Venture Off the Beaten Path in Rome

If you are looking for a weekend away and want to really treat yourself, why not book a stay in a Rome design hotel. The city has some fantastic options, and combining luxury, culture and art with excellent service, a Rome design hotel will make your short break in the Eternal City even more special. Most are located close to major attractions, great restaurants and places of interest and, just outside the doors, you will discover an exciting city just waiting to be explored.

Off the Beaten Trail

Most of the city's main tourist attractions can be found in any guidebook, and while there is no disputing their popularity, it is a good idea to try and deviate from the regular tourist trail and discover some different, but equally impressive parts of The Eternal City. Many hidden attractions can all be easily reached from your Rome design hotel.

An Ancient Church

The Basilica di San Clement is a stunning church, only a few minutes’ walk from the Colosseum. The lovely cloister and incredible mosaic in the apse are particularly attractive, but the highlight of a visit here is what lies below the present day church. The ancient church was a place of worship, destroyed by the Normans before being rebuilt in the 11th century into the church you see today. The earlier structure can still be explored and the remarkable frescos and admirable architecture are very impressive.

Roman Baths

Roman baths are par for the course in this city but the incredible remains of the baths of the Emperor Caracalla are a little less visited than most. Their peaceful location gives the illusion that you are not even in a city, and their huge, complex structure is testament to the skill of the Roman architects. Although many parts of these baths have been removed and are now displayed in museums, there are some wonderful mosaics that help evoke images of what the baths would have looked like.

Peer Through the Keyhole

For savvy visitors, a trip to the Aventine Keyhole should definitely be on the agenda. Locals are known to bring their visitors here to see the wonderful optical effect created by Piranesi. Although a gate bars the entrance to the Priory of the Knights of Malta, you can peek through the keyhole to see the Vatican’s vast white cathedral floating at the end of a symmetrical tunnel of trees. A Peaceful Place of Rest

Close to Aventine Hill is the Protestant Cemetery, where non-Catholics are buried. This tranquil setting is the final resting place of two famous poets - Keats and Shelley. There is also an interesting pyramid structure that overlooks many of the memorials, which was built by a Roman noble who was buried here in 12BC. In honour of the two famous poets, a visit to the Keats-Shelley house is worth a visit. Close to the Spanish Steps, this museum is absolutely charming and makes for a peaceful deviation from the hustle and bustle of central Rome. Design hotel locations are often within walking distance of this, and many other hidden attractions of the city.

Looking for a great hotel in Rome? Roberta Stuart is the Travel Manager for Worldhotels, a company offering top class accommodation in a Rome design hotel, as well as a selection of unique four and five star hotels around the world.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.