There are cities you simply visit, and others you merely pass through. Rome is different: it is a city to be read, like a great book written over nearly three thousand years. Every street is a page, every square a chapter, every palace preserves a story that continues to speak to the present.
Staying at Croce Apartments means stepping into this story from one of its most precious chapters. Nestled in the heart of Rome’s historic centre, just a short walk from Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), Via Condotti, and Piazza del Popolo, the property offers the rare privilege of discovering the Eternal City on foot, allowing its timeless rhythm to guide your days.
Your morning may begin with the first light illuminating the Spanish Steps, when the square is still peaceful and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifts from the neighbourhood’s historic cafés. From here, every walk unfolds naturally: stroll along elegant Via del Babuino, lined with refined boutiques, art galleries and historic palaces, until you reach Piazza del Popolo, dominated by the ancient Flaminian Obelisk and framed by the twin churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto.
Following the banks of the River Tiber, you will arrive at the Ara Pacis Augustae, the magnificent altar commissioned by Emperor Augustus to celebrate peace, now housed within Richard Meier’s striking contemporary museum. Just beyond, the river leads your gaze towards Castel Sant’Angelo, originally built as Emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum before becoming a papal fortress, refuge and one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks.
Rome is above all a remarkable mosaic of civilizations and artistic periods living side by side. Within minutes you can admire the spectacular Trevi Fountain, where marble seems to come alive through flowing water, or step inside the Pantheon, one of the greatest masterpieces of classical architecture, renowned worldwide for its extraordinary dome and the oculus that opens directly onto the sky.
Every stroll reveals another masterpiece: Piazza Navona, built upon the ancient Stadium of Domitian and adorned by Bernini’s magnificent Fountain of the Four Rivers; the lively market of Campo de’ Fiori; and the historic Jewish Ghetto, home to the monumental Great Synagogue of Rome and centuries-old culinary traditions unique to the city.
Those wishing to immerse themselves in the grandeur of Ancient Rome will find its beating heart in the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum. Walking among these extraordinary ruins means exploring the very place where the destiny of the Roman Empire was shaped, surrounded by triumphal arches, temples, basilicas and ancient roads that continue to tell the stories of emperors, senators and citizens.
Rome is equally a city of Renaissance and Baroque splendour. The incomparable collections of the Vatican Museums, the magnificence of St Peter’s Basilica, Michelangelo’s breathtaking Sistine Chapel, and Raphael’s masterpieces together form one of the world’s greatest artistic treasures.
Yet the city’s true soul reveals itself only when you slow your pace. Browse the independent bookshops hidden among quiet streets, pause in secluded courtyards, watch daily life unfold in elegant piazzas, savour authentic Roman cuisine in the traditional trattorias of Trastevere, wander through the charming lanes of the Monti district, or end the day on the panoramic terrace of the Pincio, where the golden sunset has inspired artists, writers and travellers for centuries.
At the end of each day, Croce Apartments welcomes you back with the intimate atmosphere of an elegant residence, where contemporary comfort and an exceptional location allow you to experience Rome with the freedom of feeling, if only for a few days, like a true Roman.
Here, Rome is not simply a destination—it is an experience to savour slowly, discovering those unforgettable moments that remain long after the journey has ended.
Three-Day Weekend Itinerary
Day 1 – The Historic Heart of Rome
Arrive and settle into Croce Apartments before exploring Piazza di Spagna, Via Condotti and Piazza del Popolo. Continue to the Ara Pacis and enjoy a leisurely walk along the Tiber to Castel Sant’Angelo. End the day with an aperitif overlooking the river and dinner in the historic centre.
Day 2 – Ancient Rome
Spend the day discovering the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Continue to Piazza Venezia and the Vittoriano monument before visiting the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain. Dinner in the charming Monti district.
Day 3 – The Vatican and Trastevere
Dedicate the morning to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. In the afternoon, wander through the picturesque streets of Trastevere, visit the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, and conclude your Roman getaway with a traditional dinner in one of the neighbourhood’s historic restaurants.
Seven-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Piazza di Spagna, Via Condotti, Piazza del Popolo, the Pincio Terrace and Villa Borghese.
Day 2
The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Capitoline Hill and Piazza Venezia.
Day 3
The Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo de’ Fiori, the Jewish Ghetto and Tiber Island.
Day 4
The Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and Castel Sant’Angelo.
Day 5
Galleria Borghese, Villa Borghese, Via Veneto and the elegant Coppedè District.
Day 6
An excursion along the Appian Way, visiting the Catacombs of San Callisto or San Sebastiano, the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and the Park of the Aqueducts.
Day 7
Spend your final day exploring Trastevere and the Gianicolo Hill, with the opportunity to visit Villa Farnesina or the Orange Garden and the Basilica of Santa Sabina. Enjoy some free time for shopping in the elegant boutiques of the historic centre before your departure.