Close
If you look at our location on a map you’ll see we’re in that part of the city centre around which the River Tiber bends. This is the beating heart of Rome, and number one in the list of municipal zones. Growing up during the renaissance period, this spellbinding area is without doubt the most beautiful and atmospheric area of one the the world’s most stunningly beautiful cities.
A topological view of the city will also reveal that this sacred and blessed area is right in the midst of Rome’s legendary seven hills. Originally swamp land, the ancient Romans were able to drain it, in one of the first ever examples of the engineering ingenuity that they would later become so renowned for throughout the world. They then named it after their favourite pagan god of war.
As well as being the nickname of the city’s football team, Rome is known throughout the world for its sheer undeniable magic and that magic is no more prevalent in any part of the city than here, with its famous, atmospheric yellow-haze street lights in the balmy summer evenings and the endless labyrinth of cobbled streets punctuated by marble statues, fountains and lovers.
If this is renaissance Rome, you’ll find Catholic Rome just a few minutes’ walk to the west when you cross the Ponte Sant’Angelo to the Vatican City’s protective fortress and beyond that, St Peter’s Basilica. East is ancient Rome, with the Roman Forums and Colosseum. North is trendy hipster Rome in the form of Monti, and somewhere in the midst are financial and political Rome.
The nearest sights of historical interest are Piazza Navona, home to original masterpieces by Bernini and Borromini; the best-preserved pagan temple in the world in the Pantheon; the aforementioned Castel Sant’Angelo; the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps and so much more. The history is in every nook and cranny, every cobblestone and every single building.
Of course there’s a gamut of restaurants throughout the historical centre - speak to our concierge for recommendations. The area is also home to an abundance of artisan studios and boutiques, fine Italian clothes shops and street artists. There’s a vibrant nightlife to be witnessed in nearby Campo de’ Fiori and beyond that the numerous jewellers and street food of the Jewish Ghetto.
Speak to our concierge about tours of Rome’s innumerable treasures. St Peter’s, the Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel is at least a day. Ancient Rome, the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill is another - and we’re barely getting started. There are the cathedral basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore, San Paolo and San Giovanni; the ancient Roman port of Ostia Antica. The list goes on.
Eating well in one of the world’s premier tourist destinations can be a little bit of a mine field and we’d highly recommend getting out of the city for a truly fine culinary experience. Nevertheless there are food tours - and let’s not forget the wine tasting - for those who really know the difference and are prepared to hunt out the genuine article. Check out pizza al taglio too!
If you’re visiting the eternal city for long enough you may like to take a brief excursion out of town to one of the countless Lazio towns or lesser-known spectacles. Hadrian’s Villa is enough to make the architects of Mar-al-Lago weep, while you can taste the genuine porchetta in Arezzo or gaze at the sun setting over Rome from the wine-producing hillside town of Frascati just an hour away.
