Rome as you’ve never seen it, told through podcasts on Loquis: “Unexpected Itineraries of Rome” is born

Seven audio itineraries to discover a different side of the Capital, through urban memory, nature and new forms of contemporary expression

A lesser-known Rome, far from the most popular tourist routes, is brought to life through podcasts with Unexpected Itineraries of Rome, the new project promoted by Zètema Progetto Cultura on behalf of the Dipartimento Grandi Eventi, Sport, Turismo e Moda di Roma Capitale and developed in collaboration with Loquis, the world’s first platform for geolocated travel podcasts, which surpassed 10 million total listens and more than 2.2 million unique listeners in 2025.

The project was created to offer an alternative perspective on the city, transforming the visitor experience into an immersive narrative that guides residents and tourists through lesser-known places with a strong local identity.

Unexpected Itineraries of Rome, a project strongly supported by Assessore ai Grandi Eventi, Sport, Turismo e Moda di Roma Capitale Alessandro Onorato, consists of 7 audio itineraries, written and narrated by journalist Emilio Casalini, complemented by 42 short podcasts dedicated to specific points of interest, for a total of 49 pieces of content. The project is designed to guide listeners along themed routes while enriching the experience with stories, curiosities and details related to each individual location.

The itineraries create an unexpected map of the city. The journey begins in the Ostiense district, amid industrial archaeology, street art and the landscape of the fiume Almone, revealing traces of a productive and contemporary Rome far removed from its traditional monumental image. It then continues to Esquilino, with an urban trekking route that brings together basilicas, aqueducts, museums and social transformations, revealing the many layers of identity that define one of the city’s most complex neighbourhoods.

The narrative then extends to less-visited yet highly significant areas: Forte Bravetta, a place of remembrance now returned to the city as a public park; the aree archeologiche di Gabii e Osa lungo la Prenestina, which trace the earliest origins of the Roman territory; the borgo di San Vittorino, where the rural landscape meets history; and finally the Tor Marancia neighbourhood, where contemporary street art transforms the urban environment into an open-air museum.

Throughout the podcasts, the locations are not simply described, but become part of a narrative weaving together stories, anecdotes and different layers of interpretation, capturing the full complexity of the city. From traces of ancient Roman infrastructure to the transformations brought about by twentieth-century industrialisation, from social changes within neighbourhoods to new forms of artistic expression, each piece of content contributes to a deeper and more informed narrative, taking listeners beyond the surface of the traditional visitor experience.

Thanks to Loquis technology, the content is geolocated and can be listened to directly in the places being described, guiding visitors step by step along experiential itineraries that combine storytelling and discovery.

With Unexpected Itineraries of Rome, Zètema Progetto Cultura therefore gains a new tool for promoting and enhancing the local area, capable of telling the story of a less visible yet equally significant side of the city and encouraging a different way of experiencing it: slower, more mindful and more attentive to its many identities.

The content is available on the Unexpected Rome app and on Loquis, both via desktop and through the app, which can be downloaded free of charge from all app stores.

For further information: Spencer & Lewis for Loquis.