Fifteen minutes from Rome’s historical center–excluding the capital’s manic traffic, of course–stands an archway joining two ambassadors’ palaces, from which a large wrought-iron chandelier descends; this arch marks the (rather grand) entrance to the quirky Coppedè neighborhood.

Describing Coppedè is hard–not just because of its beauty (which is difficult enough to put into words), but for its sheer eccentricity. To illustrate Coppedè in broad strokes is no way to do the district justice. A complex of 26 mansions and 17 small villas, Coppedè counts architecture of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles with elements of Greek, Gothic, Baroque, and even Medieval art–a testament to the metropolis’s diverse artistic influences.