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La Dolce Vita Rome, the sweet Italian way of life

La Dolce Vita, a movie from the 1960s, popularized the Italian way of life. Italians have a zest for life that is unmatched by other nations. They love to share their happiness and try to make the most of the moment

The NH Housekeeper’s Tips

Celebrating the Italian way of life

Italians have a passion for talking. On your Italian vacation, eat in a café, sit on the Spanish Steps, or take a walk in Via del Corso or Via Veneto, some of the most elegant streets in Rome. You can observe Italians of all ages and sizes engaged in animated conversations. The Dolce Vita movie portrays Via Veneto's energetic lifestyle, pulsating lights and the continuous flow of traffic. The Via Veneto is home to some of Rome's most famous cafés and star hotels. The Via del Corso is a major street in Rome that links the northern entrance gate of the Porta del Popolo to the Piazza Venezia, at the heart of the city.

Lively piazzas and gorgeous fountains of Italy

Even the most rural of villages will have a piazza. Piazzas, however big or small, are the principal areas for gatherings, celebrations, festivals and political events. Piazzas reflect the Italian culture, they are always filled with animated people, strolling, walking, sitting, talking and laughing. Most piazzas have a fountain as the focal point. How can you even think of leaving Rome without tossing a few coins into the Trevi Fountain? The coins have to be thrown using the right hand over the left shoulder to ensure a speedy return to Rome. The romantic Trevi fountain scene is one of the most famous shots in the Dolce Vita movie.

The Piazza Navona is one of the liveliest squares in Rome. Here you can find an abundance of street vendors hawking souvenirs, and plenty of artists sketching and selling their work. The church of Sant’Agnese in Agone overlooks the Piazza Navona. The interior of the church displays many impressive statues and frescoes. Designed by Bernini, the Fountain of the Four Rivers is the largest of three fountains in the Piazza Navona.

A passionate love affair with food

Italy is rich in culinary history. You can try experimenting and preparing the delicacies of Italy in the kitchen yourself, since you are never further than a short walk from a food market with farmers, fishmongers and butchers - and even the supermarkets have gloriously fresh produce and locally made cheeses and pastas. Italians value family above all else. Close family ties seem to form the foundation of the Italian way of life. In the afternoon, banks close, shops shut down and the streets are suddenly empty, leaving many visitors confounded. It’s just lunch break. Italians are very passionate about food. Lunch is a two to three course meal that is enjoyed thoroughly with the family and this may take an hour or two.

Showcasing the art and beauty of Italy

Italians take the time to appreciate beauty, art and value of life. From the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel to the Doge's Palace and the Galleria Borghese, there are innumerable museums for you to visit and enjoy art and architecture. Cinecittà Studios, on the outskirts of Rome, formed the backdrop for thousands of movies. Make sure you visit the movie-themed amusement park, Cinecittà World. As you experience the Italian way of life, you’ll connect better with your artistic side. You may even find yourself singing or dancing more often! Let your emotions out freely, express yourself creatively, sit back and enjoy la dolce vita.

Planning your trip to Rome? Check out our favorite downtown hotels in Rome.

Where to stay in Rome

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nh-collection
NH Collection Roma Vittorio Veneto
Corso d'Italia, 1,. 00198 Rome
Reviews
2023 Certificate of Excellence

The NH Collection Roma Vittorio Veneto hotel is in the heart of Rome. This hotel in Rome is near the city’s most popular street, Via Veneto, Villa Borghese Park, Piazza del Popolo, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. As for the building itself, it was once a Vatican-owned convent, but a 2009 refurbishment has given it plenty of contemporary style.

  • 0.81km Bioparco Zoo
  • 2.13km Castle of Sant'Angelo
  • 14.84km Ciampino Airport
  • 2.71km Circus Maximus
  • wifi
    Free Wi-Fi
  • parking
    Parking
  • gym
    Gym
  • airConditioner
    Air conditioning - Climate Control
  • eco-friendly
    Eco-friendly
  • pets
    Pets
  • accessibility
    Accessibility
  • celebrations
    Celebrations
  • meetings
    Meetings
  • numberRooms
    Rooms
nh-collection
NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento
Piazza dei Cinquecento, 90,. 00185 Rome
Reviews
2023 Certificate of Excellence

The luxury 5 star NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento is perfect for business or leisure travelers, and oozes Italian style. Located in Piazza dei Cinquecento, it's literally a couple of minutes from the platforms of Roma Termini Station. With a private garden featuring part of the ancient Roman ruins, the hotel is a calm charming oasis in a busy city. A metro, bus and tram stop are all on the doorstep, as well as onsite parking for guests arriving by car. Many world-famous sights such as Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, Teatro dell'Opera, Roman Colosseum, Circus Maximus and the Quirinal Palace lie just a short walk away.

  • 2.0km Bioparco Zoo
  • 2.93km Castle of Sant'Angelo
  • 13.61km Ciampino Airport
  • 2.28km Circus Maximus
  • wifi
    Free Wi-Fi
  • parking
    Parking
  • gym
    Gym
  • airConditioner
    Air conditioning - Climate Control
  • eco-friendly
    Eco-friendly
  • pets
    Pets
  • accessibility
    Accessibility
  • celebrations
    Celebrations
  • meetings
    Meetings
  • numberRooms
    Rooms
nh-collection
NH Collection Roma Giustiniano
Via Virgilio, 1 E/F/G,. 00193 Rome
Reviews
2023 Certificate of Excellence

The NH Collection Roma Giustiniano hotel puts you footsteps from the Vatican and right on the doorstep of the Prati shopping district with its high-end designer stores. This hotel in Rome has direct connection with Vaticano city, St Peter's Basilica, Sant'Angelo Bridge, Sant'Angelo Castle, Trastevere neighborhood and Rome’s historical center, meanwhile, is just 10 minutes away on foot.

  • 2.16km Bioparco Zoo
  • 15.78km Ciampino Airport
  • 2.82km Circus Maximus
  • 21.73km Fiumicino Airport
  • wifi
    Free Wi-Fi
  • parking
    Parking
  • gym
    Gym
  • airConditioner
    Air conditioning - Climate Control
  • eco-friendly
    Eco-friendly
  • pets
    Pets
  • accessibility
    Accessibility
  • babysitter
    Babysitter
  • celebrations
    Celebrations
  • meetings
    Meetings
  • numberRooms
    Rooms
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