I spent a few days this past week at Viale delle Belle Arti, 7 in Rome. As you near the apartment you are first visually saturated by innumerable examples of the finest of turn of the century Italian architecture along Viale delle Belle Arti, perhaps most formidably the Museum of Modern Art which was founded in 1883. As you enter the apartment building, which itself is a beautiful architectural example, you feel transported into the time of the Roman empire with a walk down the path through the apartment’s lovely garden complete with a Romanesque fountain and pool. It’s pretty easy to imagine the inhabitants of Rome 2,000 years ago enjoying their leisure in this setting. And then, upon entering the apartment, you will find the convenient and pleasing touches of contemporary Italian living in a very nicely decorated apartment.
But that’s just the beginning of the experience. The Villa Borghese gardens are just a short walk up the street. Within the gardens is the Borghese Museum which happens to be my favorite in the city of Rome (book early at “galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it/en/”). The museum has a nice variety of art among its several floors including some of Bernini’s best works that you are allowed the proximity that enables you to fully appreciate his genius. And from there, the list of sites and good restaurants within walking distance is, quite simply, endless. Less than an hour’s walk away from the apartment are the church of Santa Maria in the Piazza del Popolo where you’ll find my favorite Caravaggio, The Crucifixion of St. Peter. Further along you’ll find the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. There are, of course, too many sites to mention here but I do suggest the small, private evening tours of both the Vatican and the Coliseum in order to avoid the lines. I also suggest starting a Rome excursion with a tour of the Palatine Hill and Forum. It was very easy to line up a guide for this at support@toursbylocals.com (I used Giovanni) and catching a taxi to meet them there (taxis can be thru the app “itTaxi).
As far as groceries and pharmacies are concerned, there are good ones near the apartment on Via Flaminia (If you can, I’d suggest getting a temporary sim card at either a TIM or Vodaphone store) . There’s also a nice place to have lunch that is also on Via Flaminia. In short, Viale delle Belle Arti 7 is convenient, comfortable and close to the very heart of Rome and you’ll leave there feeling you’ve been pretty well immersed in that fabulous city.