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T
HERE can be no finer place in Rome to
stay than the Villa Spalletti Trivelli. It is
the elegant family palazzo of a Roman
Count and Countess. Neighbours include
the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano,
whose 17th-century Palace is just across
the leafy park. The Trevi Fountain is a
stroll away. At the Villa Spalletti Trivelli,
guests not only live as the Romans live—
they live as the Romans would like to live.
Italian aristocrats on Roman holidays
love to stay here, in the cultural heart of
their own capital city: it is every inch a
home-away-from-palatial-home, a salmon
pink mansion from where everything one
does takes on extra resonance: the joy of
a performance of Verdi at the Teatro dell’
Opera; the spectacle of the Coliseum lit
The magic of by a rising moon; dinner beside the Pan-
Rome, even more theon; a picnic on the banks of the River
magical when Tiber; a feast of fine art in the footsteps
‘home’ is the Villa of Bernini and Michelangelo. Explore
Spalletti Trivelli. Rome at its most magical, after dark. Af-
Right:The salon. ter each experience, return to your palaz-
Lower: Luxurious zo, to be welcomed home by your butler,
rooms and Spa. no matter what time of day or night …
Rome: feast of culture, architecture and art. Below: St Peter’s Square in The Vatican.Above: St Peter’s Basilica (left) and the Trevelli Fountain
peutic treatments, from the clas- dishes according to your wish THINGS TO SEE night scene in Fellini’s La Dolc
sical, in the Roman sense, to and his advice as to the freshest Many of Rome’s iconic sights Vita of Anita Ekberg and Mar
Turkish baths, yoga and mas- foods of the season, from a sim- are on your doorstep, starting cello Mastroianni stepping int
sage, regenerative baths with ple lunch of mushroom and truf- with the Piazza del Quirinale the fountain? A dip now wil
dead sea salts, and a fitness room fle risotto to a banquet for 25 and the Presidential Palace (open land you in trouble, no matte
with powerplate and Pilate. guests, or a romantic dinner, tête to visitors on Sunday). The piaz- how hot it is. (Nearby stands th
Another aspect of the Villa a tête. What a pleasure it would za crowns the highest of the sev- intriguing Church of Saints Vin
which sets it apart is the service be to give a dinner party here. en ancient hills of Rome, where cenzo and Anastasio, containin
of the resident chef, Adriano. All in all, staying at the Villa is Augustus’s Temple of the Sun the hearts and intestines of sev
The day begins with a large buf- akin to being given the run of a stood; it now holds the giant eral centuries’-worth of popes.
fet of homemade cakes with ri- miniature palace whose wealthy statues of Castor and Pollux. Not far from the fountain i
cotta cheese, fresh croissants, owner has gone away and left Within five minutes’ walk of Piazza della Trinità dei Mont
sugar brioches and bread rolls everything to you, including his the piazza you will be at the Tre- With its soaring Egyptian obelisk
with that Roman speciality fou- 15-strong staff.Everybody knows vi Fountain, unmissable as art, and lavish baroque symmetry, i
ettee cream, as well as cold cuts, just what to do, and with grace spectacle and cultural icon. The is one of the most theatrical pi
cheeses, salads, fruits and yo- and efficiency makes you com- giant figure of Oceanus stands azzas in Italy—and it leads on t
gurts. One may ask for pancetta fortable and cosseted without gleaming as he tames the waters, the famous Spanish Steps. Th
and eggs, cooked specially, Ital- fuss. It is not for everybody. It is, a metaphor for the feat of the Spanish had nothing to do with
ian style. For lunch or dinner however, La Dolce Vita for aqueducts that brought water to these spectacular flower-line
Adriano will prepare gourmet those who enjoy the finer things. the city. But who can forget the Steps, which were designed b
Below: Choir in the Church of St Ignatius, built where the Temple of Isis had stood in Imperial Rome.Above, right:The infamous Coliseum.
TRAVEL EUROPE
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