Roman stories

Not every journey begins in the same way. Some are measured in miles, others in museum tickets or snapshots collected along the way. But there are journeys that begin between the pages of a book.

When I learnt that two siblings were arriving, brimming with enthusiasm for their time in Rome, I sensed that theirs would be a special kind of journey. Their words carried not just the anticipation of monuments to see, but the desire to connect with the city on a deeper level.

That is why I decided to offer a welcome gift that went beyond the usual. A bottle of wine, always present, always essential, but this time also something that spoke of stories, perspectives, and voices. After searching for a while, I chose Jhumpa Lahiri’s Roman Stories: a collection where the city intertwines with everyday life and fleeting emotions.

I like to imagine that, after an evening stroll through the alleys or dinner in a trattoria, a guest might return to Casa al Colosseo, open that book, and find between its pages an echo of the same atmosphere they had just experienced. That is what Rome does: it moves between streets and words, between what you see and what you feel, seamlessly.

Because staying here is not simply about sleeping in a home with a view of the Colosseum. It is about carrying away an experience, a fragment of everyday life, a connection that endures.

Rome is not a city to be rushed through; it asks you to dwell slowly, to observe, to listen. And this blog is born from the urge to invite readers to go beyond the postcard and into the subtle weave of what makes the city alive.

And this is my wish for every guest: may Rome stay with you like a book you can never quite forget.