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Travelling during a destination’s off season can be very rewarding. Sure, some of the more traditional tourist attractions may be closed or operating with reduced hours, but it is easier to get a feel for the real culture and have a more unique experience. Additionally, being a solo traveller presents its own challenges and rewards. While on a student exchange in Austria, I took a brief winter backpacking trip through Italy, ending up in Rome. Admittedly, I did very little planning beforehand, so I of course had a few bumps along the way. Once I found myself in Rome, after stops in Venice, Pisa, and the medieval town of Volterra, I had just three days before my train back to Vienna. With my lack of planning, I didn’t even have a list of what I wanted to see. I thought to myself, ‘What is there to see in Rome?’ and came up with a top of my head listing of the Coliseum and the Vatican (though technically not in Rome). After visiting these classic attractions, I visited the tourism info centre for some more ideas of where to go. I flipped through a listing of attractions, some of which were closed for the season. I stumbled upon the Villa of the Quintilii on the outskirts of Rome. I had no real idea of what to expect. The site includes a museum and the ruins themselves. The site dates back to around 155 AD. The museum portion houses artifacts that have been uncovered during their excavation work, which was still taking place. I made my way through the museum and out into the ruins. The site is so massive, that I found myself totally alone among the ruins with the only sound being the wind and my feet on the gravel. It was so peaceful and like stepping back in time. I walked along what was left of the ancient corridors through the villa, identifying the various rooms indicated on the map provided. There was even some of the original mosaic work and arches. Moral of the story: Don’t be afraid to travel off the beaten track. You never know what you may find!