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La Dolce Vita: Rome's Villa Borghese and a stay at the NH Collection Roma Vittorio Veneto

Credit: Galleria Borghese, Pauline Bonaparte by Canova

Rome is one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. For the art lover, it is filled with antiquities from the beginning of civilization, elaborate baroque and art Nuevo designed buildings as well as an endless offering of eye candy in the form of stunning outdoor sculptures strewn throughout the city. Its neighborhoods vary between posh shopping areas with fancy designer shops to the medieval cobblestoned old town district. The Vittorio Veneto area is a neighborhood of tree-lined streets that lead to one of Rome’s most loved public parks. The hotel that is in the middle of it all, and a stone’s throw from many of Rome’s iconic landmarks, is the NH Collection Roma Vittorio Veneto. 

Image credit: NH Collection

The hotel is in an ideal location to explore the Bioparco di Roma, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, the Piazza del Popolo, or the city’s nearby premier shopping district.  A mix of business travelers and urban explorers can be seen in the hotel’s lobby coming to and fro as they set off and return from a day of deal-making or exploring the city’s nearby treasures. The design of the hotel creates a welcoming and warm environment with a contemporary décor of compelling art, dramatic lighting and modern interior design elements. 


A dramatic staircase leads to the lower floor where you’ll find the lobby and common areas. Weary and worn out hotel guests retreat to the hotel’s fashionable open lounge area with cool white leather chairs and chic decor. A long bar backed with a wide variety of spirits completes the space.  


Seven stories above is the hotel’s rooftop terrace. The open-air terrace is a cool place to chill out and take in the sights and sounds of the city. The terrace overlooks the Via Veneto area and Borghese Park as well as the Rome’s cityscape. A view of Rome’s iconic dome of the St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as the Aurelian Walls, leaves every guest in awe of one of the worlds more fascinating cities.   


The hotel’s 199 rooms are spread over seven floors and follow the chic and modern design of the hotel with warm earth tone colors, parquet floors and plenty of natural light from large windows filling the spacious interiors. Many rooms also have sweeping views of the stone pine trees and grounds of the Villa Borgehese park.


The Junior Suites are all that a guest would need to for an extended stay of a week or for a weekend getaway. The suites range in size from 26 to 35 sqm. The suite on the seventh floor has an extended terrace deck with table and chairs under a canvas umbrella with a view of the Aurelian Walls and the of Villa Borghese Park. It’s absolutely stunning as guest feel they are on top of all of Rome. 


There are plenty of dining options to experience in the area such as the renown and celebrity haunt, Harry’s Bar, which is a few steps away at the start of Via Venetto. This has been a favorite watering of celebrities such as Hilary Clinton, Anthony Hopkins and Kim Kardashian and a tradition of stars from Joan Crawford to Kirk Douglass. It became most famous in the 60s during the filming of La Dolce Vita when the celebs frequented there often for late night nibbles or to bend the elbows with co-stars. 


Closer to home, La Cupola restaurant in the NH Collection Roma Vittorio Veneto is celebrity worthy as well. The tone of the restaurant is refined and elegant with a wall of wines that belies their extensive wine collection ready to pair with each exquisite dish. The restaurant serves haute cuisines served with a flair for the presentation that could be defined as culinary art. The reimagined classic Roman and Mediterranean dishes are as delicious to the eye as they are to the palate. The engaging and friendly chef is often found away from the kitchen chatting with guests as well as observing as they enjoy each fork-full of the delicious offerings. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner


Rome is a destination of many jewels. The location of the NH Collection Roma Vittorio Veneto makes it the ideal starting point to experience the glamorous side of Rome.  Just a few steps away is the street of the famous movie 'La Dolce Vita' by Federico Fellini. It is the Rodeo Drive of Rome where many upscale shops and boutiques offer the latest in fashion for the those on the hunt for the latest Italian design.

'Lady with a Unicorn' by Raphael.

Beyond celebrity gazing and bauble hunting, the area around the hotel offers something a bit more for the cultured guest. One of Italy’s most treasured cultural destinations is the Villa Borghese, which is the third largest park in Rome with gurgling water fountains and ponds, masterpiece filled museums, a zoo, and countless mesmerizing sculptures and monuments sprawled over 200 acres of Italian gardens. Families with prams as well as lovebirds holding hands stroll through the iconic stone pines, tree-covered walkways and paths that crisscross through the park.  

'The Deposition' by Raphael.

The most coveted experience in the park is a few hours marveling at the works of the masters in the palatial Galleria Borghese. It is one of Italy, if not Europe’s, most valuable museums with an extensive art collection with impressive pieces from the fifteenth through the eighteenth centuries. Famous sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and paintings by Caravaggio, Agnolo Bronzino, Antonio Canova, Titan, Raphael, and Peter Paul Rubens are there for the culturally hungry traveler. The 17th-century villa, which is a work of art in itself, exhibits this extensive collection in 20 rooms of ornate baroque and art nouveau design with beautiful frescoes adorning the ceilings. The high points of a visit will include seeing Pauline Bonaparte by Canova, as well as  'David with the Head of Goliath' and the 'Boy with a Basket of Fruit' by Caravaggio and 'The Deposition' and 'Lady with a Unicorn' by Raphael.


Rome is one of those cities which one never can grow tired of. Each visit affords new fascinations, pursuits and experiences. An ideal location to take in all that this mesmerizing city has to offer is a stay in the NH Collection Roma Vittorio Veneto. Savvy travelers stay for the ideal location, comfortable accommodations, exquisite dining, and the full range of mod cons which make it the ideal location for today’s urban and cultural explorer.   

Glenn Harris

Glenn Harris is an accomplished journalist focusing on international travel, fine dining, and luxury lifestyle events. His wanderlust has taken him to over 105 countries where he is constantly straying off the beaten path uncovering new and exotic finds. He particularly enjoys seeking out lesser known travel gems and places to stay, dine, or experiences to capture. ...(Read More)

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