Our walk starts from the variegate Via Urbana and we immediately feel projected into the magical atmosphere of a vintage postcard: here and there you find a family-run bakery, an artisan workshop of mosaic masters, a traditional cuisine restaurant offering the dishes of the day… Among the many activities, a 100% vegan and raw food pastry shop deserves to be mentioned: Grezzo Raw Chocolate, a true temple for healthy pastry lovers!
Once in via Urbana, we turn right onto the tiny Piazza degli Zingari. People sitting on the stone benches and teenagers on their scooters frequently liven up this square that hosts one of the best gelaterie in Rome: Fata Morgana (absolutely my favorite!). After enjoying a good gelato cone (how can we miss their basil flavor?!), we keep on going following on Via degli Zingari to end up in Via del Boschetto, another “bohemian” street where time really seems to have stopped.
We are now in Via Panisperna: this up-and-down street is truly unique and it’s one of the most photographed thanks to an original “wall” of ivy that has grown along a thread of light between two opposing buildings – definitely a very unusual cascade of green leaves!
Just the time of another picture and we enter into Via dei Serpenti. Here a surprise awaits us: turning to the left, the silhouette of an imposing building in the distance makes its way between the paved roads and parked cars – the Colosseum! The surprise of seeing it from afar is, to me, one of the most suggestive aspects of these walks in the heart of Rome!
Another corner I love in this rione is Piazza Madonna dei Monti and the narrow via Baccina. The first one is a lively piazza known for its nightlife and enriched by an elegant seventeenth-century fountain. Via Baccina, instead, is the street that houses the Monti District Market – where you definitely have to do some food shopping if you really want to cook as Romans do! At its end, this street offers an exceptional view on a part of the Roman Forum: it takes you right behind the ruins, at one of the old gateways to the ancient Forum of Augustus which overlooked the old Suburra, the working-class district of Ancient Rome. It is like looking at something extremely well known from a new point of view… absolutely not to be missed!
Monti is therefore a journey within a journey, a way to discover the habits and passions of the truest Rome up close. Therefore, I look forward to exploring it together with you to create memories that will last a lifetime!
Giulia is a candidate for the 2023 Les Clefs d’Or Award. This article has been published in its original form.
Europe Artisan Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Passions Ruins Gelato Craft Shops Rome Neighborhood View Walking Italy Photography Shopping History Vintage Culture
My name is Giulia and I have been working at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome since 2016. My “career” as concierge is relatively short but my passion for this role is as secure and deep as the roots of a tree. After I moved to Rome for a post-graduation course in 2015, I had the chance to do an internship in my current hotel and the following training period at the concierge desk completed my falling-in-love process. I have always had an open nature towards the others, always happy to help and do my best. This natural attitude, combined with a constant desire to learn more and a sincere love for art and culture, formed the basis of my concierge identity. I like talking about “concierge identity” because to me, being a concierge is not something work-related only. Being a concierge means that we have a special DNA in our veins: it’s an inner burning flame, it’s a constant hunger of curiosity, it’s a genuine passion and a conscious gratefulness towards what we do every day. And this is exactly what I love the most: it’s the magic we create that makes our profession so special!
Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome allows all its guests to deeply feel the splendor of ancient Rome thanks to its classic elegance balanced with modernity and glamour. Hosted in a magnificent 19th-century building in Piazza della Repubblica, Anantara Palazzo Naiadi was built on part of the ruins of the Roman Baths of the Emperor Diocletian, still visible from the hotel basement and meeting rooms. The deep bond with the world of wellness coming from the ancient Roman tradition is demonstrated by the spectacular Fusion Spa, which offers massages, treatments and moments of relaxation without limits. With its 238 rooms and suites spread across two wings – one of which dating back to the 17° century and called “Clementino wing” as it was used as granary of Pope Clemente – Anantara Palazzo Naiadi is one of Rome’s grandest hotels endowed with a glamorous rooftop terrace offering an incredible view over the city. The hotel also boasts one of the most enviable locations in the city center, with iconic sites such as the Colosseum and the Imperial Forum, Via Veneto, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps all located within walking distance. If food and wine tradition is an essential part of Italian culture, Anantara Palazzo Naiadi offers a rich variety of options to its guests: from the restaurant and bar located on the panoramic terrace on the fifth floor to the relaxing atmosphere of the lobby area, with the signature cocktails created by the expert bartenders of Prisca Lounge bar. Staying at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi therefore means immersing yourself in the most authentic Rome’s culture, indulging in experiences treated in every single detail with a true and deep passion for luxury hospitality. The word “Anantara” means “endless” and endless are the memories we create every single day.
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