No endless queues, a golden light that illuminates historic façades and city parks, and cultural calendars still brimming with events: this is the pleasure of visiting Rome without the pressure of the peak season. When planning a trip to the Eternal City, autumn invites you to shift your perspective and slow down the pace, alternating between an exhibition and a stroll through the autumnal foliage of Villa Borghese, or an evening at the theatre and an afternoon of flânerie in neighbourhoods where new ways of living, working and socialising are being explored. Because the capital is not just its monumental centre: it is also a metropolis in constant motion, made up of diverse identities and vibrant neighbourhoods. All waiting to be discovered.
A contemporary oasis within the ever-changing metropolis
If you are looking for a strategic base in the eastern part of the city, the iH Hotels Roma Z3 – the four-star hotel in the Collatina area run by the iH Hotels group – is designed precisely for those who wish to experience Rome away from the hustle and bustle of the historic centre, whilst still enjoying top-class facilities. The 260 rooms, with their contemporary and bright interiors, welcome tourists, families and business travellers; the communal areas provide opportunities for socialising, the meeting rooms cater to the needs of business travellers, and the on-site gym, equipped by Technogym and open daily from 7 am to 11 pm, offers the chance to treat yourself to a wellness break between appointments.
The option to park your car in the outdoor car park or the hotel’s underground car park is a significant bonus, although the Roma Z3 Hotel is also well connected to the public transport network, thanks to P. Togliatti railway station and the tram stop for line 14, both just a few minutes’ walk away.
Dining as part of the journey
Another of the hotel’s strengths is its culinary offering, centred around the iH Gusto Restaurant Roma,where the cuisine draws on Mediterranean and Roman traditions with a wide selection of dishes that follow the seasons and showcase the finest ingredients.
The restaurant is also open to non-residents: at lunchtime, alongside the à la carte menu, a daily special is available, whilst in the evening the iH Gusto Restaurant becomes a convenient option for those returning at the end of the day. The experience is rounded off by the lounge bar, ideal for a business cocktail or a casual aperitif, and, in the morning, by the generous buffet breakfast, featuring both sweet and savoury options.
East Rome: the urban laboratory of the future
Off the beaten track, the eastern quarter bounded by the Via Tiburtina, Via Prenestina, Via Casilina and Via Tuscolana – the Roma Est area where the Roma Z3 hotel is situated – tells the story of a rapidly evolving metropolis. Here, the spirit of historic neighbourhoods such as Pigneto and Tor Pignattara now coexists with multicultural communities, university hubs and creative spaces, such as the Mandrione area.
Last but not least, the expansion of transport links is reshaping accessibility in an area where neighbourhood life intertwines with cultural hubs – such as the Teatro Biblioteca Quarticciolo – and extraordinary green spaces, including the Centocelle Archaeological Park and the Alessandrino Aqueduct Park.
Festivals, exhibitions and the magic of autumn colours
The autumn cultural calendar also offers further reasons to visit. The RomaEuropa Festival, running until 15 November, brings dance, theatre and contemporary music to the stage; from 1 to 24 November, the Roma Jazz Festival celebrates its fiftieth edition, whilst among the major exhibitions still open, those dedicated to Keith Haring at Palazzo Braschi, Kandinsky at Palazzo Bonaparte and Titian at the Galleria Borghese stand out. Although, perhaps, the spectacle not to be missed is above all the autumn foliage, which, over the course of a month, transforms the city’s colours in everything from large parks to small gardens, offering unmissable views even away from the city centre.