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From the 16th-century Villa Aldobrandini you can take in magnificent panoramas of Rome.

A triple-chocolate bomb with a cherry in the middle and topped with whipped cream is the famous tartufo produced by this café. If you get it “to go”, it’s a bargain, but it’s probably more romantic to sit inside and share one – as long as you don’t fight over the cherry (see Tre Scalini).

Saunter around arm-in-arm in this elegant park and take in a traditional puppet show, perhaps buy a puppet or two, check out the carousel, but most of all enjoy the views, considered by many to be the best in the city. If you happen to be here at noon, get ready for a shock when the cannon booms – a daily routine.

Built as the emperor’s summer retreat between AD 118-134, the area was a vast open-air museum of reproductions of Hadrian’s favourite buildings.

Believe it or not, the Fascist complex of EUR has a truly charming restaurant with huge picture windows overlooking the lake, where during the day you can watch boaters go by and the ducks paddle about. The food is simple but is as elegant as its surroundings (see Lo Chalet del Lago, EUR).

This modest collection of rollercoasters, carnival rides and funhouses in the Fascist-built suburb of EUR is a far cry from Euro Disney, but will fit the bill when only an amusement park will do.

This town boasts the greatest Hellenistic temple in Italy. Among the treasures unearthed here is a 2nd-century BC mosaic showing the Nile in flood.

When traipsing around ruins has sapped your energy, spend some time cooling down with the locals. This open-air swimming pool in EUR is Rome’s largest and most pleasant, with a special area for kids.

In AD 79 the volcano Vesuvius erupted, and this city was buried and preserved forever.