1. Underground Ruins: Beneath the bustling streets of Rome lie extensive underground ruins, including ancient Roman houses, temples, and even an entire city that can be explored through guided tours, providing a unique glimpse into the city's past. 2. Hidden Aqueducts: Rome is home to ancient aqueducts that date back to Roman times, some of which are still functional today. These aqueducts not only supplied water to the city but also contributed to the engineering marvels that supported Rome’s vast population. 3. Cultural Festivals: Beyond the well-known events like Carnival, Rome hosts many lesser-known cultural festivals throughout the year, celebrating everything from local cuisine to historical reenactments. These events provide a deeper insight into Roman culture and traditions that are often overlooked by visitors.
The housing market in Rome, Italy, is experiencing moderate growth in 2025. The city has approximately 1.3 million housing units, with about 22% of residential properties rented long-term. Around 48% of residents own their homes, while 52% are renters. As of 2025, the average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in Rome is €350,000. The median price per square meter to buy an apartment is around €3,036. Rental prices have seen significant increases, with a 13% jump in 2023. The median annual rent is approximately €132 per square meter. The real estate market in Rome is influenced by various factors, including the upcoming Giubileo 2025 event, which has sparked renewed interest in property investments. About 40% of homebuyers in Rome are purchasing properties as investments, with a focus on areas undergoing urban renewal. Public and social housing play a limited role in Rome's housing market, representing only about 6% of the total residential stock. This percentage is declining as the Italian state sells off its rental properties. Housing cooperatives are emerging as an alternative to address the shortage of affordable housing, but their market share remains small. These cooperatives often focus on rehabilitating existing buildings to provide housing for families on social housing waiting lists.
The city administration of Rome is grappling with a significant housing crisis, exacerbated by the upcoming Jubilee Year 2025. The city faces challenges including a shortage of affordable housing, rising rents, and a growing homeless population. To address these issues, Rome has implemented several initiatives: 1. Housing First Rome: A partnership between Cisco and local nonprofits to place homeless individuals into permanent housing and provide support services. 2. Public Housing Renovation: Projects like those in Tor Bella Monaca aim to refurbish existing apartments and construct new units, improving energy efficiency and sustainability. 3. Anti-Gentrification Measures: Efforts to stabilize and freeze prices of public housing tenancies, though implementation has been challenging. 4. Collaboration with Land Bank Authority and Housing Providers: The city is working with various entities to increase affordable housing options. 5. Pope Francis' Initiative: The Pope has called on the diocese of Rome to use available church properties for housing the homeless and those facing eviction. However, the city's efforts face obstacles, including bureaucratic challenges, limited resources, and competing interests. The administration has been criticized for policies that sometimes exclude marginalized groups, such as denying social housing to Roma living in formal camps. While Rome has set targets for creating more affordable and sustainable housing, the effectiveness of these programs remains to be seen, particularly in light of the pressure from tourism and the upcoming Jubilee Year.
Housing cooperatives play a significant role in addressing housing needs in Rome. They offer an alternative to state-provided social housing, which represents only 6% of the total residential stock in Italy. Cooperatives in Rome bring together people in precarious situations to fight for the right to housing. The city of Rome has implemented programs to promote cooperative housing, particularly through self-recovery (autorecupero) initiatives. In 1998, a regional law in Lazio allowed for the rehabilitation of 11 public buildings by cooperatives. This approach enables cooperatives to rehabilitate and manage public heritage apartments, with support from government programs. One notable project is the Vivere 2000 cooperative in Trastevere, Rome. In 1989, a group of people occupied an empty building and transformed it into cooperative housing with the support of an association. The municipality of Rome showed interest in this self-recovery project, leading to negotiations for an official contract. The city also supports cooperatives through measures like providing access to land, buildings, funding, and technical support. Some programs allow for the transfer of existing public and private buildings in need of maintenance to housing cooperatives. While specific data on the scale of cooperative housing in Rome is limited, these initiatives demonstrate the city's efforts to promote alternative housing solutions through cooperatives.