Unusual Things To Do In Rome ~ Street Art In Ostiense

It's day five of the week long series on unusual things to do in Rome.

During the Glam Italia Tour last month I took my ladies to see some of the things the tour buses don't go to. It's amazing how there can be (literally) thousands of people at a famous tourist sight, but 5 minutes walk away there is something else equally incredible, and no one there to see it.

If you are planning a trip to Rome I hope you will read these blogposts and venture away from the crowd to experience some extra wonderful things in the eternal city.

If you haven't read the rest of this series yet, either keep scrolling, or check out these links for the Teatro Marcello, Jewish Ghetto, Pyramid Of Cestius and Cemetery For Non Catholic Foreigners posts.

Today we are going to the Ostiense neighborhood to look at some spectacular street art, orchestrated by one of the best street artists in the world.

Street Art In Osteinse

Much of my beloved Trastevere has been defaced with graffiti over the past few years. Redundant tagging blamed on the immigrant population, lacking the quirky political messages and artsy vibe of typical Italian graffiti. It is such a shame.

Not too far away from Trastevere in a neighborhood called Ostiense there is some absolutely incredible street art. (big difference between mindless tagging and street art.)

image via Fotografia Errante

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image via New York Times

Fronte Del Porto is an former aeronautical barracks on the via del Porto Fluviale, given a facelift by one of the 10 best street artists in the world, Blu.

The windows have been turned into the eyes of monsters, each in it's own color, and each a work of art in itself. 
There are also oceanic motifs.

Blu's work addresses social and political issues including pollution, war and housing problems. 

Hombre Banana apparently already appeared in a mural in South America.

I experienced the murals courtesy of a taxi driver. I was asking him about the murals while en route to the ghetto for drinks. He said "lets go now!", pulled a U turn in traffic and jetted us over there (less than a 5 minute drive), and then gave us a guided tour of the art work and stopped for us to take photos, before catapulting us back to the other side of the Aventine for carciofi and spritz.

He had already quoted the fare to the Jewish Ghetto, but ever the gallant Italian he refused to accept any extra money for taking us to Ostiense, telling me it was his duty as a Roman to show me this fantastic art!