When in Rome
Martyn Best takes in all the sights and sounds of one of Europe’s most beautiful destinations T
he Eternal City has so many historic and cultural references that being knocked into Cliché City must be avoided.
So where to start with so many roads that
lead not only to Rome, but also to the Dolce Vita; and to find the Sweet Life in Rome it need not matter which road you take as they do all lead to such wonderful surprises, such joyous architecture and so many beguiling and magnetic piazzas, trattorias and bars. Our journey began at the stunningly elegant old lady, the Grand Plaza Hotel. Te friendly and gentile greeting by its concierge and the quaint wooden reception area gave way to a breathtaking grand lounge with chandelier and ceiling friezes which could grace the Sistine Chapel. Te hotel may have more modern rivals but it does not lack a timeless charm and the junior suite could have housed a small family of Italian refugees, and certainly greeted us with warmth.
A bed as a big as a small basilica was
complimented by a wonderful and very discrete veranda overlooking a lovely local chapel. A very modern shower and jacuzzi system was
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only visually bettered by an array of coloured and unusually gender labelled gels and potions. Te hotel on Via Del Corso is an ideal
starting point to explore from and two left turns brought us to the Spagna - the Spanish Steps - constructed in a pro- European rapport of French funding to honour Italian gentry and positioned near the Spanish embassy – the current European Commission could learn from such collaboration. Breathe gently up the steps and the view from the top in front of the beautiful Medici continues the breathtaking theme. Te sweeping landscape takes in the Pantheon, Vatican City and a wonderful Panoramic view of the city. Rome itself, as with any major capital,
transcends the current vagaries of our local economies. Tere is the hustle, bustle and vibrancy of every major city, and the woes of their economy and their disappointment in the Euro final are a long way from interfering with the colourful splendour of everyday life. Te city has a rich history which any sensible guidebook will arm you with, and it has a reachable charm and a compactness which cities such as London and Paris can’t offer. We sought out evidence of its modern offering
and found the wonderful urbane and charming Francesco Apreda. As Executive Chef of the rooftop Imago, Signor Apreda has much to be charming about – his Michelin star, his wonderfully bold and modern locally sourced creations, and the sensational views from the 6th floor of the Hassler Hotel are all very obvious. A restaurant well worth visiting, as are, in slightly more prosaic fashion, the many gorgeous bars and restaurants that surround the Piazza Navona. Tese are surrounded by history, and when the sun sets over the famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or Fountain of the Four Rivers, there are fewer more chilled locations in the city.
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