Hotel Colonna Frascati

Smart hotel is good base to enjoy famous wine and explore historic towns just outside Rome

The Hotel Colonna looks out over a quaint piazza

Frascati is famous throughout the world for its light, dry, white wine but is perhaps not so well known as a holiday destination.

But the ancient city just 20 kilometres south east of Rome in the Alban Hills is a perfect base for exploring the area known as Castelli Romani.

The Hotel Colonna is an excellent choice if you want to stay right in the centre of Frascati.

Rated three star superiore, the hotel overlooks the charming Piazza del Gesù.

The 20 guest rooms are all beautifully carpeted and furnished and have immaculate, well appointed bathrooms.

The Hotel Colonna’s smart reception area is furnished with an ornate marble fireplace, white statues and comfortable armchairs to relax in.

There is an elegant frescoed breakfast room serving a buffet breakfast that includes both sweet and savoury dishes.

The hotel has a bar and a meeting room for the use of business travellers and offers internet access and free parking.

Editor’s note: “My stay at the Hotel Colonna was absolutely delightful. I had a very comfortable room and was made to feel welcome by the friendly staff. I really enjoyed being in the heart of the city and close to all the sights.”

For more information to check prices and to book a room at the Hotel Colonna go to our hotel booking partner Hotels.com

Why stay at Hotel Colonna in Frascati

  

The Hotel Colonna is an elegant, comfortable hotel right in the historic centre of Frascati.

The city has the feel of Rome, but is on a smaller scale and life seems to be lived at a less frantic pace. There are statues, fountains and wonderful architecture, but it is easy to walk around Frascati and there is little crime.

It is said that Frascati’s delicious white wine ‘non viaggia bene’ (does not travel well), which is all the more reason to drink it there, in quaint wine bars serving it cheaply by the glass.

The villas built by wealthy Romans on the hills behind Frascati now lie in ruins, but there are elegant 16th and 17th century villas in the surrounding countryside, such as the imposing Villa Aldobrandini, which overlooks the town.
Frascati is a good base for exploring other interesting old towns of the Castelli Romani such as  Castel Gandolfo, where the Pope has his summer residence and Nemi, with its beautiful lake.

You can take the train to Rome (journey time 30 minutes) to see the sights, but you will look forward to returning in the evening to sit on a terrace sipping wine, looking down over the eternal city.

What to see near Hotel Colonna in Frascati

Just a few steps from the Hotel Colonna is the 16th century Chiesa del Gesù with statues on the façade believed to be the work of Pietro da Cortona and frescoes inside by Andrea Pozzo.

Piazza del Gesù leads into the larger Piazza San Pietro, where Frascati’s main church, Cattedrale San Pietro stands. Inside the church is the tombstone of Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Young Pretender. He died while in exile in Rome and was first buried in Frascati’s cathedral, where his brother, Henry Benedict Stuart, Duke of York, was Bishop. In 1807 his body was moved to St Peter’s in Rome, but his heart was left in Frascati, in a small urn, under the floor below his monument.

Within a few streets of the Hotel Colonna in Via dell’Olmo, you will find Osteria dell’Olmo, one of Frascati’s oldest osterie, where you can taste Frascati wine and typical local dishes.

Directions: The Hotel Colonna is in Piazza Gesù in the centre of Frascati, approximately 150 metres from the railway station from where there are frequent services to Ciampino and to Roma Termini railway station. The hotel is about 100 metres from the stop where the COTRAL buses depart to Rome and about three kilometres from the nearest exit on the A1 autostrada.

Restaurant recommendation:

Inside Trattoria e Pizzeria al '19'

Trattoria e Pizzeria al '19': Close to the Hotel Colonna, in Piazza Montegrappa, the Trattoria e Pizzeria al ‘19’ offers tipica cucina Frascatana (typical Frascati cooking).

The restaurant serves pizza  cooked in a wood oven and antipasti and contorni using locally sourced ingredients in season. Try their bucatini all’amatriciana and scaloppina al limone. Closed Mondays.

Local specialities: Try minestra di pasta e fagioli (soup with pasta and beans), pasta e broccoli con le cotiche (pasta and broccoli with pork rind), risotto ai carciofi (risotto with artichokes) and porchetta con il pane casareccio (roast suckling pig with home made bread).

Selection of wines made in Frascati

Local wines: White: Frascati is light, very quaffable and best drunk young. It tastes much better when it is drunk in the town where it is made than it does when sampled further afield.

Red: Look out for Cesanese del Piglio or Ferro e Seta.

Shopping: Take back food items such as oils, herbs and jars of truffle-based products, such as white truffle and black truffle pate.

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Hotel Europa Padova

Modern hotel well placed for exploring historic Padova in northern Italy

Hotel Europa Padova

Close to the Scrovegni Chapel, convenient for the tram and in the heart of the most exclusive shopping area, the four star Hotel Europa is in an excellent location in Padova.

A smart, comfortable hotel in Largo Europa, the Europa is just a short walk from the historic centre of Padova and the bars, restaurants and shops around Piazza della Frutta and Piazza delle Erbe.
The Eremitani Church and Scrovegni Chapel are only a few streets away while some of the best shops and department stores in the city are virtually on the doorstep.
The hotel serves an excellent buffet breakfast and the friendly staff on the reception desk are always on hand to advise guests about what to see and do in Padova.

A few metres from the hotel at the end of Largo Europa there are stops for the tram services to the railway station and to Basilica di Sant’Antonio and Prato delle Valle.

Basilica di Sant'Antonio

There is wi-fi throughout the hotel and there are meeting rooms and special facilities available for business travellers. All 80 guest rooms have air conditioning, work desks and complimentary internet access.

Editor’s note: “During my stay I found that the reception staff were very helpful, recommending restaurants and booking radio controlled taxis for me that all arrived within a matter of minutes”.

For more information, to check prices and to book a room at Hotel Europa, go to our hotel booking partner Expedia UK or try Hotels.com.

Why stay at Hotel Europa in Padova?

The four star Hotel Europa is a smart, efficiently run, comfortable hotel in a really good location.

It is right in the middle of the best area for shopping and within walking distance of the historic centre of Padova.

The Hotel Europa is within a tram or taxi ride of the main railway station and within walking distance or a tram ride of the famous Basilica di Sant’Antonio.

What to see near Hotel Europa in Padova

Close to the Hotel Europa is the Cappella degli Scrovegni (the Scrovegni Chapel), which houses one of the world’s greatest art treasures.

The interior of the chapel is entirely covered with frescoes painted by Giotto between 1303 and 1305, which have been acknowledged as marking the beginning of modern art in Europe.

Visits to the chapel are carefully organised to protect the condition of the frescoes. Tickets have to be booked in advance and collected one hour before the time of the visit.

For more information visit www.cappelladegliscrovegni.it

Directions: The Hotel Europa is at Largo Europa 9. From the railway station in Piazzale della Stazione you can either take the tram or walk down Corso del Popolo, turn right into Via Matteoti and left into Largo Europa. The Hotel Europa is on the right.

Restaurant recommendation: Antica Trattoria Zaramella
Next door to the hotel is one of Padova’s most historic restaurants, Antica Trattoria Zaramella, which has been recommended in the Italia Michelin Guide. 

Prato della Valle

The restaurant can trace its history back to 1856 and has evidence that in 1860 a letter was delivered for a customer who had used the Zaramella as an address.

Antica Trattoria Zaramella has been under the direction of the Verni family since 1987 and serves dishes typical of the Veneto featuring both meat and fish.

Local specialities: Cucina padovana (Padovan cooking) is similar to that of Venice with a few traditions of its own. Look out for risotto ricco alla padovana which is served with duck and chicken and risotto with radicchio, a vegetable grown locally. Popular pasta dishes include tortelli di zucca dolce (sweet pumpkin stuffed ravioli) and bigoli con ragu d’anatra (little strings of pasta with a duck sauce).

Various cuts of chicken and duck, served with a variety of different sauces and vegetable accompaniments, feature strongly among secondi piatti in most restaurants.

Local wines: White: In Padova you will see Pinot Bianco and Soave on many wine lists.

Red: Merlot, Bardolino and Valpolicella are all produced in the Veneto.

Sparkling: Try some light, refreshing Prosecco while in Padova. Not far from the city is the strada del Prosecco, the road between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, which is lined with wineries producing Prosecco DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) the stamp of quality given to the best wines.
Editor’s note: “In my opinion Prosecco is better than Champagne.”

Shopping: There are designer fashion shops close to the Hotel Europa, a fascinating food market in Piazza della Frutta and Piazza delle Erbe and antiques and bric a brac on sale at the weekend markets held in Prato della Valle, Padova’s elegant main square.

Book a room at the Hotel Europa with Hotels.com or Expedia UK

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Hotel della Torre Argentina Rome

Sights of ancient Rome on the doorstep of elegant hotel

Hotel della Torre Argentina

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. This could mean lunching where the locals lunch, looking cool strolling around the ancient sights, or sampling the social scene at night in a fashionable piazza.
But whatever you plan to do during your stay in Rome, it is important to choose a hotel in a good location so that you don’t waste precious time during your holiday trying to get to places.

A good choice in a central location in Rome is the Hotel della Torre Argentina. This stylish three star hotel has been converted from an 18th century aristocratic palazzo in the heart of Rome’s historic centre and is within walking distance of many of the famous sights.

The hotel, in Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, is beautifully decorated and furnished in keeping with its elegant architecture, but has every technological innovation needed for modern travellers.

The Hotel della Torre Argentina has 60 rooms spread over five floors, all with stylish bathrooms, satellite television, air conditioning and high speed internet access.

There is a terrace with panoramic views over the eternal city and a large breakfast room where an extensive choice of food is offered on the buffet each morning.

The friendly staff are always available in the elegant reception area to give out tourist information.

Editor’s note: “The Hotel della Torre Argentina is in a marvellous location. It is lovely on Sunday mornings to be able to walk in just a few minutes to Piazza San Pietro to hear the Pope’s midday address.”

For more information, to check prices and to book a room at Hotel della Torre Argentina, go to our hotel booking partner Expedia UK or try Hotels.com

Why stay at Hotel della Torre Argentina in Rome?

Location, location, location! The Hotel della Torre Argentina is handy for Piazza Navona and the Pantheon and within walking distance of San Pietro (Saint Peter’s) and Citta del Vaticano (the Vatican).

There are stops outside the hotel for the bus services that run to Rome’s Termini station.

What to see near Hotel della Torre Argentina in Rome

Close to the hotel in Largo Argentina are the remains of four Republican era temples. It is believed Julius Ceasar was murdered there in 44BC.

The Pantheon

The nearby Teatro Argentina is the main theatre in Rome and hosts international plays, dance shows and concerts. The stunning, frescoed ceiling dates from when the theatre first opened in 1732.

A short walk away, the Pantheon is one of the best preserved ancient buildings in Rome . It was originally built as a temple to all the gods, but its subsequent conversion to a church saved it from being torn down.

Also handy for the hotel, Piazza Navona, which was built over an ancient athletics stadium, is one of the liveliest squares in Rome, with beautiful fountains and plenty of bars and restaurants.

Directions: The Hotel della Torre Argentina is in Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, which leads from Largo Torre Argentina to Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II, a bridge over the Tevere (Tiber ) that takes you to Piazza San Pietro. To reach the hotel from Rome’s Termini railway station, either take a taxi or buses 64 or 40. If you are arriving by car from the autostrada, follow the signs for Roma Centro.

Restaurant recommendation: 

Ristorante Vernissage in Piazza dei Caprettari is just a short walk from the Hotel della Torre Argentina and serves many Roman specialities. You can eat inside or outside and the restaurant is open every day.

Look out for alla romana dishes (roman style) such as saltimbocca alla romana (veal with sage and ham, literally translated it means ‘jump in the mouth’,) or trippa alla romana (tripe with tomato sauce).

Local specialities: Try bucatini all’amatriciana (hollow tubes of pasta with tomatoes, ham and onion), abbacchio (spring lamb) and carciofi (artichokes). Pizza romana (Roman style pizza) is rolled out very flat and thin compared with a Neapolitan style pizza, which is thicker and softer.

Local wines: White: In Rome you will see Frascati, a delicious light wine made in the town of the same name just south of the city. Take the opportunity to sample it in Rome as it is said of Frascati, ‘non viaggia bene’ (it doesn’t travel well.) Also look out for wines from the Castelli Romani villages.

Red: Try Montepulciano from Abruzzo.

Shopping: Best buys are leather goods, designer labels and collectables such as prints and decorative objects. Browse in the area between Piazza di Spagna and Via del Corso for the top name shops, but also look round the area between Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori, just walking distance from the Hotel della Torre Argentina, where there are bargains waiting to be snapped up.

Book a room at the Hotel della Torre Argentina with Expedia UK or compare prices at Hotels.com

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