Make your own way to Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island), a picturesque Rome island linked by Ponte Fabricio, the oldest bridge in the city. Here, meet your local guide and small group outside San Bartolomeo all'Isola (The Church of St Bartholomew) to begin your 2-hour walking tour of Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood. A medieval suburb made up of a labyrinthine web of alleys that are lined with aromatic bakeries and legendary gelaterie (gelato shops), Trastevere offers a charming mix of old and new Rome.

Stroll over Pons Cestius (Cestius Bridge) to the Tiber River’s right bank, perhaps picking up a refreshing grattachecca (traditional hand-shaved flavored ice) from one of the little kiosks (own expense). Then, follow your guide through the maze-like pathways of Trastevere. Gaze up at the washing lines that are strung out from the apartments above your head and see the area’s traditional family-owned osterie (small eateries) and art galleries.

As you walk, listen to your guide tell you about the area’s transition from a working-class neighborhood into one of the locals' favorite nighttime hotspots. Arrive at Basilica of Santa Cecilia and hear the fascinating local legend of St Cecilia, a Roman martyr who died on the site where the church now stands.

Continue on to Piazza Santa Maria, the beating heart of the neighborhood and a fantastic spot to mingle with the locals and observe daily life in the district. Take a seat on a bench and admire the square’s 12th-century mosaics before recharging with mouthwatering Italian specialities from a popular nearby bakery (own expense).

Next, walk together with your guide to Piazza Trilussa, a popular meeting point for the young locals, and see the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola, which was once fed by Aqua Traiana (Trajan Aqueduct). Your tour then concludes at Ponte Sisto (Sixtus Bridge) in the early evening, leaving you perfectly placed to head into central Rome or return to one of Trastevere’s osterie for dinner.