Exclusive early morning private visit in Rome with Hotel de Russie

The Secret Hours of Rome

As Marcus Aurelius understood, dawn belongs to those willing to meet it – and in Rome, this is especially true. Certain views, such as a glimpse of St Peter’s perfectly framed through the keyhole of an unassuming green door, are best seen at first light.

This summer, Rocco Forte Hotels opens that world to guests and introduces ‘The Off Peak Edit’, a thoughtfully choreographed collection of experiences designed to reveal Italy at its most tranquil and atmospheric. For guests of Hotel de Russie, the adventure begins in the early hours of the morning with a private visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a majestic fourth-century church perched on one of Rome’s seven ancient hills.

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome at dawn

 

Though less well known than St Peter’s, Santa Maria Maggiore is equally awe-inspiring. Gazing up at the coffered ceiling, said to be gilded with gold brought back from the Americas by Christopher Columbus, it’s perhaps not surprising to discover that Pope Francis chose this basilica, a place that he had visited more than 100 times, as his final resting place. Opposite the small alcove he selected for himself lies the tomb of the 17th-century Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

But the tour begins beneath the main space of this sacred building, where the gold leaf of early Christian mosaics catch the first sunbeams of the day. Below the ground floor, among the remains of a second-century Roman domus, lie hidden layers of the city’s past. Above, the presence of the Holy Cradle relic lends a quiet reverence to the space.

From here, guests are guided to the terraces above the church. Then a pause. The tour is perfectly timed to allow time for a coffee at this exact moment, to marvel at the views across the Esquiline rooftops in the morning light and the skyline beyond – looking over terracotta roofs, church domes and bell towers.

The journey then continues through the historic streets that connect Monti to Campo Marzio. As the city gently awakens, the sensory pleasures of Rome come into focus – the chatter of neighbours as shutters open, the scent of freshly baked treats drifting from neighbourhood bakeries. Join locals at Panella, on Via Merulana 54, less than five minutes’ walk from the basilica, lining up for cornetti stuffed with custard or maritozzi with still-warm pineapple cream buns.

Returning to the hotel in time for breakfast, there’s a chance to mull over the morning, seeing familiar places anew through its quieter streets and hidden portals. In a city where energy and intensity often define the summer season, this alternative, slower pace offers a more deliberate way of seeing, where access, atmosphere and timing converge to create something altogether more meaningful.

As part of Rocco Forte Hotels’ wider Italian summer programme, ‘The Off Peak Edit’ opens a gateway to the country at its most evocative. In Rome, it’s a chance to feel the streets belong, if only for a moment, to those who rise early enough to claim them.

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A true Roman luminary between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, the classical and cosmopolitan come together at Hotel de Russie.

reservations.derussie@roccofortehotels.com
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+39 06 328881
Address
Via del Babuino 9
00187 Rome, Italy
Rome
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A true Roman luminary between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, the classical and cosmopolitan come together at Hotel de Russie.

reservations.derussie@roccofortehotels.com
Phone Number*
+39 06 328881
Address
Via del Babuino 9
00187 Rome, Italy
Rome
View map

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A true Roman luminary between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, the classical and cosmopolitan come together at Hotel de Russie.

reservations.derussie@roccofortehotels.com
Phone Number*
+39 06 328881
Address
Via del Babuino 9
00187 Rome, Italy
Rome
View map

1. Personal Data
Title
Best Time To Reach*

2. Events Details

Desired Date
Alternate Date

Do you need accomodation for all or some of your guests?*

3. Past Events

Have you held event with us before?*