Commercial Feature – Rome has a long and illustrious history, having been the capital of the ancient world and the centre of the Roman Empire, which stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia.

With such a rich past, the Italian capital is both a city of historical sites and unadulterated romance. On a visit to Rome, you want to pack as much into your itinerary as possible to make the most of this most unique of cities, so read on for a few tips and tricks.

Places to stay
Anfiteatro Hotel Rome is a 17th century Roman mansion located in the heart of the city. It is close to the Colosseum, the Imperial Forum, the Spanish Steps and Via del Tritone, while other nearby places of interest include Via Nazionale, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Venezia, Via del Tritone, Via Veneto and Piazza Barberini.

The Anfiteatro Hotel Rome has been renovated in recent months to offer guests modern facilities, with quality and comfort in mind. As a prime location, you will discover multilingual staff, tourist information and private tours available from the concierge.

The rooms at Hotel Anfiteatro Flavio are elegant and comfortable. They vary in size and shape to help accommodate singles, couples or family guests. Many of the rooms offer balconies, while others have external windows. Amenities in the rooms include a writing desk, wardrobe, private bath, direct telephone, colour TV, air conditioning, central heating, hairdryer and safety deposit box, and you can choose between smoking and non-smoking rooms.

Hotels near Termini Station Rome
Other hotels near Termini Station Rome can be just as comfortable as the Anfiteatro, with Galles Hotel Rome a good example. It is ideal for travellers on business or sightseeing tours who wish to see the National Library, Via Veneto or Villa Borghese. These three locations are within walking distance of the Galles Hotel. The University Umberto and general hospital are also just a short stroll away.

Galles Hotel Rome offers 75 well appointed rooms and ten suites. The rooms are designed with an English style in mind and comfortable furnishings. Galles Hotel offers a restaurant with 19th century cellars, Italian dishes and wines.

Hotel Bianca Rome is another choice for travellers who are on a budget. It is near such attractions as Santa Maria Maggiore, Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore and Domus Aurea. This hotel connects to Terme Diocleziano between Piazza della Republica and Termini bus terminal. All of the accommodations offer air conditioning, cable TV, a telephone and private bathroom. Hotel Bianca Rome offers one restaurant for breakfast and afternoon drinks.

Starhotels Metropole Hotel Rome provides an unforgettable trip to this romantic city. A short walk from the hotel is Teatro dell’Opera and many of Rome’s finest historical sites. It has 236 rooms with top amenities such as en suite bathrooms, air conditioning, televisions and writing desks. The hotel also accommodates the Apicio Restaurant, an eatery that offers guests a menu consisting of both traditional Roman dishes and international cuisine

Things to do
The Colosseum is perhaps the most well known Roman site. Depending on the time of year you arrive in Rome, the Colosseum may not be open for an extensive tour. However, you can examine the outside of the structure to see where the Roman Gladiators used to fight.

The Colosseum is east of another popular city attraction, the Roman Forum. The Forum is mostly ruins and columns that still stand, rather than whole buildings. The Regia and Vestal Virgins complex stood at the forum during imperial Rome. The Forum was mostly for the Senate to meet and became insignificant after the Republican government.

The Spanish Steps is another architectural masterpiece. Situated between Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinita dei Monti, the 138 steps are also dominated by Trinita dei Monti. The Spanish Steps are Italy’s longest staircase and were built as a way to get up to the Trinita dei Monti Church, a late Renaissance place of worship that opened in 1505. Louis XII of France began the construction with authorisation from Pope Alexander VI. The church was meant to celebrate the invasion of Naples by the French and it has the characteristic Gothic arches of buildings from that period.

Trevi Fountain is often seen in movies where Rome forms a key location. The fountain stands 25.9 metres high and 19.8 metres wide and is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome. The fountain was commissioned in 1629 by Pope Urban VIII who felt the earlier version was not dramatic enough. However, the pope died before any work could be started. It took another 100 years before work on the actual Trevi Fountain we see today began.

Eating in Rome
To the Italians, an evening meal is often the most important part of the day, and during your stay you can elect to eat at some of the city’s finest restaurants. A good tip is to ask your hotel staff before you begin your tours for the day where the best places to eat are. Make it clear to the staff that you wish to find a good, authentic restaurant and not somewhere too touristy. By asking for personal opinions you may find more affordable meals, as well as tastier foods!

One suggestion is Cul de Sac at Piazza Pasquino. It is a wine bar for dinner with a few dishes, rather than a formal meal. It is a small restaurant and is especially popular among single diners, so you may end up sharing a table with someone else. Osteria del Gallo is located at Vicolo di Montevecchio, just west of Piazza Navona. They provide classier meals for the average tourist.

Whether you elect to stay at Anfiteatro Hotel or hotels near Termini Station, you will have plenty of restaurants and things to do in the Italian capital. Being close to public transportation will help you reach many of the tourist destinations and restaurants mentioned above. During your tour you can explore the past, present and future all in one go!