Hotel Midas Roma, a member of Barceló Hotel Group

In the vibrant heart of Rome, just steps away from the ever-bustling Campo de’ Fiori, lies a quiet corner that feels like a step back in time. While Campo de’ Fiori pulses with life—transforming from a historic morning market to a lively nightlife hub—there’s a secret spot nearby where the chaos fades and the charm of medieval Rome quietly lingers. Wander down Via del Pellegrino, once a path for pilgrims heading to Saint Peter’s Basilica, and you’ll stumble upon Arco degli Acetari at number 44. This secluded courtyard, hidden behind an unassuming archway, is a peaceful retreat from the city’s rhythm. With its ivy-covered walls, rustic buildings, and cobblestone charm, it’s easy to believe that time has stood still here. A Curious Name with a Flavorful Past! The name Arco degli Acetari has a curious origin. It derives from the word Acquacetosari, later shortened to Acetosari—vendors of Acqua Acetosa, a once-popular medieval drink made from water, vinegar, and sugar. Believed to have healing properties for the kidneys, liver, and spleen, this tangy tonic was so beloved that it gave rise to a whole profession: the acetosaro. These vendors would transport the drink in flasks sealed with straw caps, delivering it across the city on donkey-drawn carts. This area, with its narrow alleys and centuries-old walls, likely hosted the warehouses of these Acetosari. If you look closely, you might spot ancient Roman columns embedded at the corners of buildings—repurposed to protect the walls from the constant scraping of carts and carriages, including those of the Acetosari rushing to the Campo de’ Fiori market.

The Vatican Museums are located in the Vatican City and have been built by various architects since 1447. Among the main attractions are the Vatican Picture Gallery, the Egyptian Museum, the Etruscan Museum, the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms.

Located in the Aurelio district, the villa of Cardinal Gaspare Carpegna, built at the end of the seventeenth century and renovated two centuries later, is one of the few Roman villas that preserves its eighteenth-century stylistic features intact in a highly valuable complex. The purchase of the villa and park by the Municipality of Rome (1978) allowed for a complete restoration and free access to the public. The noble house, the main nucleus of the villa, is characterized by a central body flanked by two symmetrical lateral wings surmounted by turrets; it is currently home to the Rome Quadrennial , one of the most prestigious contemporary art institutions of the twentieth century, which allows the consultation of the precious archive and library. The history of the villa is linked to the events of the Carpegna family and in particular to Cardinal Gaspare, one of the richest, most powerful and cultured men of his time. In 1684 he purchased, near a piece of land already owned by the family, a vineyard with a casino, the first nucleus of the future villa. A few years later is the Casino Nobile, designed by Giovanni Antonio de Rossi, the cardinal's trusted architect. The rectangular building, consisting of a central body flanked by two symmetrical lateral wings surmounted by two turrets, stands in correspondence with the main axis of the park which connects the entrance with a monumental nymphaeum, only partially restored, through a scenographic system of fountains.

Villa Doria Pamphili is a park in the city of Rome, which like many other city parks originates from the country estate of a Roman noble family. It is also the representative seat of the Italian government. Covering an area of 184 hectares, it is the largest park in Rome and one of the best preserved ‘villas’ in the city: the only tampering is due to the opening of the Via Olimpica (Via Leone XIII), which divided the ancient estate in two. Villa Doria Pamphili covers a total area of 184 hectares and is considered one of the most important Roman villas, because it still retains after centuries the 17th-century layout and the main features of the 18th and 19th centuries. The villa is divided into three parts: the palace and gardens (pars urbana), the pine forest (pars fructuaria), and the agricultural estate (pars rustica).