Our trip began with two nights at Hotel de Russie in June. It was our first visit to Rome, and looking back, it is difficult to imagine a better introduction to the city. The location is extraordinary. Step outside and you are immediately surrounded by the energy of Rome; step back inside and everything changes. There is a sense of calm and privacy that feels almost unexpected in such a central location. And then there is the garden. It became one of my favorite memories of the hotel. After hours spent discovering Rome for the first time, returning to that beautiful green space felt like finding a little retreat hidden in the middle of the city. Breakfast, a quiet moment during the day, or a drink in the evening — somehow the garden made you forget, for a moment, that Rome was just outside. Hotel de Russie has elegance without stiffness. The rooms, interiors and public spaces are beautiful, but what stayed with us even more was how comfortable the hotel made us feel. The service throughout was polished, warm and attentive. Everything seemed to happen naturally and effortlessly, without unnecessary formality. And a special salute to the concierge team. There really is something about Italians and concierge service! After only two nights, they remembered us by name and made every interaction feel genuinely personal. Perhaps the best example of their hospitality came after we had already left. We had checked out, left Rome and were in Capri when we needed their help. The concierge team at Hotel de Russie was still there for us. The fact that we were no longer staying at the hotel didn’t seem to matter — they simply helped. That, to me, says more about genuine hospitality than anything they could have done while we were staying there. Those first two nights set the tone beautifully for what followed. We left Hotel de Russie for Capri already feeling that our trip had begun on exactly the right note. We came to discover Rome, and Hotel de Russie became part of what we loved about it.