Postcards from... Booklet 2022

Set on a hill on the banks of the Tiber River, this design hotel is 900 yards from St Peter’s Basilica and a 15-minute walk from Piazza Navona and Campo de’Fiori. The lively district of Trastevere is a 10-minute walk away. Offering elegant interiors and design rooms with views of the Vatican, Castel Sant’Angelo, Vicolo di Sant'Onofrio or the hotel’s garden, the 5- star Gran Melia is located in central Rome. There is an on-site spa, My Blend by Clarins, together with an outdoor swimming pool. Rooms feature refined beige-and-wooden schemes, combining modern furniture and classic works of art. Steps from Rome’s famous Spanish ones, Hotel Vilòn is an elegant, art-filled boutique retreat in the shadow of the Palazzo Borghese. A former boarding school the period property has been transformed into a small-scale hotel with just 18 rooms, some with terraces overlooking the quaint courtyard gardens. The elegant decor complements the heritage building, with rich-navy soft furnishings, polished wooden floors, spacious marble bathrooms and perfectly positioned artworks. The hotel is in the city-centre Campo Marzio neighbourhood, close to the Via del Corso, Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain . The recently renovated Palazzo Manfredi, a 14-room boutique hotel in the centre of Rome, is located directly opposite the Colosseum. Originally a 17th century multi- storey villa, the luxury hotel was built on the archaeological remains of the gladiator arena, Ludus Magnus. The hotel's award winning Aroma Restaurant is a Michelin Star recipient offering rooftop, panoramic views of the Colosseum. 14 superb rooms include the ultimate indulgence with the Suite Colosseum with its open space design, bathroom with steam room, shower with chromotherapy in the spectacular wellness area, plus a mini-gym, and whirlpool bath. Hotel Hassler, Italy's most luxurious hotel, offers 82 rooms and 14 suites, four of which are Presidential Suites. Each room is unique, and elegantly furnished with antiques as well as modern touches. The suites with breath-taking views of the Eternal City feature exquisite combinations of contemporary and classic design. On the 6th floor, you will enjoy fine creative Italian cuisine at Imago, the Hassler's Michelin-starred panoramic restaurant. Dining options also include the Salone Eva Restaurant & Bar, and the Palm Court garden Restaurant & Bar during the warmer weather seasons. Beauty and wellness treatments at Amorvero SPA. Hotel Palazzo Manfredi Hotel Hassler Roma Villa Agrippina Gran Meliá Hotel Vilòn Situatedon the famousViaVeneto,BaglioniHotelRegina is right in themidstof all Rome’smost popular sites and shopping.Housed in amagnificent, Liberty- stylebuilding, thehotelwasonce thehomeofQueenMargheritaofSavoyhence the royalmonicker. The charm and simplicity of the period façade and the refinementof the internal furnishings inDecoandClassicstylesguaranteeaunique atmosphere.ThestunningRomanPenthouseSuite, togetherwitha largeselection ofSignatureSuites, is theperfect choice for themostdemanding traveller. ViaVittorioVeneto RegalResidence BaglioniHotelRegina Villa Spaletti Trivelli ViaPiacenza BoutiqueHideaway Villa SpallettiTrivellimay be justmoments from theTrevi Fountain, but it’s a world away from thehubbubof Italy’s capital.This intimatehideawayhas just 15 luxury bedrooms and individually styled suites, giving visitors a taste of aristocratic grandeur.With a Roman Baths-inspiredwellness centre too, it’s as relaxingas it is refined.Theexterior is classically ItalianandfilledwithAntiques andfineart. The rooftop isanexclusivespacewithshaded loungers,bar, Jacuzzis and soothingmusic– theplace tobeas the sun setsover theEternalCity. Getonascooterand recreateRomanHoliday Star inyourownRomanholiday, trying to lookas goodasGregoryPeckandAudreyHepburnon the backofaVespaasyoudo it.Theproofwillbe if the Paparazzi chaseyou! Vespacartour.com Visit theVaticanCity Oneof themost importantRomeattractions is ‘TheCity withinaCity’.TheVaticanMuseumsarea seriesof buildingsand collectionsof raremagnificenceand include thepartiallyopen to thepublicApostolicPalace.Here there are inestimableworksofart collectedor commissionedby variouspontiffsover500yearsofhistory, suchas the SistineChapeland theRaphaelRoomsaswellasother importantRenaissancemasterpiecesbyartists suchas Caravaggio,Tiziano,LeonardodaVinciandGiotto. Considering that theVaticanCityattractsover5million visitors inanormalyearmake sureyouavoid thewaitby buyinga ‘skip thequeue’advance ticket. AncientRome isallaround... It ispossible to see the fabricofanancient cityamid thepreservedand restoredRoman ruinsof buildings like theColosseumand thePantheonaswellas theopen spacesof theForum,butRome deliversamuchwider spectacle, forasyou strollupher streetsandhillsyou canadmireamyriadof buildings,most inuse thathavebeenmodifiedandembellishedover twomillenia. AldrovandiVillaBorghese isa trueurban retreat inaplush residentialareaof the city next to the lush green Borghese gardens and the historic landmarks of BorgheseGalleryandValleGiulia.Built in the19thcentury, the impressivewhite villawas recently upgraded and includes lavishmarble interiors, sparkling chandeliersandfirst-classamenities.Thehotelboasts itsown secludedpark,a beautiful outdoor pool and al fresco dining. Blending sophistication and rich history, itoffersguests theperfectpeaceful retreat in theheartof the city. ThePickofRomeHotels Highly recommended luxuryhotelswithverydifferentappeal inprime locations BorgheseGardens StylishParksideVilla Located in theheartofRome,HoteldeRussie,aRoccoForteHotel, is surrounded by abeautifullymaintainedgarden, offeringguests a tranquil sanctuarywithin the bustle of this iconic city. The hotel is just a shortwalk to some amazing attractions,suchasViaCondottiand theSpanishSteps.Thehotel’saccommodation blends traditional Italiandesignwithcontemporaryflair,andmanyof the spaces havebeen createdby famousarchitects.Within thehotel’sSecretGarden,guests candineatLe JardindeRussie, oneof thebest restaurants in the city. Hotel deRussie,ARocco ForteHotel Aldrovandi VillaBorghese When in Rome... ...doas theRomansdo.Attributedfirst toPope ClementXIV in the late18thCenturywhenhewas actually referencing theRomanhabitof takinga siestadue to thesummerheat.Herearesome thingsyoumightdowhile inRome. obscurity,but for thepresenceof themedievalChurch that was the realpoweracrossEurope.Onceestablished the importanceof thePapacyandanautonimousVaticanCity has served toprotect the identityof the surroundingcity, even through subsequent foreignoccupations.As enlightenment swept inwith theRenaissance, soRome shared this rebirth in largemeasure.Greatbuildingprojects prevailedwithmanymagnificentgothicchurchesand palaces risingcreatinganew skylineacross the sevenhills. TheRenaissance lasted foracenturyuntil the1527 sacking ofRome,aperiodwhich spawned suchmastersas Michelangelo,BerniniandRaphael,who leftan indelible markonartandarchitecture.Thecityhasalwaysbeena magnet forartistswishing to study itsclassical ruins. AncientandRenaissanceRome iscertainlyabigattraction for today’svisitors,butequally thecityhasearnedanewer appealasahedonisticplayground somewhat in rebellion frompapalmores.Variously,postWorldWar2films like RomanHoliday , LaDolceVita andeven ThreeCoins in the Fountain haveeachcontributed to the romanticallureofa warm,Mediterraneandestinationwherebothaglitzy affluenceanda joyofnightime revelry simmersunder the classical facade.The sweet life is reflected in streets dedicated tohigh fashion,avivaciousnightlife,an exhaustivechoiceof restaurantswhereadvance research willdefinitelypaydividendsand someof thefinesthotels in theworld tomakeyour sleepinghoursasmemorableas yourwakingdaliences. ViadelBabuino TranquilSanctuary N oothercity in the worldcanboastas richanda long- survivinghistoryas Rome. Itwas the gloriousheartof thegreatRoman Empire,oneof thechiefcitiesof the Renaissance, thenearconstantbase for thePapacy in the ‘citywithinacity’ andpresent-day,buzzingcapitalof Europe’s fourth largesteconomy, Italy. Likea re-workedcanvas,all these elementshavebeencarefullyapplied inovercoats,buildingoneach layer to create simply themost storiedcampus withina thrivingmodernmetropolis. F irstdescribedas ‘TheEternalCity’by theRomans on theassumption thatnomatterwhathappened in the restof theancientworld thegloryofRome wouldalways remain standing, itbecameanatural target for successive sackingsby thebarbaric hordes from thenorthduring the900yearsof the DarkAges.Curiously itcouldhavecrumbled into