ROME - MY BEST TIPS FOR THE ETERNAL CITY

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Rome - the Eternal City and place of the longing of my youth - has so many sights that one visit is not enough. This metropolis's incredibly long, 3,000-year history and the many archaeological sites, museums, churches, and galleries make your city trip an unforgettable experience. Rome is a huge open-air exhibiton and the epitome of "la dolce vita."

LUXURY HOTEL IN THE FASHION DISTRICT OF ROME

In December 2022, I spent a few days in the Italian capital. I stayed at the superb luxury hotel JK Place Roma (awarded five stars in the Forbes Travel Guide 2023). From there, it is only a few minutes walk to Via Condotti, which with its side streets, is the fashionable centre of Rome and at its end leads to the famous Spanish Steps (Piazza Spagna) - a must for all visitors to the city. You should climb the 185 steps to the Trinità dei Monti church. The view from the top is magnificent. Note, however, that you are not allowed to sit on the stairs (anymore). 

Tip: Next to the Trinità is the Villa Medici with the French Academy, a beautiful building of the 16th century. From the adjacent park, you have a fantastic view of Rome to St. Peter's Basilica - not to miss. In the café, you can relax from the hustle and bustle of the city with a cappuccino or espresso.Take some time to stroll through the district below the Spanish Steps, where you will find numerous galleries and restaurants in addition to all the luxury boutiques.

Cool Fashion at Bottega Veneta

We were invited to an event in the villa of the designer brand Bottega Veneta - what an experience! The latest fashions are presented here in historic walls from 1865 with modern designs. The world-famous actress Ornella Muti was a testimonial in the sizeable noble boutique that opened at the end of 2021 - if that doesn't mean anything...!

If you stroll in the other direction, you will inevitably come to the Tiber (Tevere) and already see Castel Sant Angelo and the pompous St. Peter's Basilica. Castel Sant'Angelo was built in 139 and has been used for various purposes over the centuries. If you're planning a visit, booking your ticket in advance is best to avoid queues. 

POMP AND SPLENDOUR IN PETER'S CATHEDRAL

From Castel Sant'Angelo, it's only a few minutes walk to St Peter's Basilica, a Renaissance masterpiece with works by such influential artists as Bernini and Michelangelo. As in all churches in Italy, admission is free. However, it would help if you were prepared for long waiting times or booked a tour to get past the queue and learn a lot about the ostentatious cathedral simultaneously. To put it mildly, I'm not big on the Catholic church, so I spared myself the (repeat) visit.

COLOSSAL - THE COLOSSEUM

Another must-see on your visit to Rome is the Colosseum (UNESCO World Heritage Site), dating from 70-80 BC, which in its day could seat 80,000 people for the brutal events. Tip: The Colosseum is wonderfully illuminated in the evening and even more interesting than during the day. Directly opposite, there are numerous restaurants (some with roof terraces) with the best views. Walking a few steps further, you will also find plenty of relatively inexpensive restaurants.

Not far away is the Roman Forum (Forum Romano), once the centre of urban life in ancient Rome. Today, the eldorado for archaeologists, is the most important excavation site in the city and bears witness to the remains of the Roman civilisation. Cat lovers will have their hearts beat faster - the Forum is home to numerous kittens.

ROME - CITY OF FOUNTAINS

Rome is the city with the most fountains in the world. A total of about 2,000 are said to exist. The most famous is the Fontana di Trevi - made famous worldwide by Fellini's film "La dolce Vita". But be careful - like film star Anita Ekberg, you must never climb into the fountain! Built in 1726, it is a masterpiece of baroque art - but unfortunately always very crowded.

ROMAN HUSTLE AND BUSTLE 

Rome has many beautiful squares - the most splendid is the Piazza Navona with its pretty market. On the piazza, you can experience the typical Roman hustle and bustle up close. Here you will find the Fountain of the Four Rivers, designed by Bernini, and the baroque Church of Sant'Agnese from the 17th century.

WORLD FAMOUS: GALLERIA BORGHESE

As mentioned above, Rome offers an infinite number of museums. If you have little time, check out the Galleria Borghese with works by Bernini, Canova, Titian, and Caravaggio. The gardens with the Pincio Terrace are also worth a visit. Tip: Make sure to book online in advance, preferably as part of a guided tour.

DISCOVERING THE UNKNOWN ROME WITH ACCESSITALY

So much (and in brief) for the well-known sights of Rome (although my article claims to be incomplete, of course). Suppose you have already been to Rome or have enough time on your first visit. In that case, I recommend a tour with the agency Accessitaly. Company founder Angelo Amorico and his sons Marco and Simone have built a network throughout Italy to offer their guests unusual, tailor-made tours. We had the pleasure of visiting the studios of two offbeat artists together with the charming tour guide Valeria.

Dante Moret crafts crafts the artistic reproduction of your hand.He has done that with celebrities such as Robert de Niro and Kirk Douglas. Moret also produced a gold-plated replica of Pelé's feet a few years ago - a work that is surely now worth a fortune following the football icon's recent death.

SCULPTURES MADE OF CHEWING GUM

Even more interesting, I found the studio of friendly, award-winning artist Maurizio Savini, who produces life-size sculptures made of chewing gum (read that right!) and everyday objects. The unusual works reach prices of up to 50,000 EUR and are coveted worldwide. By using chewing gum, which can neither be recycled nor composted and is laborious (and costly) to dispose of, Savini is making an environmental statement simultaneously - great! As a parting gift, he gave me the book "System Change" by the Italian economist and social scientist Albert T. Lieberg, who, among other things, works as a consultant for the United Nations and is committed to strengthening civil society and social justice. I am excited!

During our short excursion, Valeria chats a lot from the inside - including anecdotes about the numerous places of worship and the influence of the Catholic Church on Rome. Too bad we don't have more time. Her tip for your Rome visit: "Go for an early morning stroll to see the Trevi fountain and the the Spanish steps without the crowds. This also applies to our excursion Early Morning Vatican when only a limited number of people is permitted in the museums."

On April 21, Rome will celebrate its birthday (it was founded in 753 BC). "Thus, it is on Rome's birthday, at exactly noon, that the ray of sun hits exactly the entrance of the Pantheon. Emperor Hadrian had his engineers use precise mathematical calculations to astronomically align the Pantheon to make the sun appear in the doorway on the anniversary of the Birth of Rome, April 21st,"  explains Dominique of Accessitaly. Isn´t that amazing?

ROME - ALWAYS UP-TO-DATE

More valuable insider tips for Rome can be found in the monthly newsletter "30 Days in Rome" by Maria Strati, the charismatic director of JK Place Roma, and the renowned journalist and blogger Loredana Tartaglia. 

Among other things, Loredana recommends MAXXI, a new museum for contemporary art in the Flaminio district: "In this museum, designed by Zaha Hadid, you'll find wonderful exhibitions and a pleasant cafeteria for an espresso or a light lunch."  I'd be particularly interested in the 2,400 photographs - that goes on my "bucket list" for my next visit to Rome.

DINE LIKE THE ROMANS

Of course, Loredana also has a tip for a meal with a typical Roman ambiance: "The Matricianella restaurant was founded in 1957 by the Amatrice family and offers typical Roman cuisine." I tested it, and the pasta was wonderful. However, just before Christmas, Matricianella was also like the proverbial pigeon coop. The pure Roman hustle and bustle is not for those seeking relaxation. 

In the booklet "JK's Places Roma", I found insider tips on unknown sights, galleries and shops. You will certainly need several visits to Rome to get to know everything. However, I tested two places - and was thrilled:

The restaurant Pipero on Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, which leads to the impressive monument of the same name, combines old traditions with modern cuisine. In 2022, Pipero was awarded the "Travellers' Choice Award" by TripAdvisor. Vegans and vegetarians also get their money's worth here.

The history of the Antico Bar Pasticceria Mariani dates back to 1878. The best coffee and oven-fresh pastries from their own bakery - heavenly! The pasticceria is located near Ponte Sisto, directly opposite the trendy district of Trastevere (very charming during the day with its tiny alleys, it turns into a noisy party mile in the evening).

Maria Strati describes her adopted home: "Wherever you go in Rome - you feel like you are in an open-air museum. The beauty of this city is simply breathtaking. You never get enough of it." If you would like to know more about Maria, have a look at my interview with this exceptional lady. 

HERE ARE A FEW FACTS ABOUT ROME...

*  Rome was built on seven hills - Esquiline, Aventine, Quirinal, Caeline, Viminal, Capitoline, and Palatine.
*  According to Roman mythology, the city was founded by Romulus and Remus in 753 BC. 
*  Rome is the only city that has a state within its borders, the Vatican.
*  Rome is surprisingly one of the greenest capitals in Europe - with numerous public parks and nature reserves. This        is partly due to the many historic villas with private gardens next to them. 
*  The many coins visitors throw into the Trevi Fountain are donated to charity. On average, this amounts to a                      staggering 3,000 EUR a day!
*  Rome has its own beach. Lido di Ostia is only 30 km from the Italian capital and easily reached by regional train from       Rome-Termini. 

As in all of Italy, espresso costs less if you drink it standing up at the counter ("al banco"). Oh yes - while we're on the subject of food and drink - pasta is actually eaten with a fork only, no spoon. Also, be prepared to order at least two courses in Italian restaurants, especially in the evening. Roman cuisine is quite meat-heavy, but for vegetarians, there are vegetarian antipasti and pasta. Buon appetito!

HERE ARE A FEW PRACTICAL TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO ROME:

THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO ROME

Rome's temperate climate makes it a year-round destination. However, it is better to avoid the high summer months. The city is hot then, and the classic sights are overcrowded. Spring and autumn are certainly more pleasant. It is often still pleasantly mild and sunny into winter. Even in mid-December, it was still enjoyable. Rome is even more beautiful with its Christmas decorations than it already is. 

GETTING TO ROME

Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport is 32 km from the centre of Rome and is served by numerous airlines (including Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, Delta, ITA Airways, Lufthansa, and Ryanair). You can quickly get to the city by train. The Leonardo Express leaves every 15 minutes and reaches the central railway station (Stazione Termini) in 32 minutes.
From there, it's best to take a taxi to JK Place Roma (costs approx. 20 EUR - as of December 2022) or take the metro.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi at the airport or order a shuttle directly from the hotel reception (110 EUR - as of December 2022). 

ON THE ROAD IN ROME

I did all my exploring in the Eternal City on foot and occasionally took a taxi (surprisingly cheap). If you don't mind the traffic, you can rent a fancy e-bike at JK Place Roma. Otherwise, Rome has a well-developed public transport network, so look here.

JK PLACE ROMA
Via di Monte d'Oro, 30 - Rome - Italy
Tel. +39 06 982 634
Fax. +39 06 982 634 99
info@jkroma.com
Reservations via booking@jkroma.com

Another tip: If you feel like some peace and wellness after so much hustle and bustle in the city, I recommend Terme di Saturnia in southern Tuscany, about two hours away by car. The best way to reach the Terme is by rental car. Here I enjoyed four wonderful days with numerous treatments and excellent food, have a look at my article.

Off to marvelous Italy!