Slow Travel in Rome: A 7-Step Guide to Savoring the Eternal City

Step 1: Choose Your Ideal Accommodation

Rome offers a plethora of lodging options to suit every traveler's style and needs. Whether you're seeking a trendy boutique hotel, a family-friendly guesthouse, or a luxurious retreat, there's something for everyone. A useful resource for finding the perfect stay is Italian Collection, which categorizes hotels into collections such as Romantic, Luxury, Adventure, and Historic Cities, making it simple to search and book accommodations that align with your preferences.

Step 2: Savor the City's Best Water

Embark on a quest to find the Fontanella in Villa Borghese, where locals claim you can drink the finest water in Rome. Located along Viale Aranciera, just before reaching the lake, this unassuming stone spout offers a refreshing taste of the city.

Step 3: Pay Homage to Poetic Greats

Visit the serene Protestant Cemetery beside the Pyramid, where the hustle and bustle of traffic fades away. This beautifully maintained resting place is home to the graves of John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley, offering a peaceful retreat from the city's chaos.

Step 4: Experience Music-Inspired Lodging

For a unique stay, consider Franklin Feel The Sound hotel, situated near the Vatican. Each room is themed after a different musical genre, from rock to soul, and guests can choose from over 400 CDs at reception to personalize their experience.

Step 5: Peek Through Rome's Keyhole

Discover the Aventine Hill's best-kept secret by finding the quiet square and looking through the keyhole of a large brass door. This hidden gem reveals a stunning and unexpected view that is sure to amaze.

Step 6: Shop at the Pope's Tailor

Behind the Pantheon on Via dei Cestari lies Gamarelli, the official tailor for the Pope. Here, you can find clerical attire in various sizes, including the three sizes prepared for a newly elected Pope: short and fat, tall and thin, or average.

Step 7: Indulge in Culinary Delights

For an exquisite dining experience, visit Casa Bleve near Navona Square. Favored by politicians, international foodies, and savvy locals, this restaurant set in a magnificent palazzo offers an extravagant yet affordable menu, complete with an impressive wine cellar. It's the perfect spot for a leisurely brunch.

Interesting Stats and Facts

• Rome's water is renowned for its quality, with the city boasting over 2,500 public fountains, known as "nasoni." The water is sourced from the Peschiera Spring, 70 kilometers away, and is considered some of the best-tasting in Italy (Rome.info).
• The Protestant Cemetery, also known as the Non-Catholic Cemetery, is one of Rome's lesser-known attractions, yet it houses the graves of many notable figures beyond Keats and Shelley, including the poet Gregory Corso and the political thinker Antonio Gramsci (Cemetery's official website).
• The tradition of papal tailoring at Gamarelli dates back to 1798, and the shop has dressed every Pope since Pius IX (Gamarelli's official website).

By following these seven steps, you can transform your visit to Rome into a leisurely and enriching experience that goes beyond the typical tourist itinerary. Slow travel allows you to connect more deeply with the local culture and history, making your journey through the Eternal City truly unforgettable.