Protestant Cemetery (Cimitero Acattolico)

In the shadow of the Cestia Pyramid and the ancient Aurelian Walls, this extraordinary garden cemetery has been the burial ground for non-Catholics in Rome since 1716. John Keats lies here beneath a stone reading "Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water." Percy Bysshe Shelley's ashes rest nearby. Antonio Gramsci's simple tomb is a place of quiet pilgrimage.

But beyond its famous residents, the cemetery itself is a remarkable urban oasis — a dense garden of cypress trees, ancient stones and wandering cats. The grass is thick and green, the rose bushes bloom abundantly in spring, and the sound of the city barely penetrates. Entry is by suggested donation (€3). Visit on a weekday morning for absolute solitude.