Rome can feel like a nonstop movie set, and sometimes it is hard to find a corner where you can breathe, sit, and actually draw. So I collected a few well known areas with quieter pockets from my sketch trips, and I ended up with five sketching spots that felt calm, inspiring, and very Rome. Here are the places I sketched, plus why I think you will love them too.
Aqua Alexandrina
What I love about Rome is that ancient architecture shows up when you least expect it, even in a normal neighborhood. Aqua Alexandrina was one of those moments for me, where I turned a corner and suddenly there were arches and old stone in the everyday city. It was quiet enough to sit down, look at the shapes, and enjoy the rhythm of repeating openings. I sketched it with my Tombow markers, keeping the lines loose and focusing on the contrast between the warm stone and the green ground. If you like quick urban sketching sessions with zero pressure, this spot feels like a secret.
My marker set you can here.
Coppedè Quarter
After visiting Galleria Borghese, I walked to the Coppedè Quarter, and it felt like I entered a different Rome. The architecture has that dreamy, theatrical vibe, with details you can simplify or obsess over depending on your mood. It also was not so crowdy when I was there, which gave me time to pick one building and commit to it. I used markers again to line and color, because this place is perfect for bold shapes and confident strokes. If you enjoy sketching facades that look like a fairy tale, put this quarter on your list. More about my sketch trip in Rome read here.
Verano Cemetery
Verano Cemetery surprised me in the best way. It is peaceful, full of trees, and packed with sculptures and monuments that feel like open air museums. I chose one angel monument and sketched it, and the whole scene already had its own composition with branches framing the statue and ivy climbing the base. It also was not overcrowded, so I could slow down and catch the mood instead of rushing. This is a great spot when you want to practice figures, stone textures, and dramatic shadows while staying in a quiet atmosphere. More about the most popular monuments and tombs of Verano find here.
Park of the Aqueducts
If you want to see even more aqueducts, this park is for you. It is wide, open, and the kind of place where you can sketch and also enjoy a picnic, a long walk, or a sunset. When I went there, I loved how the aqueducts sat in the landscape like giant broken lines across the horizon. I used my small watercolor kit for quick washes and then lined everything with a pen, because the evening light changes fast and I wanted to capture it before it disappeared. More about my Italian sketch trip (not Rome only) read here.
Santa Maria Nova (Basilica di Santa Francesca Romana)
This sketch I did from the Roman Forum, and yes, the Forum can be busy, but this view felt more спокойный if you step aside and focus. I loved the exterior of Santa Maria Nova and decided to sketch it with my pen, keeping it simple and graphic. The building has such a strong structure that it reads beautifully even with minimal lines and a few dark accents. Also the interior is amazing, so it is worth a visit even if you do not sketch inside.
These five places gave me the kind of Rome I always crave as an artist: quiet corners, strong shapes, and enough space to actually see. I love mixing fast marker sketches with slower pen studies. Rome makes both styles feel natural if you pick the right locations. If you plan a sketching trip here, build your days around calm spots like these, and you will come home with pages you really love. And if you want to sketch Rome with less stress, pack a small kit, keep it light, and let the city surprise you with its hidden gems.
