There’s no getting around it: Rome (and the rest of Italy) is absolutely packed this summer. The Colosseum, Vatican, and Spanish Steps are on everyone’s A-list of sights to take in while visiting Italy’s capital, and these iconic attractions are often overrun with tourists even in relatively slow years.

This season has been the busiest in the history of tourism to the Eternal City, so it can be a challenge to even approach these headliners (tickets to the Colosseum and Vatican Museums are selling out within minutes of going online), much less enjoy them in peace. Luckily, Rome has endless ancient and historic treasures to explore, so you don’t necessarily have to follow the beaten path.