Saturday 12 / April / 2025
Muscat: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
This seems to be the motto for us when we visited the Eternal City during the Eid holidays.
Almost 3,000 years of history and there’s no sign of Rome losing its charm.
It still remains Italy’s most visited city, probably because of the number of ancient sites and history, a great food culture at many levels and its style.
Arriving at Rome
Arriving at Rome’s Fiumicino airport was a breeze when you are travelling from Muscat International Airport in the national carrier, Oman Air.
A smooth on-the-ground and inflight experience, comfortable seats and unmatched level of luxury Oman Air ensures every step of your journey is simply unforgettable.
Flying aboard in the economy class cabins with fresh, bold tones and modern, plush upholstery with world class dining is a thrilling experience.
Waiting on my seat on 27A on WY147, when I boarded I was handed over a blanket, pillow and headset.
What really defined this flight experience, though, was the 10.6 inch display and staggering inflight entertainment which offered a great range of the latest Arabic, Bollywood and international movies - all at your fingertips.
Normally, when I’m travelling on long-haul in economy class, I’m clock-watching and trying to pass the time as quickly as possible with work, books and movies. That wasn’t the case with this seven-hour daytime flight, though.
The national carrier has definitely honed the art of on board amenities and entertainment, even in its economy cabins.
The smooth flight conditions, bright and spacious cabin, excellent inflight entertainment, specially curated meals to satisfy our taste buds and friendly flight attendants all made the journey feel much shorter and more enjoyable than other recent long-haul flights.
Configured with 162 seats in a two-class configuration: 12 in business and 150 in economy, Oman Air flight to Rome was one of the best I’ve experienced.
Guests can fly with Oman Air from Muscat to Rome on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
The outbound flight departs from Muscat at 1500 and arrives in Rome at 1930, while the return flight departs from Rome at 2030 and arrives in Muscat at 0545.
To book a flight, please visit www.omanair.com
My stay
I stayed at the Hilton Rome Eur La Lama which opened its doors in February 2023, with the grand opening party in October 2023, featuring a unique design with a focus on environmental sustainability: 16 floors, 60 metres in height, 130 metres in length, 16 metres in width, with six panoramic elevators, 439 rooms, one restaurant, one bar, one upcoming rooftop restaurant, one fitness center, seven meeting rooms and direct access to La Nuvola Convention Center.
The hotel is located in the heart of Rome, EUR district, a key hub for major corporations as well as a lively area where shopping, entertainment, food and culture are blended together, immersed in the surrounding greenery and significant architectural works.
The futuristic structure, an example of architectural mastery, gets its name “La Lama” (The Blade) from its distinctive shape. It stands right next to the Rome Convention Centre La Nuvola (The Cloud), both projects by the architect Massimiliano Fuksas.
The hotel offers stunning views from every angle and, just a few months after its opening, has already become a landmark for the city and a key destination, a contemporary hotel dedicated to international guests as well as the local community. It serves not only as a travel destination for business or leisure but also as a venue for events, meetings, or daily appointments, thanks to its strategic location, easily accessible from Fiumicino and Ciampino airports and with the subway station just a walk away.
If you need a succinct slice of Roman history, much of it is on this piazza and revolves around this hotel.
The uniqueness is evident right from the external structure, with its original shape rising high into the sky, an example of architectural mastery created by Architect Fuksas. Inside, guests are struck by the sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro, a bronze stele that reaches upward, an obelisk guiding the gaze through the grand void with absolute effect, all the way up to the 16th floor.
Turning towards the reception desk, the eye is then captivated by the large monumental mosaic created by Marilù Rebecchini, celebrating the most iconic views and monuments of the city of Rome.
The mosaic frames the desks, designed by the Studio Lorenzo Bellini Atelier, as well as all the hotel interiors, with evident references to the Art Deco design of the 1930s-1940s, said Paolo Bellè, General Manager of Hilton Rome Eur La Lama, Hilton Rome Airport and Hilton Garden Inn Rome Airport.
Things to see in Rome
Spanish Steps
From here you can see the panoramic view over Rome. They are romantic and iconic. When you climb them, you’ll add your footsteps to those of artists and poets who used them as a central meeting place for over 300 years.
Piazza della Rotunda
This piazza that houses the Pantheon gets its name from the nearby church of Santa Maria Rotonda. Its centerpiece is the Fontana del Pantheon, which was built in 1575.
Pantheon
This former Roman temple was built on the site of an older temple built between 27 BC and 14 AD. It was rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian around 126 AD. Since 609 AD, it has functioned as a Catholic church. Its dome is the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The name, Pantheon, is translated roughly from Ancient Greek to mean, “devoted to all gods,” but no one is completely certain how it originally was used.
Sant’Ignazio Church
The exterior of this church will catch your eye, and once you enter, you are in for some surprises. This 17th century Baroque church has stunning frescoes on its huge ceiling. There is a mirror that allows you to see the decorations without having to crane your neck.
Trevi Fountain
Built in 1762, its name, “Tre vie” is derived from the number three and street (Three Streets Fountain) because it was built at the intersection of Rome’s then three most important thoroughfares. Seeing it in all its glory is pretty sublime and surreal.
Here you can throw a coin over your shoulder and make a wish while you admire its stunning, grand Baroque detail.
The Colosseum
The Colosseum Archaeological Park, which oversees one of Rome’s most visited tourist attractions it’s the granddaddy of sites in Rome. This 2,000 year old site of ancient gladiator battles is a mix between horror and architectural beauty. You’ll marvel that so much of it is still intact. It’s a symbol of the power of the Roman Empire and provides a window into the lives of ancient Romans. Its structure will astound you, and if you are able to, try as hard as you can to get a night ticket to see the underground and gladiator gates and walk on the arena floor.
Footnote
Don’t forget, Rome is a city built on hills and maps don’t indicate gradient, so it is sometimes wiser to take the longer route than a steep climb.
