Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Previous issues for Rome

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Italy : Rome - June 2010

Country Code: Dial for Italy

Summer reveals the Eternal City’s warm, welcoming soul. Shop for high fashion around the Spanish Steps, sample delicious gelato and admire the surreal works of De Chirico. Solveig Steinhardt enjoys the sun

Getting around

Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport

Bus: The Terravision bus is cheap (about €15 for a return), but the timetable less frequent – there’s approximately one bus every two hours and the journey takes 45 minutes.
Train: The Leonardo Express runs every 30 minutes into Termini station. The journey takes 35 minutes and costs €11.
Taxi: The journey from the airport to the city centre takes 50 minutes. Expect to pay around €40-60.
Tourist information: The main office is at 11 Via Parigi (, www.romaturismo.com).

CENTRO STORICO

Layers of history define Rome’s centre, plus shopping, art, and fine dining.

Sleep soundly – One of Rome’s most romantic hotels, Hotel d’Inghilterra (14 Via Bocca di Leone, , royaldemeure.com, double rooms from €190) offers lavish rooms and marble bathrooms with fresh orchids.

Must eat – Order a few scoops of gelato at Giolitti (40 Via Uffici del Vicario), serving a large variety of gourmet flavours. Or for a light lunch, book a table in the sun at Kosher Bistrot (68-69 Via Santa Maria del Pianto, tel. ) – the Jewish-Roman dishes are to die for.

Dance the night away – Celebrities groove to pop and commercial tunes at Gilda (97 Via Mario dei Fiori), while jazzy Bloom (30 Via del Teatro Pace) is a hangout for the late-night crowds.

VILLA BORGHESE AND SURROUNDINGS

A walk in Rome’s number one park is refreshing and regenerating, especially during the day’s hottest hours.

Culture vultures – It’s impossible to get bored in Villa Borghese: visit the Galleria Borghese for masterpieces of western art, the Modern Art Gallery (GNAM) for the best of the 1900s, the Carlo Bilotti collection inside the villa’s Orangery, and the Casina di Raffaello – a kids’ playhouse featuring a fake forest.

Must eat – The Cinecaffè at the Casina delle Rose (1 Largo Marcello Mastroianni, ) serves Italian cuisine amid the luscious trees of Rome’s green heart. Go for Sunday brunch, but be sure to book.

Must drink – The Caffè delle Arti (131 Via delle Belle Arti), attached to the National Gallery of Modern Art, serves refreshing drinks and cakes that dieters had better stay away from.

MONTI AND ESQUILINE

The tangle of shop-lined, cobblestone alleys rubs shoulders with a lively multi-ethnic neighbourhood with bargain shops and good eateries.

Sleep soundly – The terrace cafè at Mecenate Palace (3 Via Carlo Alberto, , mecenatepalace.com, double rooms from €250) has stunning views of Santa Maria Maggiore, and rooms are fitted with luxurious facilities.

Culture vultures – Dip into the surrealistic, metaphysical landscapes of Roman artist Giorgio de Chirico in a comprehensive exhibition at Palazzo delle Esposizioni (194 Via Nazionale).

Must eat – Savvy gourmands go to Trattoria Monti (13A Via di San Vito, tel. ) for delicious dishes from the nearby Marche region, including the spectacular tagliatelle con ragù (meat sauce) and the famed verdicchio wine.

Shop til you drop – Handmade objects, vintage chairs combined with old car parts, and plants and flowers are the result of extensive research at concept store Nora P (220 Via Panisperna).

TRASTEVERE/GIANICOLO

Trastevere is sleepy by day and energetic at night, while the verdant Gianicolo hill is perfect for walks.

Must eat – The crunchy roll of roasted mozzarella and tomatoes is one of the most successful dishes at Antico Arco (7 Piazzale Aurelio, tel. ). Romantically situated on top of the Gianicolo, it’s a modern restaurant mixing tradition with creativity, and the result is delightful – though not exactly cheap.

Must drink – Retro furnishings, a hilltop position and an outdoor space make Baretto (27F Via Garibaldi) a popular evening destination, with occasional live music and film screenings.

Shop til you drop – Pick stylish kitchenware or order your dream furniture from Azi (7 Via Manara) – heaven for lovers of Italian design.

Compiled by Solveig Steinhardt