When visiting Europe, everything's always done in a rush. Take Rome,
for example, a city so large and so rich in history and art that even
Romans don't know it in full.
I've visited Rome plenty of times, and have stayed in youth hostels,
3-star pensions, and luxury hotels, but to be honest, it's quite
difficult to decide where you want to sleep. Say you're feeling stylish
and want to stay in a cool and hip hotel, where are you gonna look?
Traveling with the family? You'll need some child-friendly place where
kids are more than welcome. I found a comprehensive travel site where
hotels are packed under a specific collection (Romantic, Luxury,
Adventure, Historic Cities, etc..) Easy to search and book, I've found
curious boutique hotels and family-run lodgings to fit my budget.
Below, among a few accommodation suggestions, you'll find and be
delighted to discover what lies beneath the common guide books.
Drink
from the fountain of youth. Actually, it's just a fountain where Romans
swear you'll drink the best water in the city. The Fontanella in Villa
Borghese. Take Viale Aranciera and just before you get to the lake
you'll find a spout protruding from stone. Try it and let me know.
Keats and Shelley RIP. Visit the Protestant Cometary beside the
Pyramid, a lovely (strange, but true) and well-kept cemetery where the
noise of traffic abides and where Keats (and Shelley) eternally resides.
Fall asleep to the sound of music at Franklin Feel The Sound hotel,
just steps away from Vatican. All the rooms have different themes from
rock to soul, and with over 400 CDs to choose from at reception, you'll
never get bored.
See Rome through a keyhole. The hardest thing is to actually find
the quiet square atop the Aventine Hill, but you'll be rewarded once
you do. Peek through the hole of a large brass door, and be amazed by
the unexpected view.
Shoes fit for a Pope. Walk behind the Pantheon on Via dei Cestari
and find all the clergy clothes you'll be able to fit in one suitcase.
Find the famous Gamarelli store, the Pope's official tailor where they
make clothes in 3 sizes when a new Pope is elected: short and fat, tall
and thin, or average.
Business travelers' delight. Stay close but not too close to Rome's
international airport. Enough with the sterile rooms and unfriendly
staff! The brand spanking new Pulitzer Hotel is flashy, artsy and
well-connected to the city's attractions.
Dine and Wine. Take part in what 'politicos', international
gourmands and in-the-know-families claim to be heaven just steps away
from Navona Square. Casa Bleve, set in a stunning palazzo, offers an
extravagant yet affordable culinary experience with a wine cellar to
boast. Perfect for brunch.
