When it comes to ice cream, there is still only one place in Rome. It has been the best since 1900. I love Giolitti not only for the great gelato, but also because it hasn’t changed since I was a little girl. 39/06-699-1243. By Pepi Marchetti Franchi, as told to Elizabeth Minchilli. Photo by Andrea Wyner. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue. Read about Pepi Marchetti Franchi’s favorite neighborhood in Rome.

The Monument of Victor Emmanuel II in Rome, nicknamed the 'Wedding Cake' (and, alternately, the 'Typewriter') for its distinctive, boxy shape, offers some of the most stunning, panoramic views to be had of the Eternal City, in every direction. There is an elevator to the top and a large roof deck from which to take it all in—not to be missed, and particularly glorious at sunset, as the shadows fall across the Roman Forum.

Here is one of Rome’s best restaurants: Al Moro is very traditional and is well known for the quality of its seasonal ingredients, including porcini mushrooms, wild strawberries, artichokes, and asparagus. 39/06-678-3495. By Pepi Marchetti Franchi, as told to Elizabeth Minchilli. Photo by Andrea Wyner. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue. Read about Pepi Marchetti Franchi’s favorite neighborhood in Rome.

What an impressive building this is!! The monument is built of white marble from Botticino, Brescia, and features stairways, Corinthian columns, fountains, an equestrian sculpture of Victor Emmanuel and two statues of the goddess Victoria riding on quadrigas. Also it holds the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame. Be careful in the traffic though, it's a very busy area and the drivers often do not pay attention.

I got into Rome very late my first night, and I only knew my hotel was atop the Spanish Steps (Intercontinental De La Ville Roma)...needless to say I only knew the Spanish Steps were very popular and these indeed looked like them, but how could they have literally zero people except for the few at the top? I wasn't sure if these could be them, but I was fully convinced that these were pretty significant. Needless to say this picture still is one of my favorites. Nothing like seeing heavy tourist attractions without the tourists.

I tell all my friends to stay here. It’s a great location, right off Piazza del Popolo. The hotel is not part of a chain. It’s family owned, which is charming. 39/06-361-0841. By Pepi Marchetti Franchi, as told to Elizabeth Minchilli. Photo by Andrea Wyner. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue. Read about Pepi Marchetti Franchi’s favorite neighborhood in Rome.

Popular attractions don't always equate to overrated. Rome's Trevi Fountain is a perfect testament to this. No matter how many filmic versions I had seen of tourists throwing coins over their left shoulder as good measure to ensure their return to the city, I was still overwhelmed by the magic of experience. There's a reason why Hollywood loves this fountain! In spite of the crowds, which are overwhelming in a different sense, the fountain shouldn't be missed. As I await my next voyage to my favorite city, the plethora of photos taken in this spot will have to do.

I often take out-of-town guests here for lunch because it feels—and is—so authentic. Whenever I go in, I have ‘my’ table, as do all the other Roman regulars. One of the restaurant’s specialties is the Francovich soup, which is a delicious Tuscan bean soup. 39/06-679-5676. By Pepi Marchetti Franchi, as told to Elizabeth Minchilli. Photo by Andrea Wyner. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue. Read about Pepi Marchetti Franchi’s favorite neighborhood in Rome.

I love to go to this restaurant and wine bar for a glass of prosecco and to enjoy the unique view out over the Spanish Steps and the rest of Rome as the sun sets. 39/06-699-341000. By Pepi Marchetti Franchi, as told to Elizabeth Minchilli. Photo by Andrea Wyner. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue. Read about Pepi Marchetti Franchi’s favorite neighborhood in Rome.

This place is listed in all the guidebooks as the oldest, best gelato in Rome! Amazing selection of flavors including my favorite, pink grapefruit. Be aggressive as you approach the counter - wait can be long and unorganized, especially on Friday/Saturday night. Via degli Uffici del Vicario, 40, Roma (convenient to Piazza Navona and Pantheon)

According to legend, Rome’s first orange trees—St. Dominic’s gifts to the pope—were planted in Giardino degli Aranci (Garden of the Oranges) in the 13th century. The secluded park provides a panoramic view of the city, from the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica to the Vittorio Emanuele monument. Sit below the aromatic trees and watch the sun set over the Tiber River. Piazza Pietro d’Illiria 5. Photo by Kagan McCloud. This appeared in the May/June 2011 issue. 

Few things provide tranquility for the soul like fresh air, open space and...ancient Roman ruins? Yep. It's definitely not a staple in every big city park, but leave it to Rome to chose a space as beautiful as Villa Borghese as their center for all things outdoors while being just outside the city walls. Villa Borghese is as breathtaking as it is vast and the perfect place for a picnic, a stroll, or a run to burn off some pasta. I came here almost every day after work in the fall for a quick run before the sun started setting at 4:30pm. Though it was a bit more crowded, I would come here on Saturdays too with a good book or a journal for a few hours to find some quiet away from the crowded touristy center. There are gorgeous ponds, fountains, ruins, piazzas, museums, small fields, trails, great photo ops, and benches everywhere. Not to mention its just a short walk up from the Spanish steps.

There are a lot of good hotels in Rome. And there are a lot of bad ones. So finding the right one is a treasure. This one is. Albergo del Senato. Right smack dab in front of the Pantheon and the perfect Piazza della Rotonda. Hard to find a better view. Can't beat the location. And you wake up to the most beautiful building in the world. Ask for a room up front, otherwise you face an alley. Fourth floor seems best. Although the higher floors have a terrace. Awesome rooftop terrace bar that overlooks the top of the Pantheon in a view that can't be seen anywhere else. Invite friends over. You won't want to leave.

I recently savored a week in Rome. During a lunch break on a partly cloudy day in March, I decided to walk down Via Sistina to the Spanish Steps and then continue walking along Piazza Trinita dei Monti to see what lay beyond this local hub of tourist activity. To my great delight, I came across the quiet and lovely Ciampini Ristorante, and yes, it was open for lunch. At 12:45 p.m. I was arriving ahead of the locals so I had the entire restaurant to myself. At first I thought I would sit in the outdoor seating area so I could enjoy the fresh air. After several minutes of refreshing yet brisk March wind I decided to embrace the warmth of the glass-enclosed dining area. This turned out to be an excellent decision as the enclosed dining room was at a higher elevation. I was seated at a comfortable table next to broad glass windows that afforded a view of Roman rooftops all the way out to St. Peter’s Basilica! The service was gracious and the warm al dente risotto was delicious. The extensive view of cross-adorned domes and bell towers mingling among terra cotta rooftops encouraged a desire to linger. To make the experience last a little longer, I ordered a cappuccino. It was perfect. I sipped and enjoyed it until I had barely enough time to return to the hotel for my next business meeting. Arrivederci, Ciampini Ristorante!

Whilst a lot of people would go see the Sistine Chapel when visiting Rome, fewer travelers venture out to this grand church at the Piazza di San Ignacio near the Pantheon, which features an almost equally beautiful painted ceiling done by Andrea Pozzo, a Jesuit Brother. Here, you'd admire the grand dome not knowing that it is just a painting that makes it look like a real 3-dimensional one (shown in the middle of the photo above). Simply amazing! I grew up being exposed to the teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola and to unexpectedly drop in on this particular church celebrating the life of St. Ignatius through the paintings on the frescoes, makes it even more special and meaningful. We were also able to catch a children's choir practicing in one of the side chapels, filling the church with enchanting Christmas melodies. If you're in Rome, do drop by this church. Although not as widely known, it is a very beautiful church that many travelers also discover along the way, and you don't even have to pay to go in.

Pizzeria Baffetto II off Campo dei Fiori. One of the best in the city - my favorite is plain tomato sauce with Buffalo cheese or mozzarella + eggplant. The sister pizzeria Baffetto I is 5 minutes away, located behind Piazza Navona, however, there's usually a very long wait as its a Roman institution.

The Paolo Parisi egg has become an Italian status symbol. The perfect whites look like those of any other egg, but the Day-Glo orange yolks have an incredible creamy texture and sweet almond flavor that fetch nearly $2 per egg. The extraordinary taste is the result of the maniacal care the Tuscan farmer gives his heritage-breed Livornese chickens. The hens roam free on Parisi’s farm, and their foraged diet is supplemented with milk from Parisi’s goats. Italy’s top chefs pay homage to the eggs. Rome’s Caffè Propaganda has an entire menu devoted to them. This appeared in the October 2012 issue.