The Grand Art Gallery

A little more than 300 meters in length and no wider than 90, it is among the smallest inhabited islands in the world and, despite this, houses the monumental 16th century hospital Fatebenefratelli. Myth says that in 291 BC Aesculapius, god of medicine, hid in a Roman ship sailing to Greece in the guise of a snake to seek help from the Gods and save his people from a plague. It is said that on his return the snake escaped from the boat and hid on the island. A temple was erected here to worship him, over the ruins of which the Church of Saint Bartholomy, which today still shelters a miraculous spring, was later built.

The grandeur of the cathedral, the cupola and the square with its colonnade: a crossroads where the skill of the greatest artists in history meets to give life to one of the most incredible feats of architecture. Photos, videos, postcards and films all reproduce what is perhaps the most important and well-known holy building in the world. The first stone was set by Emperor Constantine, who placed it on the ground where the apostle Peter first stood. Over the centuries the structure was changed by the hands of the greatest artists of all time. From Bramante, Raffaello and Michelangelo to Della Porta, Fontana and Maderno, before its consecration in 1626. On the inside it conceals Michelangelo’s timeless Pieta’ and Bernini’s bronze Baldachin. Then, let your guide lead you to the base of the obelisk set in the center of the square and prepare to be amazed by the colonnade and the ingenious illusion of perspective it affords.

If you are a fan of beer, this is the perfect way to get to know the best Italian breweries and their products, with their merits and particularities, through an exploration of their geographical origin.

Tasting, as you may know, is not only about taste, just like listening is not only about sound. It is a real sensual and sensory experience that involves all the senses, even the sixth. An exciting journey in one of the most famous restaurants in the world led by culinary experts who know the raw materials they choose just like a scientist would, but who are also acutely aware of the human soul and the emotional functioning of human beings, and are capable of uniting the knowledge of the latter and the former in what industry insiders call neuro-enogastronomy.

The combination of ancient statues and busts with the technological devices of Rome’s first public electrical power plant is an exciting sight to behold. The plant ceased all activity in the early 1960s and remained out of use until 1997, when it received the loan of a number of sculptures from the Capitoline Museums. This was meant to be temporary, but instead became a permanent exhibition. It represents an extraordinary example of museum conversion, a visual pastiche that results in a very evocative effect.

It was 1929 when the ancient ruins where Caesar was murdered were discovered at Largo di Torre Argentina. That same year the city’s stray cats started taking refuge in those same ruins. An expert guide will show you the place where these felines receive shelter and care from the city’s many volunteers, because this too is Rome. Have a look at Walt Disney’s movie “The Aristocats” in Italian, and listen to the fluent roman accent of Romeo, the animated film’s loveable Roman stray protagonist. He is the most respected cat of the city’s famous colony, and if you’ll be lucky he might come your way.

Start on the Aventine Hill, the beauties of which have been sung by poets like Carducci and D’Annunzio, and discover the scents and charm of the Parco Savello, the Garden of Oranges where Saint Dominic planted the first bitter orange tree, which to this day you can still find there. Peek through the famous “keyhole” of the Priory of the Knights of Malta, through which the Vatican Cupola will appear in a new, breathtaking perspective. Move to the Gianicolo terrace and its unique view of Rome. A true Renaissance treasure, which also holds the Tempietto del Bramante. Finally, on the opposite side of the city, inside the magnificent Villa Borghese, you will find the terrace of the Pincian Hill.

A Chinese Grand Suite, a Thai Suite, body and facial treatments, Turkish baths, whirlpools, an Onsen pool, 34-degree hydrotherapy, Ayurlomi massage, Shirodara, Oriental Blend, and much more. Since 2008, Kami SPA brings a genuine corner of Oriental tradition in the heart of the historic Roman city. The ancient Palazzo that houses this luxurious spa is located in one of the most important areas of Rome, a stone’s throw away from the luxury shops of via Veneto and the enchanting Trevi Fountain. Every object and piece of furniture inside the SPA has been imported directly from Asia by its two Roman founders whom, enamored with Asian culture, decided to partner with one of the most important Thai architects to faithfully recreate the atmosphere of such complex and sophisticated cultures. From the Buddhist therapists to the range of available treatments, from the materials used to the furniture and the teak floors, you will find yourself immersed in a truly glocal experience. Selected services are also available directly at your home.

This 17th-century villa, its rooms decorated by German painters active in Rome in the first half of the 19th century, is far from the beaten track. The Casino Giustiniani was built at the beginning of the 16th century as a country residence by Vincenzo Giustiniani, and was later acquired by the Massimo family. They commissioned the Nazarenes to decorates the three rooms on the ground floor with frescoes in the fashion of the great Italian masters of the past. This resulted in a number of exquisite masterpieces. Through the language of images the walls read the texts that have shaped Italian history, from Dante’s Divine Comedy to Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered through Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso.