Top Rome Hotels
Hotel Eden
Set in the heart of the ‘Eternal City’ overlooking the seven historic hills of Rome, Hotel Eden provides the perfect cultural ambience in which to immerse yourself as you take in the many sights and sounds of this enchanting city. A host to royalty, leaders and celebrities from all over the world, the hotel has gained a reputation for a sophisticated luxury that reflects its turn-of-the-century origins. Throughout the decidedly elegant guest rooms and suites, rich fabrics and antique Italian furnishings are complemented by classic paintings and opulent marble bathrooms, while spacious picture windows frame inspirational views of Rome.
The nearby attractions—Via Veneto, the Spanish Steps, and Via Condotti
St. Regis Grand Hotel
Located in the heart of Rome, the St. Regis Grand Hotel is within walking distance of many of the city’s most famous sights and has become a landmark in its own right. Built in 1894 as the city’s first deluxe hotel, today it exemplifies iconic elegance with its millennium renovation only reaffirming its position as one of the finest hotels in Rome. Each of the guest rooms and suites is exquisitely appointed in a combination of Empire, Regency and Louis XV styles, with swathes of richly coloured damask, Murano glass chandeliers and lamps, original hand-painted frescoes, and Italian marble adding their own distinct flair. Guests staying in a suite also enjoy complimentary butler service.
The St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome is located within walking distance of the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Via Veneto. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Piazza Navona
Hotel de Russie
It’s hard to match the romance of Rome – or the romance of the five star Hotel de Russie, ideally situated between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo in the heart of the city’s most fashionable area. This contemporary Rocco Forte hotel offers the ultimate oasis amid the surrounding bustle – and not just because of its extensive terraced gardens, which are perfect for balmy evenings. All of the rooms through to the highly individual Picasso, Popolo, Vaselli and Nijinsky Suites, are painted and upholstered in restful hues and outside, discover a Secret Garden, home to a rare urban butterfly reserve created in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund.
Colosseum
The gigantic oval of the Colosseum – 186m (620ft) long, 153m (510ft) wide and about 47m (157ft) high. Emperor Vespasian began construction in AD72 and work was completed eight years later by his son Titus. It was the scene for entertainment that one can hardly comprehend – gladiatorial conquests between men, lions and wild beasts, with death guaranteed. The ‘games’ were finally outlawed in the fifth century.
Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums
The merest glimpse of Michelangelo’s depiction of The Creation is worth the queues and crowds you have to negotiate to visit the Vatican Museums. Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – built as a private chapel of the popes between 1475 and 1480. Work began in May 1508, the frescoes were unveiled in August 1511, and completed in October 1512. Twenty-two years later, Pope Clement VII asked Michelangelo to decorate the wall behind the altar, with the subject of the Last Judgement chosen by Clement’s successor Paul III. Michelangelo surpassed his amazing earlier work with this muscular explosion. Pope Pius IV was scandalised by the display of nudity and the offending genitalia had to be concealed by hastily painted loincloths – most have been removed during restoration work. Look out for the artist’s own aged face below the figure of Christ. Although eclipsed by Michelangelo’s artistry, the Renaissance paintings that line the walls are also wonderful works, created by the masters – including Michelangelo’s own teacher, Ghirlandaio, and Botticelli. The Vatican Museums alone could easily eat up a day or two of a trip to Rome. Highlights include the Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael’s Rooms), the Etruscan Museum (depicting Italy before the Romans) and the Pio-Clementino Museum, which includes the classical masterpieces Laocoön and the Apollo Belvedere.
Pantheon
The awe-inspiring Pantheon is the best preserved and most beautifully proportioned of Rome’s ancient monuments. Thought to have been built by Hadrian between AD119 and AD128, this was once a Roman temple. It was converted to a Christian church in AD608 – the key to its miraculous survival. The radius of the dome is exactly equivalent to the height and a 9m (30ft) hole, known as the oculus, in the dome’s centre allows light (and rain) into the building. Once the interior would have been decorated by statues of deities – now it houses the tombs of kings Vittorio Emmanuele II and Umberto I, and the painter Raphael. The incredible, vast brass doors belonged to the original Roman building.
Piazza Navona
This dramatic piazza, lined with cafes and restaurants, lies at the heart of the centro storico (historic centre). Its oval shape follows the form of the former stadium, built in AD86 by Emperor Domitian. During the Renaissance, the site was flooded to stage mock naval battles.
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