Paris is considered to be the city of love. But, in my opinion, it is Rome that is the true embodiment of the most beautiful feeling on Earth. The Romans themselves treat their city with special respect and even reverence and are ready to talk about it for hours. No wonder the word Roma is feminine, and for Italians their capital is always bella, like a captivatingly beautiful girl.

Text and photo: Alina Rakova (Rome, especially for L`Officiel Baltic)

Italy is very different, and superemotional, expressive south is very different from rather restrained north. To get to know the country for real, you must make a trip around the whole &ldquo;boot&rdquo;, and each city, each region will be presented with bright discoveries. But unique Rome managed to absorb both the light &ldquo;coolness&rdquo; of the north, and the fantastic temperament of the south.

Rome is not just a city in the traditional sense, it is a labyrinth of feelings and emotions passing through the centuries, read on every street, around every turn, and, of course, this art is in the widest spectrum and all its possible manifestations, including the art of loving, which is definitely worth learning from the locals.

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Rome is particularly beautiful in May and June. At this time, the city is literally saturated with love, it is blooming and fragrant, everywhere you can hear the sweet sound &ldquo;amore&rdquo;, you can eat outside and enjoy the sun, kiss Piazza di Spagna, in the unchanged meeting place for lovers, give or receive as a gift red roses (in Italy, they are especially loved and considered a symbol of passion), walking along the route of the main characters of the film &quot;Roman Holiday&quot;, starting from Via Margutta, where, according to the script, Joe (in reality, this was a small apartment) the house lived great Federico Fellini with his wife).

By renting Vespa from Bici &amp; Baci on Via del Bottino, you can get to Palazzo Colonna or enjoy the romance of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Circo Massimo, look together at the keyhole on the Aventine hill - part of the gate that serves as the entrance to the mysterious Maltese Order, or plunge into the Orange Gardens in the Park Savello, offering a completely unforgettable view of the city.

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It makes sense to look through the famous keyhole in the evening - believe me, the new look at the dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral in the Vatican through Rome and Malta’s territory of the villa will remain in memory forever.

You can continue the route on the territory of Villa Borghese. This is the third largest public park in Rome after the park of Villa Doria-Pamphili and Villa of Hell. A caf&eacute; adjacent to the Tempio di Esculapio, an ancient temple located on the shore of the lake, can be a pleasant option for lovers. On the territory of the villa you can rent a boat, ride a bike and ride horses. Be sure to take a look at the lemon gardens and admire the Roman pines - every time I am amazed at the amazing, as if hand-cut crowns of these &ldquo;picture-like&rdquo; Italian pines.

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Later in the evening, you can pamper yourself with a prosecco in the lovely VyTA Villa Borghese / Casa del cinema, next to Largo Marcello Mastroianni. This place brings together several interesting projects, including a bar, restaurant, cafe, as well as a special cinema, which is open-air in the late spring and summer. Every year is a new exciting program, the best Italian cinema, as well as masterpieces of world cinema, which can be enjoyed while sipping Aperol Spritz - the most popular aperitif in Rome.

Rome is a very fragrant city, it always smells of happiness. But for me personally, the aroma of Rome is, above all, a mandarino! Here you will find a lot of picturesque, literally, tangerine streets. For example, one of my loved ones will lead you directly from the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria with the unique sculpture by the great Giovanni Bernini &ldquo;Ecstasy of Saint Theresa&rdquo; to the famous Via Veneto, which after the release of the film &ldquo;Sweet Life&rdquo; (&ldquo;La Dolce Vita&rdquo;) became the focus of high life and glamor chic in the city.

Even in Rome, you are constantly accompanied by the seductive smell of roasted chestnuts, as well as the intoxicating aroma of fresh coffee and the fragrance of freshly baked cornetti (Italian croissants) with custard in the morning. And yes, here you can indulge yourself with almost the best breakfasts on Earth. Delicious breakfasts are cooked on Piazza Barberini in &ldquo;Pepy&#39;s Bar&rdquo; - excellent cappuccino and inimitable, since it&#39;s really impossible to repeat them, triangular tramezzini sandwiches with cheese and dried tomatoes. In Rome, a lot of places where they are made amazing, but for some reason you always want to come back to this bar.

Star restaurants and world-famous chefs are a separate and very important history of Rome, talking about which you can put together a unique multi-volume guide on the gourmet map of this city, calling places that cannot be missed here, and every time it&rsquo;s a painfully difficult choice, because in reality everything they are wonderful.

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In the afternoon, you can have a look at Mirabelle on Via di Porta Pinciana or pamper yourself with fresh seafood at Il San Lorenzo or Pier Luigi and continue the perfect evening at Im&agrave;go, where chef Francesco Apreda, who conquered Michelin experts, tirelessly surprises and enchants her guests. Or, for example, to make a choice in favor of &ldquo;Aroma&rdquo; with an amazing view of the Colosseum, which opens from the terrace of the Palazzo Manfredi, and the chef, a real virtuoso of Italian cuisine, Giuseppe Di Lorio. Enoteca al Parlamento Achilli, La Pergola, Il Pagliaccio, Giuda Ballerino can be a perfect alternative. Or, for example, the legendary restaurant and bar &ldquo;La Terrazza dell &#39;Eden&rdquo; with an exquisite audience, a magical panorama and a menu, on which three chefs worked at once, each of whom was awarded a Michelin star.

And a little about the sweets, without which it is difficult to imagine Rome. For the most delicious tiramisu, you should definitely go to Tullio, right behind Piazza Barberini and the Triton fountain. A pleasant addition is the fact that local intellectuals often gather here for lunch or dinner.

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You can find fantastic ice cream and flawless cannoli in &ldquo;Don Nino, caffetteria, gelateria e pasticceria&rdquo;, turning it onto the small and narrow Via le Eritrea not far from the Pantheon. Cannoli are considered a Sicilian delicacy, but, I must say, the Romans know how to cook them incomparably. Another interesting type of sweets is the famous Roman maritozzi buns, small and very elegant, decorated with a ripple of whipped cream, as if created for romantics. The Romans love them very much, and for them it is not just a treat, but also a promise, and a kind of symbolic temptation. By tradition, maritozzi is baked on the first Sunday of March for brides. And future husbands (mariti) present these &quot;compliments&quot; to their chosen ones, hence the name maritozzo, gentle and slightly ironic, something like the Russian &quot;hubby.&quot;

Italians are not just expressive, they are very sincere in expressing their emotions, and behind all this is love: to people (especially to children and the elderly), their city, food, every single day and life in general.

And if the Italians love, then really, with all my heart. When the Italian man is in love, he cares for the girl, like in the movies, turning every day into a holiday. Unlike most Europeans, for an Italian &ldquo;to split the bill&rdquo; with a lady is at least strange. If suddenly you are faced with something similar, you know, this is the &ldquo;wrong&rdquo; Italian. For the most part, they were and remain real men, for them to be responsible and &ldquo;patronize&rdquo; in a relationship, as well as to shower their beloved with gifts is quite natural.

By the way, love in Rome is truly submissive to all ages. And one can often observe surprisingly touching and incredibly beautiful couples of lovers who have lived together all their lives, but still continue to gently hold each other&#39;s hands and look at each other with the eyes of girls and young people who met, it seems, only yesterday.

Perhaps because the Romans spend all their lives among masterpieces and literally inside works of art, they very subtly feel the beauty. In Rome, ladies, even under 70 with bright lipstick, on heels, in pencil skirts, emphasizing graceful figures, and lace tights, with bright decorations and certainly in dark glasses do not look strange. They have the gift of very carefully combining sometimes even screaming wardrobe elements and, most importantly, amazingly elegantly, all to wear. For the same reason, for example, men far beyond 80 with cashmere scarves, in bright trousers, stylish striped and often even multicolored socks, do not seem to be mad at this city. Rather, they arouse the envy of representatives of other nations, who themselves would be happy to look at such a respectable age as effectively, but, like any talent in the world, this is not granted to everyone.

When the Italian man is in love, he cares for the girl, like in the movies, turning every day into a holiday. Unlike most Europeans, for an Italian “to split the bill” with a lady is at least strange. If suddenly you are faced with something similar, you know, this is the “wrong” Italian.

Italians in general and the Romans in particular are very attached to their families. If an Italian mother invited children for lunch or dinner, any diets are instantly forgotten, offending your mother by refusing at least one of the dishes is tantamount to a crime. Dinner with an Italian family - an unforgettable experience and even theatrical performance. If you have a chance to survive this adventure, be sure to agree!

In general, Italians are convinced that it is only necessary to live with pleasure, it is not prohibited and not considered shameful and, most importantly, completely independent of social status, everyone here can enjoy life! Moreover - in Italy there is no fanatical race in an effort to &quot;redraw&quot; and remake themselves, the Italians for the most part clearly know that they are beautiful in the form in which they were created by God, they are confident in their own individuality, are satisfied with themselves and therefore live quietly and happily .

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But the Italians not only accumulated in themselves and radiate a completely incredible, fantastic harmony, they are ready to share this happiness with the whole world, and in order to experience their wisdom, you should at least once come to Rome, and then again gladly return to it. Because he will respond to you in return.

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And now - my list of must visit in Rome.

Numerous museums of the complex &quot;Villa Borghese&quot;

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The Borghese family gallery presents a unique collection that includes paintings by such great masters as Caravaggio, Rubens, Titian, Raphael and Veronese. The National Gallery of Modern Art, located in the palace building of the early 20th century, features over 5,000 paintings and sculptures, including works by Van Gogh, Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne. The National Museum of the Villa Julia - the former summer residence of the popes, built in the 16th century in the style of Mannerism - contains a unique collection of Etruscan art.

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The villa&rsquo;s park also houses the house-museum of the Italian sculptor and painter Pietro Canonica, the Museum of the American collector Carlo Bilotti and even the Globus Theater, modeled on the London theater of the same name and specializing in the works of Shakespeare.

<a href="http://www.galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it" target="_blank">www.galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it</a>

<a href="http://www.lagallerianazionale.com" target="_blank">www.lagallerianazionale.com</a>

Villa of the Fendi family with its sophisticated Enoteca LaTorre

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A delightful place for true romantics who appreciate beauty and really understand it. On the upper floors, the owners of the fashionable empire live here. In addition to enjoying great wine and haute cuisine (in Italy it is better to say grande cuisine), you can also &ldquo;fill&rdquo; your eyes with stunning haute jewelry Delftine Deletre, daughter of Sylvia Venturini-Fendi and heiress of one of the most successful and famous Italian dynasties.

<a href="http://www.villalaetitia.com/" target="_blank">www.villalaetitia.com</a>

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Visit Il Palazzo delle Esposizioni (Exhibition Palace), MAXXI (National Museum of Art of the XXI Century) or the new exhibition in Chiostro del Bramante, for example, the amazing project &ldquo;Dream / l&#39;Arte Incontra i Sogni&rdquo;, which you can see before August 25.

<a href="http://www.chiostrodelbramante.it" target="_blank">www.chiostrodelbramante.it</a>

<a href="http://www.palazzoesposizioni.it" target="_blank">www.palazzoesposizioni.it</a>

<a href="http://www.maxxi.art" target="_blank">www.maxxi.art</a>

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One of the most favorite theaters of the Romans, where Louis Armstrong, Marcello Mastroianni, Liza Minnelli, Woody Allen, and others performed. By the way, there is a cozy theatrical cafe opposite the building, and during the aperitif it is customary to serve such great &ldquo;compliments&rdquo; that a further dinner can simply not needed.

<a href="http://www.ilsistina.it" target="_blank">www.ilsistina.it</a>

Fitness club at Spa Hotel Parco dei Principi

Business elite and representatives of the art community come here to play sports. The five-star hotel often stops movie stars and sports. It is especially interesting to watch the crowd at the main entrance when famous footballers stop here - people in Rome are really ready to stay up all night in order to see their idol. In the spring, the outdoor swimming pool at the Parco dei Principi begins to work, and the Romans often come here for weekends or holidays to spend time with family and friends.

<a href="https://www.parcodeiprincipi.com/" target="_blank">www.parcodeiprincipi.com</a>

Renovated La Rinascente Shopping Center (Roma Piazza Fiume)

It works until late in the evening, which is very convenient - in Rome, as a rule, most stores close at 19.00-20.00, because the Italians are in a hurry for dinner with their loved ones.

<a href="https://www.rinascente.it/rinascente/it" target="_blank">www.rinascente.it</a>

Roman holiday. Turnout and passwords from insider

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