Mary Beard
Tony Robinson's Romans
Also, I recommend the 4 episodes of Tony Robinson’s Romans by Timeline if you want to know about those key persons in the great Roman history. It covers Julius Caesar, Nero, and Caligula. The interesting thing that I like this documentary is, it not only shows the most important parts of ancient Rome history but also tried to analyze these three Roman Emperors in both good and bad ways. My favorite part is Nero’s story because he’s the key person related to my discussion on the Colosseum secrets. Before I only knew the negative stories about this last Emperor of the Julius Caesar line. However, after watching this documentary, I started to know Nero as an artist with the passion, an actually smart young Emperor capable to manage the whole Empire, and probably a good Emperor to risk his life in the Great Fire of Rome in 59AD, instead of making this fire as the rumor.
Rome: The World's First Superpower
If you just start to learn about ancient Rome, I suggest to start with Rome: The World’s First Superpower by Reel Truth History Documentaries on Youtube. It gives a high-level picture of the development history of Rome. The story starts from before Rome had its name until almost the end of the Roman Empire’s glory days. It’s all in total 4 episodes as well and after watching it, you will have a general idea of what is Rome, how it becomes a city from nowhere, and a couple of the greatest events in the ancient Rome history (and so “gossip” too).
Multi-task-friendly Podcast
Well, for podcasts, I have listened to many about female powering, digital entrepreneurship and many other lifestyle related programs. I haven’t listened to the Podcasts especially for Rome history. I think the most famous one is The History of Rome by Mike Duncan with more than 150 episodes and an award-winning Podcase. I’ve also searched a few more: The Fall of Rome, Emperors of Rome by La Trobe University, and History on Fire. I’ll try to listen to them and come back to you with my personal experience sharing.
Sharing is Caring
Awesome! I’m a homeschooling mom and always on the hunt for fun activities to enrich our curriculum! Will be pinning this for sure!
Hey Maureen, thanks! If for kids, maybe it would be better that you watch them first? As the story about ancient Rome is always a bit bloody and with sexual coverage… not sure how old are the kids 😀
Fabulous! This way all your readers will be Rome experts before the travel bans have been lifted. 🙂
I am giggling at the idiot abroad at the moment, but I like the idea of watching some timeline episodes about Rome. I’ll take a peek later.
I love that Timeline channel on Youtube as well! Already spotted a few great episodes that I want to make time and watch them!!! A true rabbit hole for history fan
This is awesome! Such a great resource for us who love to travel and learn about history. Thank you.
You’re welcome, and really, I’m glad that you love it.
This is such a fun way to explore a destination when we can’t travel. A tonic to ease the travel bug right now!
haha, tonic but no gin? 😀
We had a few glasses of Aperol Spritz this week also, just to cheer and pretend to be outside for Italian’s Happy Hour
Thanks for this great guide. What a wonderful way to explore Rome while we can’t travel. I’ll definitely be diving into some of these in more detail!
Hannah
Glad you enjoy it! Hope you will find the best one from my list.
These accounts looks amazing! Definitely following them
Yes, absolutely inspiring!
I love walks of Italy! It is such a good site. I’m going to need to check out some of those Rome documentaries on Youtube.
I hope you will love them!!! If you have other documentary suggestions, let me know :3
Lots of really interesting ideas how to virtually absorb a bit of the culture and history from Rome here. There is so much great art in Italy, the virtual tours sound especially cool!
Yes, Virtual Tour can be a great thing! But somehow, I’m lazy… opt-in those youtube videos easily 😀 from my sofa or bed
I love Rome! This is a great list. What a fun way to explore Rome even if you can’t actually visit.
Hey, I’m glad that you love it!
Love your recommendations! I’ll have to check out the podcast in Rome, I’d never considered this as an option.
There are actually more, but somehow, I’m not sure how much I can stick with if it’s only about history, history and history 😀
Awesome post, I was supposed to visit Rome this year, now I can have it at least in my living room
I hope that could help! Or, maybe soon you can visit Rome again, then you will be an expert by that time
What a great blog! I wouldn’t mind going back to Rome for a few hours 😉
Maybe I’ll start a new podcast, thanks for the inspiration.
haha, podcast is a good idea, coz we can listen to it when doing other things 😀
Great idea for the current difficult situation. I enjoy traveling virtually! Thanks for sharing!
Hey John, thanks! I’m glad that you enjoy the resources I’ve shared here and please enjoy your virtual Italy trip 😀