THE TEMPLES OF THE COCKTAIL MARTINI

Park Hotel Villa Grazioli, Grottaferrata

In the ‘Castelli Romani’ area, a popular holiday area for Romans to escape the extreme heat of summer, there are many superb villas built during the past centuries in glory of the great Roman families. Villa Grazioli is a large, splendidly stocky four-floor villa located in Grottaferrata that I experienced several years ago during a Porsche press launch; this time it was quite convenient as an intermediate stop between Bologna and Sant’Agata dei Due Golfi.

What was expected to be an ‘utilitarian’ stop proved to be one of the most pleasant evenings of a long trip to Sicily. The hotel is grandiose, full of paintings, old furniture, fresco ceilings and so on; the view over Rome is spectacular. Food was incredibly good, featuring probably the best ‘Carbonara’ we have ever had the way to taste; a good wine list was a pleasing bonus and the lamb absultely excellent.

I was brought in good spirit to this table and enjoyed it very much also thanks to a very good Martini cocktail, whose only limit was that the stem glass was on the smallish side. The mixture was perfect, it was passably cold and enjoying this cocktail on the lawn facing Villa Grazioli at sunset was a very relaxing experience. Add to this a very convenient final price and you have all the qualities that you want if you are looking for a nice luxury hotel near Rome