When in Rome, do as the Romans do. It’s a very old cliché but one that’s worth heeding when it comes to choosing the perfect location as your home base for touring the Eternal City. The Romans who live in the exclusive and tranquil residential neighborhood surrounding the grand Villa Borghese and its exquisite gardens, in the center of the city and minutes from Rome’s great monuments and museums, are certainly the folks to emulate. That’s just one of the reasons why I loved visiting the five-star, family run Aldrovandi Villa Borghese hotel, located directly opposite the Borghese gardens and worlds apart from the busy city.
Upon arrival at the Aldrovandi, you will notice several bicycles, bearing the hotel’s name, under the elegant and breezy porte cochere. These are available for guests to borrow, free of charge, to explore the nearby gardens and the surrounding tree-lined streets. Inside the lobby, gleaming white marble floors and white walls balance the heaviness of carved wood paneling that adorns the many columns in the bright and open, yet still cozy space. The ceiling hosts several beautiful chandeliers and the 19th Century style furnishings and draperies, updated with soft, modern colors, echo the building’s history.
The hotel’s outdoor space is as impressive as the inside, with a very large, shady garden and a large sunny pool area set on a half-acre of land, a very unusual amount of property to have at your disposal in the middle of Rome. Amid the garden, which features tall shade trees and palms as well as bright flowers, one of the hotel’s two restaurants, Asaje, boasts an outdoor patio dining area where you can enjoy fine Mediterranean style dishes in the serenity of the garden setting. An alternative dining option is The Grill, which serves Italian favorites in a warm, cozy atmosphere.
A beautiful spa, complete with a large, marble lined Jacuzzi room, sauna and steam room as well as a modern fitness room equipped with state of the art machines resting on a polished a polished parquet floor, provide ample opportunity to stay healthy and in shape during your visit. Again, these amenities at the Aldrovandi Villa Borghese help to seamlessly combine the building’s elegant past with the needs of the modern day traveler.
Your own private sanctum within this beautiful oasis is your guest room and here you will enjoy free WiFi and a flat screen television in a bright, spacious and airy atmosphere. High ceilings, marble floors and ample space, along with a large window looking out into the trees and comfortable, elegant furnishings make the guest rooms extremely pleasant as well as convenient. Large, en suite bathrooms with amenities like a soaking tub and separate shower as well as dual sinks, again provide all the convenience a modern traveler would expect to find in a luxury hotel.
