When choosing a hotel for your Roman holiday,
you want to be centrally located in relation to the major sights so you can
visit the city with ease. Many hotels in the center the Eternal City come with
the noise and bustle of this ancient metropolis. The Sofitel, in the heart of
Rome, provides a peaceful retreat without being far from must-see sights. Some
attractions are just outside your door, while others are only a short Metro
ride away.
Finding the Hotel
·
The Sofitel in Rome is in the northern part of the city center
on Via Lombardia near where it intersects with Via di Porta Pinciana. This is
an upscale area of Rome called the Ludovisi and only steps away from the Via
Veneto -- a major shopping street known for its elegance and expense. The
Ludovisi neighborhood is made up of embassies, banks and luxury residences.
Because of the businesses nearby, the area is busy during working hours but
calm at night and on weekends.
Touring the Villa Borghese
·
The nearest attraction to the Sofitel is the Villa Borghese -- a
4-mile expanse that contains the Borghese Gallery and Museum. The boundary of
the gardens extends to just outside the hotel, at the corner of Via Lombardia
and Via di Porta Pinciana. This 4-mile park contains formal gardens, artificial
lakes where you can rent a row boat, temples made to look like ancient ruins,
and a statue dedicated to the Romantic-era poet Lord Byron. Located at the
eastern edge of the park is the Borghese Museum, which houses sculptures such
as Bernini's "Apollo and Daphne," mosaics from the fourth century and
paintings by Caravaggio and Titian. The best way to ensure you'll get into the
museum is to make reservations at least a day or two before you want to go.
Within Walking Distance
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A 10-minute walk down the Via di Porta Pinciana and then up the
Via Sistina leads you to one of Rome's famous gathering spots: The Spanish
Steps. These flower-lined steps fill with people who want to take in the view
of the Piazza di Spagna while resting their feet. Within the piazza is the
fountain of Baraccia that resembles a boat sunk into the ground. Depending on
when you go, the piazza may be filled with vendors selling their art. If you
walk from the Spanish Steps toward the Tiber River, in about 10 minutes you'll
come to the Ara Pacis, or the Altar of Peace, dedicated by the Emperor Augustus
in 9 B.C. Another 10-minute walk heading south from the Sofitel takes you to
the Trevi Fountain -- a Baroque work featuring Neptune and his horses bursting
from the sea. The Trevi Fountain is best seen at night when lights make its
detailed sculpture visible.
Hopping the Metro
·
The underground subway system of Rome, called the Metro, makes
all the sights of city accessible. The red and blue lines intersect at Termini.
The Sofitel is about a five-minute walk from the Barberini stop on the red
line. Using only the red line, you can visit the Baths of Diocletian and the
National Museum at the Repubblica stop, the Victor Emmanuel monument at the
stop of the same name, or head the opposite direction and visit the Vatican
from the Ottaviano stop. If you transfer to the blue line, you can visit the
Colosseum and Forum from the Colosseo stop or travel down to see the pyramid of
Gaius Cestius at the Piramide stop. Most of these sights can be reached within
15 or 25 minutes on the Metro.
