Rome’s dazzling attractions have long kept its visitors spellbound – Vatican City, Capitoline Museum, the Roman Forum and the timeless Coliseum. But a quiet stroll through its historic neighborhoods, the discovery of a postcard perfect corner or an inviting outdoor café all promise a special delight of their own. Brimming with sites both world famous and unsung – surely there is no more Rome-antic place to be with a Certain Someone.
TREVI FOUNTAIN (Fontana di Trevi)
Neptune rides a chariot drawn by winged horses across this wildly fanciful Baroque assemblage of white marble and cascading water, completed in 1762 and recently (and impeccably) restored. The piazza and fountain are especially enchanting and festive when floodlit at night and at any time evoke the legend that a backward toss of a coin over the left shoulder in the basin ensures a return to Rome.
CAMPO DEI FIORI
Rome’s oldest and best outdoor market, where the city’s chefs and seasoned housewives snatch up the finest produce available, also provides great theater as shoppers banter with vendors over the day’s bounty and the arrival of the season’s first offerings. The fun continues in the bars, cafes and restaurants that line the piazza long after the last stall has closed.
PIAZZA DI SPAGNA AND THE SPANISH STEPS
This sweeping staircase, built in 1725, ascends in three majestic tiers from the busy Piazza di Spagna to the French Trinita dei Monti church where a breathtaking view of Rome is the reward at any time of day. At its foot, Via Condotti and its pedestrian grid of smart fashion boutiques and cafes (don’t miss Caffe Greco, Rome’s oldest and most atmospheric watering hole) is the scene for the daily passeggiata, or stroll, in early evening.
PIAZZA NAVONA
There is no shortage of theatrical-set piazzas in the country’s capital. But in warm weather there are no finer front row seats than those found in the cafes and restaurants that line this ancient oval piazza once used for chariot races. An endless stream of Felliniesque characters mingle with students, musicians and tourists who come from all corners of the world.
And don’t forget to check out the book!
About the Book:
The world’s bestselling travel book is back in a more informative, more experiential, more budget-friendly full-color edition. A #1 New York Times bestseller, 1,000 Places reinvented the idea of travel book as both wish list and practical guide. As Newsweek wrote, it “tells you what’s beautiful, what’s fun, and what’s just unforgettable—everywhere on earth.” And now the best is better. There are 600 full-color photographs. Over 200 entirely new entries, including visits to 28 countries like Lebanon, Croatia, Estonia, and Nicaragua, that were not in the original edition. There is an emphasis on experiences: an entry covers not just Positano or Ravello, but the full 30-mile stretch along the Amalfi Coast.
Every entry from the original edition has been readdressed, rewritten, and made fuller, with more suggestions for places to stay, restaurants to visit, and festivals to check out. And throughout, the book is more budget-conscious, with starred restaurants and historic hotels such as the Ritz, but also moderately priced gems that don’t compromise on atmosphere or charm.
The world is calling. Time to answer.
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