A Romantic Weekend in Rome

Rome has been the backdrop to affairs of the heart for millennia – emperors, poets, painters, all drawn to its beauty. With its charming cobbled streets, Baroque fountains and golden piazzas, the city seems simply designed for passion. After all, you can’t spell romance without Rome. From its lofty vantage point above the Spanish Steps, Hotel de la Ville has presided over many a love story since the 18th century, making it the perfect place to begin your own.

Start on Aventine Hill, just a leisurely walk from the hotel, where one of the city’s most intimate views awaits. Head to Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, where a plain green door hides a secret: through its keyhole, St Peter’s Basilica appears perfectly framed, as if captured in a painting. This unexpected moment is a charming vantage point for those who know where to look - visit in late afternoon to see the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica glowing in golden light.

From there, Rome’s green heart lies just moments away. Villa Borghese, once the private estate of the Borghese family, is now a grand landscaped park of shaded avenues, fountains, and hidden sculptures. At the boating lake, hire a wooden rowboat for two and glide across the water, circling the 18th-century Temple of Aesculapius. Follow winding paths to the Pincio Terrace, where the view over Piazza del Popolo and the rooftops beyond is one of utmost romance - made even better with a picnic prepared by the hotel team, arranged in advance through the concierge.

As evening falls, cross the Tiber to Ponte Sant’Angelo. Guarded by Bernini’s angels, the bridge is at its most evocative at dusk, when statues appear gilded by the setting sun. Then, it’s on to Trastevere, where ivy-clad facades, lantern-lit piazzas, and the strum of street musicians create the perfect stage for love. Pause for an aperitivo in a tucked-away trattoria, or simply wander together, perhaps with a gelato in hand.

For a more cinematic experience, step into your own Roman Holiday, the hotel’s exclusive scooter tour inspired by the iconic Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck movie. This three-hour journey winds through storied streets - from the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain to the Mouth of Truth and the Roman Forum, with the city a blur of marble and terracotta behind you.

And finally, return to where it all began, high above the Spanish Steps. Reserved for guests of the Forte Suites, the Suite Stargazing experience transforms your private terrace into an observatory, with expert astrophysicists and professional telescopes revealing the constellations above Rome. As planets come into focus and the myths of the night sky are brought to life, the city feels both timeless and personal. When the telescopes are packed away, the Astro-Bed awaits - a setting beneath a star-studded sky, where you can fall asleep side by side, with the lights of the Eternal City shimmering far below.

Available exclusively for guests of the Forte Suites, the Suite Stargazing and Astro-Bed experience at Hotel de la Ville is available upon request - a perfect finale to a romantic weekend in Rome.