Sitting snugly between the Vatican City and the Borgo suburbs of Rome, Trastevere is one of the city’s most ancient areas and considered by many to be one of the few remaining authentic nooks of the Italian capital. Trendy and avant-garde yet exuding an unmistakable old-school charm, Trastevere is a brilliant accommodation choice for any visitor wanting to experience the more authentic side of Rome as well as have access to its most prized attractions. Wonderfully close to the Vatican City, the Colosseum and other innumerable gems, as well as being home to some of the city’s most ancient ruins, Trastevere is best known for its vibrant Saturday flea market and the breathtaking views its hilltop location gifts. The suburb’s very multicultural past, and long-held cultural importance, has also ensured it remains one of the most eclectic parts of Rome, and home to some of the best ethnic eateries and flea markets in the entire city. Want a taste of all that Rome has to offer on your next vacation? Then do yourself a favour: book your vacation rental apartment in Trastevere and experience the true essence of Roman life. The area of modern-day Trastevere has been inhabited for thousands of ...

They may look almost comical, with their MC Hammer pants, enormous shoulder pads, fluffy hats and brightly coloured uniforms; but the Vatican’s Swiss Guards demand some serious respect, thank you very much. Once used to guard prominent Royal Courts, mercenaries hailing from Switzerland had a notorious reputation for fierce loyalty, optimal combating skills and unequalled discipline. While many Swiss Guards regiments existed in Europe since the mid-15th century, the Papal Order is the only one still in existence. They may not look it, but the guards all visitors photograph on their Rome vacation are mean, lean, protective machines! Book your holiday rental apartment near the Vatican in Rome and come discover the illustrious and intriguing history of the most revered bodyguards in Italy. Once upon a time... Many, many moons ago (506 to be exact) Pope Julius II invited a group of renowned Swiss mercenaries to act as a kind of Papal army. Some may wonder what on earth the Vatican would need an army for, but let’s not forget that the correct name of the old Roman Empire was actually the Holy Roman Empire. The church has been at the forefront of battles (over land, subjects and so on) since its ...

[pinit]Located right in the heart of Rome, Campo De’ Fiori Square is one of the city’s most beloved attractions. Boasting an effervescent and romantic character, it attracts locals and tourists alike with its bustling morning markets, daytime sightseeing and evening entertainment. Book an accommodation in Campo de Fiori and make your Roman holiday a truly authentic experience. Whilst Rome is renowned for being home to some of our world’s most ancient sites, this particular plaza is actually one of the city’s ‘newest’ additions. This area was only developed in the mid 1400s when an order was made, under the guidance of Pope Callistus III, to pave the flowery meadow area between the Theatre of Pompeii and the River Tiber. The ensuing suburb, Campo de’ Fiori (meaning field of flowers in Italian) was born, and soon became one of the city’s most thriving merchant areas. Horse sellers and local produce growers convened to sell and trade goods and, six centuries later, it’s wonderful to see that not much has changed. Campo dei Fiori quickly became one of Rome’s most prosperous place, and an important route to the Vatican. Some of the city’s most prominent historical figures were constant fixtures and locals, ...

Holiday Velvet partners up with Viator to offer you exclusive Rome tours. Here are the top 3 Rome tours booked by our guests: Rome Angels & Demons Half-Day TourIn a word: Unravel Rome's secrets on the 'Angels and Demons' morning tour, inspired by the novel by Dan Brown.Customer Review: "I have been in Rome three times since 2003, but I must admit that this was the highlight of my three trips to the city! Our guide made the historic sites and the relevance to the book come alive...." Skip the Line: Vatican Museum TourIn a word: Take a small group walking tour of the Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica, and jump the queue by booking ahead. Customer Review: "I'm so glad we did this tour. There was such a long line to purchase tickets and we were able to bypass the long wait..." Classical Rome Morning TourIn a word: Explore Rome's classical attractions on a morning tour that combines a little walking with relaxed sightseeing by coach. Customer Review: "Worth doing the tour in the morning to miss the crowds that gathered at each site during the day. Mostly a walking tour, but not arduous or too hot even in ...

The beautiful Piazza Navona, with its fountains by Bernini, takes its oval shape for a very good reason: underneath it lies the remains of the Stadium of Domitian. The buildings that line the piazza are build over the Stadium's original seating arrangements. Wandering this peaceful piazza it is hard to imagine that 2000 years ago a crowd of 30,000 Romans were here, cheering loudly at extremely cruel "games". The Stadium was built in 86BC by emperor Domitian and some of its remnants can be admired north of the square. Also known as the Circus Agonalis (Agone being the origin "agony" ) over time the name changed to 'in agone' to 'navone' and eventually to 'navona'. The obelisk that is now part of the quattro fiumi fountain, has always been here (although it broke into 5 pieces during the 6th Century and was repaired)- it is called the obelisk of Domitian and has hieroglyphs related to the cult of Egyptian gods Isis and Serapis. Holiday Velvet offers unique Rome vacation stays and Navona holiday apartments