“What’s around The Beehive?”

When we opened The Beehive back in 1999, a lot of our first customers were very young backpackers.  We would inevitably get someone who would ask “so I’ve seen the Colosseum, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona – what else is there to do?”  Or “it’s boring here, where can I party?”  Well, thankfully, we don’t have many of those kinds of guests anymore, but I do occasionally read a review where someone states that “there is nothing near The Beehive.”  In a city that is almost 2,766 years old – there is always something nearby.  Just to give you an idea, here are a few gems located just a 10 minute walk from The Beehive.

PALAZZO MASSIMO

One of the four branches of the National Museum of Rome, Palazzo Massimo is conveniently located right near Termini train station – this museum houses an amazing collection from 2nd BCE to 5th CE.  Sculpture, ancient coins as well as frescoes from the walls of Empress Livia’s summer villa incredibly preserved.  One of the more overlooked and yet important museums in Rome just a stone’s throw from The Beehive.

BASILICA SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI

This church was incorporated into the ancient Baths of Diocletian by Michelangelo.  It has a meridian line (see the astrological figures in the floor) commissioned by Pope Clement XI in 1702 that was used to check the time, predict Easter and check the accuracy of what at the time was the new Gregorian calendar.

BASILICA SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore is all about Roman Baroque style glory. Come here for the 5th century mosaics including one of the oldest representations of the Virgin Mary. Under the high altar is the Crypt of the Nativity  there in a container are4 pieces of sycamore wood boards said to have been part of the manger of the nativity.

BASILICA SANTA PRASSEDE

Behind this unassuming entrance you’ll find more beautiful mosaics and a relic of the pillar which was supposedly the one on which Jesus was flogged and tortured before his crucifixion.

After all this site-seeing or after your long flight and you’re feeling those hunger pangs – our immediate neighborhood has some good, inexpensive trattorias – the best of which is Meid in Nepols  Ask our reception to call in advance as reservations are necessary.  For a quick bite, 80 Fame, is an excellent pizza by the slice just a block away from us.  Gainn, a Korean restaurant is also a block away near 80 Fame.  A little further afield, but still only about a 10-15 minute walk is Come il Latte – easily in the top 10 of Rome’s best gelato.  In addition, there is Rome’s oldest wine shop which also has a wine bar, Trimani, a place to find a fine bottle of wine or a spot for a tasty, albeit pricey lunch.

Besides the sites I just mentioned and the many hotels you’ll see, The Beehive’s neighborhood is a living and working area. It’s home to many non-profits such as Unicef, Save the Children Italia and Amnesty International Italia (both of whom we have good relationships with), a branch of the nation’s bank, Banca d’Italia, (located across the street from us) as well as several branches of Rome’s university, Roma Tre and one of the branches of the national library.

We’re happy to point you in the direction of any of these sites and if you have a particular interest or need suggestions – just ask!