Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

Welcome to the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Tour de Roma! Today we have a selection of different locales that middle-class folk like us stare at in awe, and meanwhile the affluent and infamous of the world enjoy the luxuries we will see because $100Euro bills are mere pocket change to these people. Throughout the tour we will experience high-end fashion and high-end living at its best. If you have ever checked out celebrity gossip online or in magazines, you might recognize some of these places from pictures of such celebrities as Jessica Alba, Eva Longoria, and Justin Timberlake. Do not worry, this is a window-shopping only tour. So do not feel bad if you can't afford a $300Euro shirt, to live in a Palace, or to stay in a 5-star hotel on Via Veneto. We're all in envy together, so let's get going!

Our tour begins at the Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna, a popular tourist stop in Rome. Walking down Via dei Condotti we can see on both sides of the street many world-famous designer shoppes. Via Condotti gained its fame when the atelier of Bulgari opened there in 1905. "Today, it is home to the flagship stores of the most elegant design houses, including Valentino, Hermès, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci, Versace, Bulgari, Chanel, Armani, Dolce e Gabbana, Prada, Ferragamo and Campanile" (Shopping in Rome, 2009).

Next we are going to head down towards the Quirinale Palace, where the President of Italy Giorgio Napolitano resides. Along the way though we will be passing through the Trevi Fountain, Rome's most well known fountain, which has been featured in several movies such as La Dolce Vita and The Lizzie McGuire Movie (both movies star the rich and the oh so famous). We are stopping at the Quirinale President to get to see the view of this prime real estate. How better could someone live besides the president or prime minister of a country?

Onto the Palazzo Barberini/Galleria Nazional d'Arte Antica, on Via Delle Quattro Fontane. This palace was financed by Pope Urban VIII and designed by the famous artists Bernini and Barromini (Frommer's, 2009). "But worth the trip itself is the Nile Mosaic, a well-preserved ancient Roman work and the most remarkable ever uncovered. The mosaic details the flooding of the Nile, a shepherd's hunt, mummies, ibises, and Roman warriors, among other things. The museum collection is mainly from the 13th to the 16th centuries, with works by Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Lorenzo Lotto, Andrea del Sarto, Perugino, Canaletto, Raphael, and Caravaggio" (Frommer's, 2009). A nice palace turned must-see museum, admission is not too expensive, but owning any of the artwork will break your bank account.

Where will you stay on your trip to Rome? Well no other than a 5-star hotel, right? You only come to Italy once so go big or go home (with money). The next two stops are two of the most-famous 5-star hotels in Rome. The Splendide Royal on Via Porta Pinciana and the Westin Excelsior on Via Veneto will offer you a stay in Rome like no other. The prices can be high, up to $2100Euro per night for the presidential suite (Expedia, 2009). Check out this review and you'll see what I mean.

Fodor's review of the Excelsior says, "Once a herding pen for princes and maharajahs, the Excelsior today is the hotel of choice for visiting diplomats, celebrities, and, well, American business conferences. Every corner is lavished with mirrors, moldings, Oriental rugs, crystal chandeliers, and huge, baroque floral arrangements. Guest rooms have elegant drapery, marble baths, top-quality linens, and big, firm beds. While traditional, refined, and luxurious, the cheaper rooms here don't really offer a lot of bang for the buck, so spring for the better ones, or settle elsewhere" (Fodor's Online, 2009).

Last but not least, we must see where the rich and famous spend nights in the VIP Room drinking champagne. We head down Via Boncompagni to Jackie O' Bar. Coming to this bar "expect fine drinks to come at a cost and a general air of moneyed refinement" (World's Best Bars, 2009). It is as exclusive and VIP as the Paris Hilton's birthday bash, so don't expect to get in unless you are dressed to the nines and your name is on the list. It's okay though because there are lots of cheap, fun bars in Campo d' Fiori and Piazza Navona for you to hang out in.

This concludes our tour, I hope you enjoyed the walk of where you may get to shop, live, and party if one day you end up wealthy and notorious. Ciao!


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