Goethe’s “Italian Journey” had a main objective; to discover Rome, symbolic for its ancient architecture and classicism. The italian capital remains the highlight of many trips to Italy. Escapio makes finding the perfect Rome Hotels easy… from Bed & Breakfast to 5 star hotel, the best selection of quality accommodation to suit any tastes.

Our walking tour starts to the north of the history-rich centre in the Galleria Nazionale dArte Moderna, right next to the famous Rome Art Academy. The 19th century ne-classical building is one of the citys few museums to offer modern art as its speciality. After 15 minutes meandering through the Villas Borghese, find yourself on the Piazza del Popolo, one of Romes most stunning squares. The neoclassical styling can be attributed to architect Giusseppe Valadiers work between 1818 and 1822. Crime thriller fans can shudder imagining the gruel scene from Dan Browns Illuminati the first abducted cardinal was discovered choked to death with soil in the Chigi chapel of the Santa Maria church.
The two bars and cake shop on the piazza are likely to have easier-to-swallow offerings. My personal favourite is Canova which has the best pine-nut tarts in town. Early evenings are made perfect here sipping traditional Italian aperitifs at the bar. We guzzled on Prosecco-Aperol and fantastic little canaps these ensure dinner in Rome is never enjoyed before 9pm.
A spring visit to Rome allows you to indulge in the city in bloom, in mild, almost summery temperatures. This is the perfect time for strolling the streets and seeing the sights before the stifling heat engulfs the city in July. The Piazza del Popolo is the ideal starting point for seeing the historic city centre. Though its easy enough to get around on foot, Sex and the City heels are not recommended! Anyone prone to complaining can pick up a pair of linen tennis shoes in the latest summer colours or gold ballerina pumps on Via del Corso or Ferragamo masterpieces or even something from my favourite label Pollini. Sunglasses should only ever be purchased in Italy the place where people would rather be seen in a banged out old Fiat than last seasons shades. Anyone in the know will get their hands on a Via Condotti pair, which will only surface next year, if ever at all, in Germany. The excitement of any shopping spree here is refreshed with an ice cream from Giolitti where I can only recommend the melt-in-the-mouth marrons glaces, though the Zabaione and fantastic fruity flavours (especially cherry) arent bad either.
The flea market at Porta Portese is the place to be on Sunday mornings. Everything and anything is here to be haggled over from pirated CDs to pseudo-antiques. Hundreds of immigrants seem to gather here to flog off the Gucci and Prada fakes which are nevertheless to be found on every street corner in the city throughout the rest of the week At 2pm the spectacular is all over and its high time to gnash on a pizza a taglio handheld in the Trastevere alleyways with views of the Tiber, enjoying the fresh spring air pure happiness.