Rome holidays

Rome is a fantastic place for a city break – you can squeeze the best main sights into 48 hours if you’re feeling energetic. Spend a morning in the Vatican Museums, culminating in an unmissable peek at the painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Grab a quick slice of pizza bianca for lunch – a Roman speciality – before climbing the dome of the enormous St Peter’s Basilica. After an absorbing afternoon in Rome’s Centro Storico (where you can pop in on the Pantheon), spend your second day in the archaeological parks at the Collosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill. Stay at the Morgana, right in the centre of the city.

Rome’s five star hotels will really put the razzmatazz in your Roman holiday. If you’re after the high life, there’s plenty of choice. Stay at the Gran Melia Rome, an urban resort with an impressive outdoor pool. If you want traditional glamour, the magnificent St. Regis Rome has received a multi-million pound facelift and has very special butler service. Once you’ve seen to your suitcases, head out to the boutiques on Via dei Condotti, followed by cocktails around Tridente – then pick from a constellation of Michelin-starred restaurants for dinner.

Rome is the perfect place to enjoy a romantic break. You’ll create your own special memories among the breathtaking sights. Enjoy a cruise along the River Tiber or stroll hand-in-hand up to the Pincio Terrace at the top of the Pincian Hill and admire one of the city’s most spectacular views. Hire a rowing boat on the lake at Villa Borghese or share an intimate meal and treat yourselves to mouth-watering Italian delicacies, divine wine and maybe some gelato for dessert. Crank up the romance by staying at the boutique H'All Tailor Suite, where you can raise your glass to your other half at Champagne breakfasts and dine in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

With its winning combination of gelato and gladiators, Rome is a great place for a family holiday. Your little ones will love learning about the Colosseum and the Roman Forum (and some places in the city even offer ‘gladiator lessons’). Dare older kids to descend into Rome’s catacombs, or to place their hand in the ‘Mouth of Truth’ in the Santa Maria in Cosmedin church. Hop-on, hop-off bus tours can help save little legs – and after a day of city adventures everyone can cool off in the pool at Crowne Plaza St Peter’s Hotel.

It’s been a cultural centre for thousands of years, so culture vultures will find rich pickings in Rome. Roman architecture, Renaissance sculpture, Italian opera and modern art all thrive in the city. If you’re the kind of traveller who likes to cram everything into one trip, even you might be defeated by the volume of sights in Rome. Don’t miss the precious frescoes in the Roman villas on Palatine Hill, or Bernini’s beautiful statues in the Galleria Borghese. Dress up to watch Verdi’s La Traviata at the opera – then return to a hotel that looks out over ancient ruins: the charming Kolbe Rome.

Drive south from Rome and in just two and a half hours you’ll be descending down into the glittering gulf of Naples. Whilst the gritty city is renowned for great pizza, the surrounding area offers even more tempting prospects: brooding Mount Versuvius, the Roman ruins at Pompeii and the cliffs and coves of the startlingly pretty Amalfi Coast. You can also reach Naples in just an hour and a half – by direct train.

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Beautiful Florence is a gem of a destination. Once the political rival to Rome, this smaller city is a veritable Tuscan treasure trove. It’s famous for Renaissance masterpieces in the Uffizi and elaborate marble buildings – like its magnificent, candy-striped basilica. Art lovers can combine Rome and Florence for a comprehensive tour of the Italian Renaissance. The cities are connected by a direct train which takes less than an hour and a half, otherwise, hire a car and drive up in just over three.

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Swap Italy’s cultural capital for its fashion capital. Thanks to its fashion week and its historic shopping emporiums, Milan is a well-heeled city where the residents known their Fendi from their Gucci. You can travel from Rome to Milan with ease by train or by car. It’s a direct, three-hour train ride, or a six-hour drive north, and its cooler climes and buzzing industry make a pleasing contrast to Rome’s lazy, sunny vibe. The city’s highlights include its amazing cathedral and the bar-lined canals of the relaxed Navigli district.

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