Rome - Via Veneto & Villa Borghese

VIA VENETO

In my opinion, Via Veneto (also known as Via Vittorio Veneto) is one of the most fascinating and romantic urban streets in the world!

Via Veneto became immortalized in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life). In the 1960 film, Marcello Mastroianni plays a playboy newspaper gossip writer who spends every evening in Via Veneto, the hotspot for people who want to be seen. It was here that the term "paparazzi" became widely used.

The famous few blocks in northeast Rome may never regain the glamour of the 1950s and early 1960s, but it is still plenty wonderful for this country boy from Kansas. My personal favorites:

Gran Caffé Doney (No. 141) no longer has celebrities in sunglasses hobnobbing with attractive starlets, but it still attracts a hip crowd for nightly aperitifs. During the day, you can relax under a magnolia tree with a newspaper and cappuccino and people watch.

Café de Paris (No. 90) looks as chic as it did when Federico Fellini and Ava Gardner relaxed at its outdoor tables. To me, it's a magical place to sip espresso, daydream and enjoy the sweet life.

La Terrazza dell'Eden (Via Ludovisi 49) is the restaurant/bar of the Eden Hotel (corner of Via Veneto and Via Ludovisi). The legendary retreat at the top of this historic hotel may offer the best views in Rome.

Harry's Bar (No. 150) is the Roman branch of the famed Venetian café that opened up in 1961. Years later, it's still the haunt for local politicians and those who enjoy an after-dinner drink at a piano bar :-D

Another allure of Via Veneto is its proximity to other Roman treasures. It is fantastic to have the Aurelian Wall as well as four of Rome’s most amorous attractions just a few blocks away:
• Villa Borghese
• Trevi Fountain
• Pincio Gardens
• Spanish Steps/Piazza di Spagna