Rome

1. Ancient Aqueducts: Rome is home to an extensive network of ancient aqueducts, some of which are still functional today. The Aqua Claudia and Aqua Marcia are notable examples, showcasing Roman engineering prowess that allowed the city to thrive by bringing fresh water from distant sources. 2. Hidden Underground Sites: Beneath the bustling streets of Rome lies a fascinating underground world, including the Catacombs of San Callisto and the Basilica of San Clemente. These ancient burial sites and churches reveal layers of history, with structures built on top of one another over centuries. 3. The Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo): Often overlooked by tourists, the Janiculum Hill offers some of the best panoramic views of the city. It is also home to numerous historical landmarks, including the Garibaldi Monument and the beautiful Fontana dell'Acqua Paola, making it a serene escape from the crowded tourist spots.

In 2025, Rome’s housing market is experiencing robust growth, with average purchase prices reaching 3,590 euros per square meter—a 6.9% increase from the previous year. The rental market remains highly competitive; only 22% of residential properties are rented long-term, while a majority are owner-occupied. The median rent for long-term apartments stands at around 132 euros per square meter annually, translating to roughly 11 euros per square meter per month. Rental prices surged by over 13% in 2023 and have continued to rise, particularly due to increased demand and reduced supply as many apartments shift to short-term rentals for events like the Jubilee year. Publicly owned housing—often referred to as “social housing” (edilizia residenziale pubblica)—plays a limited but important role. In Rome, the share of public or social housing is relatively small compared to total housing stock and has been diminishing over time as former tenants are often allowed to purchase their units. Social housing primarily serves low-income or vulnerable groups, with eligibility based on stringent criteria. In the Italian context, “public housing” and “social housing” generally refer to the same concept; both provide subsidized rents, although social housing can sometimes extend to affordable (but not deeply subsidized) schemes. Despite public/social housing’s presence, the vast majority of Rome’s residents rent or own in the open market, with public or social housing making up only a minor share of total housing units. All prices and figures are provided in euros.

Rome is facing a severe housing crisis in 2025, driven by high demand, limited supply, and rapidly rising costs. Average home prices have risen sharply, and rental shortages are acute, with long-term rental listings just a fraction of those available for short-term lets. Around 18,000 families are on the waiting list for social housing, and 20,000 people are homeless in the city. Official data shows Rome saw over 3,500 eviction orders in one year—mostly due to tenants’ inability to pay rent after losing jobs—with more than 2,000 of those evictions enforced. Another 10,000 households live under constant threat of eviction. The groups most affected by this crisis include low-income families, vulnerable populations, the working and lower middle classes, and the homeless. Middle-class residents face mounting pressure as landlords pivot to short-term tourist rentals—especially during events like the Jubilee—reducing available long-term options. Even professional workers report being forced to move to the city’s outskirts after being priced out of central districts. With house prices and rents outpacing wage growth, affordability is a major obstacle for young people and first-time buyers. This tight housing market is further strained as investors and landlords prioritize short-term gains from tourism, leaving fewer homes available for permanent residents and deepening the crisis for those in greatest need.

Rome’s city administration is responding to the affordable and sustainable housing challenge mainly through urban regeneration, repurposing abandoned public assets rather than developing new greenfield sites. A flagship example is the transformation of a former military base into sustainable social housing, using a participatory, co-design process where residents shape project features. This model preserves community ties and adds public facilities—such as anti-violence centers, local markets, and intergenerational spaces—alongside energy-efficient housing and shared green areas. The city is prioritizing the reuse of derelict sites with integrated sustainable mobility and renewable energy components, aiming to improve environmental performance and social cohesion. These projects fall under frameworks like the National Innovative Programme for the Quality of Living (PINQuA), funded by national and EU recovery funds, with Rome channelling such support to increase public housing stock and retrofit existing units for energy efficiency. The most recently communicated city targets include maximizing the adaptive reuse of underutilized buildings, enhancing energy efficiency, and embedding social services within housing projects. These efforts are coordinated with policies to promote retrofitting and decarbonization of the city’s residential sector, seeking to align affordability with climate goals. However, concrete delivery remains modest, with urban regeneration and heritage conversion able to add only limited units annually in a city where demand is extreme. Rome’s recent activities emphasize participatory development, environmental upgrades, and resilience, rather than large-scale new construction, reflecting both funding and political constraints.

Housing cooperatives in Rome have a limited but historically significant presence, often operating as intermediaries between public housing and the private market. Traditionally, most Italian housing cooperatives—especially in Rome—function by collectively developing buildings, which are later sold to their members as owner-occupiers. More recently, "self-recovery" cooperatives have emerged, where residents rehabilitate abandoned or underused buildings, sometimes through agreements with the municipality. This model allows for community-driven, affordable housing solutions, but the scale remains modest. The share of cooperative housing in Rome is relatively low; precise figures are not published in recent data, but housing cooperatives represent only a small fraction of total housing units in the city, especially compared to public and private residential sectors. The sector has seen renewed attention because of rising housing costs and limited public social housing, but its expansion is constrained by regulatory, financial, and supply challenges. Current city policy supports cooperative housing primarily through facilitating self-recovery initiatives, promoting adaptive reuse of publicly owned assets, and encouraging participatory project co-design. Regional legislation—such as the 1998 Lazio law—has provided a framework, but large-scale cooperative housing programs are rare. Overall, while the municipality has recognized the potential of cooperatives for social inclusion and urban regeneration, their role in increasing affordable housing remains ancillary within Rome’s broader housing strategy.