| The “New Roman Style” a fascinating itinerary | | | | and become a focal point for Rome fashions. A short |
| to discover the hidden corners of Rome, from fashion | | | | walk takes you to one of the latest bookstores in the |
| to design, art and cuisine, here are all the most in | | | | Feltrinelli chain. This is a large space devoted to culture, |
| places in the capital. | | | | which, as well as books and music, also has an art |
| Rome the Eternal City? Of course, if you think of all | | | | gallery that mounts exhibitions for young |
| the treasures and artistic masterpieces in the capital | | | | up-and-coming artists, photographers and sculptors, |
| that represent human civilization from ancient Roman | | | | and a music bar where live jazz or blues is played at |
| times, through the Renaissance and Baroque. But | | | | every Sunday brunch. |
| Rome is also much more than this. In recent years it | | | | If you love technology and all the latest high-tech |
| has become an open-air artistic and cultural | | | | inventions, you’ll find two original shops in the |
| “workshop”. Alongside its historic monuments, | | | | Galleria Colonna. Tech it Easy has all the craziest and |
| the feature that distinguishes it around the globe, there | | | | funniest designer electronic gadgets in circulation, and |
| are initiatives that look to the present and the future, | | | | Sony Gallery displays the latest novelties by this |
| just as in London, Paris and New York. There are | | | | Japanese company and is a real temple of high-tech. |
| flourishing modern art galleries, avant-garde buildings, | | | | Do you like the way out? Then Jam is the place for |
| trendy shops and night spots that go in for designer | | | | you. On the Corner of the Galleria Colonna, on the Via |
| décor and minimal chic, while the oriental and ethnic | | | | del Corso side is a vast space on two floors selling |
| styles hold sway in nearly all the neighbourhoods. In | | | | unusual, weird, crazy clothes, objects and souvenirs |
| other words, you don’t need to go abroad to find | | | | that sometimes verge on the kitsch, but are absolutely |
| out what is all the rage, because Rome has become a | | | | unique. |
| world leader in fashion, art and design. | | | | Now it’s time for lunch and we recommend two |
| In the spirit of Zen, with a minimalist look and a desire | | | | restaurants in the area. At Reef (Piazza Augusto |
| to seek out the trendiest places in the city, taste | | | | Imperatore, 40/42 Tel. 06 68301430) the sea and its |
| oriental dishes or enjoy the ritual of a fashionable | | | | habitat feature in a minimalist key and are the theme |
| aperitif follow our itinerary of the latest and most | | | | of the whole design. Entering this restaurant is like |
| exotic spots in the capital. | | | | plunging into tropical seas both as regards the décor |
| A shop that has become one of the most popular in | | | | and the menu. The undulating plates of glass resemble |
| the city opened some time ago right next door to the | | | | the rippling waves of the sea, the balustrades made of |
| Hotel dei Piranesi. It is a boutique, a feng shui furnishings | | | | iron rods are close meshed like fishing nets, even the |
| centre, a florist’s, a café, a restaurant, an art | | | | iron seems to have been rusted by salt water. The |
| gallery, a bookshop, a beauty salon, in a nutshell it is a | | | | lighting and colours all create a soft atmosphere. And |
| concept store called Tad. In the very heart of Rome | | | | the food is really sublime. Gusto (Piazza Augusto |
| this is the perfect place to begin your day, it is a | | | | Imperatore, 9 Tel. 06 3236363), however, is something |
| modular space of 1000 square metres, streamlined and | | | | else. Apart from being a very good restaurant, wine |
| decorated with gaudy colours, housing a varied | | | | bar and pizzeria, it also has a bookstore mainly |
| collection of items for the home and for personal use. | | | | devoted to books on gastronomy from all over the |
| Give yourself a new look with the help of an expert | | | | world, and a shop, so it is the ideal place for those who |
| stylist, buy a shantung garment and enjoy a coffee | | | | like to read a newspaper or book over lunch. |
| with an Arabic aroma to start the day with renewed | | | | Now we’ll take in some art. The Galleria Nazionale |
| energy. You’ll find the most original things with a | | | | d’Arte Moderna (Via delle Belle Arti, 131 Tel. 06 |
| particular focus on oriental trends (Tad, Via del | | | | 322981; Tues-Sat 8.30 am – 7.30 pm, Sun 9 am |
| Babuino, 155a Tel. 06 32669511). | | | | – 7.30 pm) is located in the Villa Borghese, one of |
| Not far away, in Via Vittoria, there is another temple of | | | | the loveliest parks in Rome, and has one of the most |
| oriental culture. It is called Thè Verde (Via Vittoria, 23 | | | | interesting 19th-century Italian Neoclassical, Romantic |
| Tel. 06 32110174) after the green tea that is so popular | | | | and Futurist painting and sculpture, as well as works by |
| in China and Japan. Entering this small shop is like | | | | many 20th-century artists including De Chirico, Morandi |
| plunging into a Zen atmosphere. Everything is | | | | and Marini. Outside the gallery is the Caffè delle Arti, |
| arranged with the utmost care in a way that reminds | | | | the perfect place for a coffee in the open air and it is |
| you of the rules of feng shui. Soft lighting, large | | | | very popular especially at lunchtime. Lovers of |
| brickwork shelves and small niches enhance the | | | | contemporary art can visit the very new exhibition |
| display of very special objects that include, for | | | | space MACRO (Via Reggio Emilia, 54 Tel. 06 |
| example, Chinese vases, Middle-Eastern necklaces, silk | | | | 67107900 Tues- Sun 9 am – 7 pm, public holidays 10 |
| and cashmere shawls, but above all tea services and | | | | am – 2 pm, Mon closed). MACRO is housed in the |
| the ingredients for the tea drinking ritual. Continuing | | | | converted Birra Peroni factory, built at the beginning of |
| down the same street, at number 55 you come to a | | | | the 20th century and has become a dynamic, cultural |
| young designer’s small jewellery shop Cristina Di | | | | centre that includes six exhibition rooms, a bookstore, a |
| Stefano Creazioni Orafe (Tel. 06 6791546). This very | | | | lecture hall, a workshop and a bar. It has a permanent |
| minimal shop has just opened and displays and sells | | | | collection of works by world famous contemporary |
| fascinating designer jewellery in gold and silver with | | | | artists from the 1960s to the present, and periodically |
| gemstones and precious stones in all shapes and | | | | mounts temporary art exhibitions. |
| colours. It is the ideal place if you’re looking for a | | | | Now it’s time to relax before facing Roman |
| special gift for a trendy spirited person who will be | | | | nightlife, devote a few hours to your personal |
| sure of wearing an absolutely original and unique piece | | | | well-being and enjoy an oriental ritual. Rome too has its |
| of jewellery. | | | | Hammam (La Culla del Benessere, Via della Maratona, |
| Obviously a piece of jewellery like this demands the | | | | 87 Tel. 06 36298573) and it is here that you’ll |
| right outfit to match it. Il Baco da Seta (Via Vittoria, 75 | | | | forget your daily stress and fatigue in the absolute |
| Tel. 06 6793907) is just the place for this. The name of | | | | peace and quiet of this temple of beauty. Let yourself |
| this boutique means “silkworm” and here, of | | | | be carried away by the magical exotic atmosphere of |
| course, silk reigns supreme and it is worked in | | | | distant lands, surrounded by objects and ornaments |
| thousands of ways in colours that range from hemp to | | | | from Morocco, by walls painted in Mediterranean |
| orange, from desert shades to Mediterranean hues. | | | | colours, and sofas and armchairs covered in rich |
| There are fascinating clothes by young designers who | | | | fabrics. An oriental doctor will make you welcome and |
| draw inspiration from the Orient and interpret the lines | | | | then follows the full Turkish bath ritual including washing |
| of samurai and geisha garments in a modern key. If | | | | with black, date oil soap, gommage, a massage and to |
| you prefer the African style to the Orient, then pay a | | | | finish off a fragrant cup of mint tea. Now in top form, |
| visit to Monies (Via Vittorai, 37) a small, chic, ethnic | | | | looking really great you are ready for the Rome |
| shop selling objects, furniture and items for home | | | | nightlife. An absolute must among the very latest |
| decoration inspired by the desert and safari style, and | | | | gourmet haunts is The Place, in the Prati |
| while we’re on the subject, pop into Exante Due at | | | | neighbourhood, (Via Alberico II, 27 Tel. 06 68307137). |
| number 13 in the same street, where you’ll enjoy | | | | This is a restaurant and American bar in a very |
| choosing really unusual pieces of costume jewellery. | | | | minimal eclectic style, which in addition to an interesting |
| Now it’s time for a coffee break or, if you want to | | | | menu with dishes from all over the world, has live |
| be really fashionable, for a stylish aperitif. The | | | | music every day ranging from jazz to blues, funky and |
| “in” place is Shaki (Via Mario de’ Fiori, 29/a | | | | ethnic. If you prefer to go to a concert of classical or |
| Tel. 06 6791694), a wine bar that has become a must | | | | modern music check the programme of the new |
| for the young and trendy. It is small, but offers a great | | | | Auditorium della Musica (Via Pietro De Coubertin Tel. |
| variety of teas and coffees with most unusual | | | | 06 8082058 or 06 80242350/1; designed by Renzo |
| flavours, as well as appetizing snacks and good wine. | | | | Piano, another temple of design, where the acoustics, |
| Contemporary in style, everything here has that | | | | thanks to the special system of lines and shapes, is |
| unmistakable designer touch, from the cups and plates | | | | really extraordinary. And if you want a late meal, next |
| to the glasses and napkins. If there is something that | | | | to the Auditorium is another cult place Red (Via Pietro |
| takes your fancy and you’d like to buy it, you can | | | | De Coubertin, 30 Tel. 06 80691630), this is one of the |
| find it at the Shaki shop not far away in Piazza di | | | | ultimate designer night spots where the red of the |
| Spagna (no. 65 Tel. 06 6786605). | | | | small mushroom-shaped armchairs and curious tables |
| We continue our itinerary through the new modish | | | | sets the tone, and where you can have dinner or |
| capital with a visit to the Galleria Colonna, named after | | | | simply taste the delicious snacks late into the night. |
| the actor Alberto Sordi, which has recently reopened | | | | |