Wearing sensible shoes while visiting Rome might not make you feel like you’re on top of your fashion game — especially when the locals all look like they’ve just stepped out of the pages of Grazia. But you have to ditch the heels, the tight leather boots, and the overly complicated strappy sandals because visiting the Italian capital requires putting in some steps. And don’t say you’d rather take the metro or ride on one of the ridiculous hop-on hop-off buses because that’s no way to do the city. Seemingly every single street in this city has something worth seeing, from piazzas to churches to fountains, and you don’t want to miss out on any of it. Touring Rome on foot is non-negotiable.
Photo courtesy Meliá
This Luxury Hotel Is So Close to Vatican City, You Can Almost Touch The Pope
The only fly in the ointment of this particular travel advice is the location of your hotel. If you booked yourself in a property that’s way out in the boonies, you’re going to struggle to hoof it to the main sights. The hotel with the most ideal location in the historic center of Rome is undeniably The Hassler Hotel. It’s right at the top of the Spanish steps so it’s hard to beat. But if you’re more interested in what’s happening on the other side of the Tiber, say St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and Castel Sant’Angelo, it’s Villa Agrippina Gran Meliá you’ll want to stay at. Only seven minutes from Vatican City and 12 minutes from Piazza Navona on foot, this luxury hotel is the best of both worlds, and then some.
Villa Agrippina is more than a point on a map
Photo: Melia
Although Villa Agrippina’s address is a big draw, it’s not the only thing that makes it special. After all, there are several hotels that are closer to Vatican City than this particular property. The real appeal is the combination of its location and its oasis-like feel. The 2.4 acres of enclosed lush ground and the gigantic circular outdoor pool help you forget you’re in a densely populated European city. In fact, once you’re taking a stroll among the rosemary bushes, or stretching out under one of the cabanas, the low hum of traffic and the cacophony of sirens that make up the auditory background of this urban center become a distant memory. If you spend your time in Rome visiting the sights with tens of thousands of others, retreating to the calm and spaciousness of Villa Agrippina’s park at the end of the day is a fantastic feeling. But what’s indoors is not half bad either.
The lobby and its serene Roman Temple atmosphere works like half a Xanax, but it’s the light-filled Clarins spa area that truly helps you leave the outside world behind. The facility is on the small side, but there’s everything you need: sauna, steam room, chromatic showers, cushy lounge chairs, an herbal tea station, and even an outdoor heated jet pool. Slip on the thick robe provided and take in the silence and cocooning vibe — it’s all complimentary. If you feel like upping your self-care a little, book a massage or an infrared-mask session. The beauticians at reception are very generous with their samples, which you should definitely try. Seriously, the miniature myBlend products are the next best thing to Botox.
And because you can’t live on leisurely pool swims and excellent skin care alone, Villa Agrippina has your nourishment needs covered too. You don’t have to scour the streets of Rome to find top-notch dining — there are three restaurants on site, including Folie, a fine-dining venue with serious Michelin-star ambitions. Breakfast at this property is a cornucopian Italian buffet, with more crostatas de marmelatta and cappuccinos than you could ever dream of.
A modern property with a sense of history
Photo: Melia
Villa Agrippina is not a historical property. It was built in the 21st century and has all the amenities to prove it. But it’s got a past. Or, at least, the land on which it stands has one.
When construction for this hotel started in 2006, it quickly became apparent that the site was hiding some treasures. While it’s not a big surprise in a city where you can’t scratch the ground without finding ancient artifacts, this time, archeologists struck gold. It turned out that this particular plot of land used to be home to the villa of Agrippina the Elder, mother of Emperor Nero, back in the first century. And because Nero is notorious for having killed his mom in a struggle for power, this was quite a big deal for everyone.
Needless to say that the building project was halted for some years to excavate and catalog all the findings. It took six years in total for the hotel to be completed and the archeological discovery became a source of inspiration for luxury brand Gran Meliá who named the property after Agrippina and decorated it accordingly with carvings representing the historical figure and her contemporaries.
You can check out some of the findings unearthed by archeologists at Palazzo Altemps in the historic center of Rome where they are currently exhibited. If you visit, don’t forget to mention that you’re staying on the exact site of Agrippina’s villa to anyone in the museum who will listen. At the starting price of $696 per night, you’ve earned those bragging rights.
The cacao powder on the tiramisu
Photo: Melia
Because it’s a luxurious five-star hotel, Villa Agrippina goes above and beyond for its guests. Not content with providing travelers with a glorious property in an exceptional location, an elegant spa, and three gourmet restaurants, Villa Agrippina is also determined to have you see every nook and cranny of Rome in a very exclusive fashion. Whatever you want to do, the people at Villa Agrippina can arrange it, whether that be a private tour of the Sistine Chapel, a wine-focused day trip to Tuscany, or even a Vespa visit of Rome — anything is possible. They’ll even organize a private session with a professional photographer to capture your trip to the Eternal City. All these concierge services come at a price, of course, but the headache of organizing it all is off your hands. Now, if that’s not the cacao powder on the tiramisu, I don’t know what is. 