I stayed not long ago at Rome’s newly renovated Le Meridien Visonti Palace Hotel (rates from 200 euros per night), where the concierge handed me a brochure for a company called My Vespa (myvespatours.com). In addition to renting Vespas they offer several tours, with clients scooted around Rome with an experienced driver.
Of course, I could have just walked a few blocks from my hotel and seen a lot, too. The Meridien lies a short distance from Vatican City, the Villa Borghese, the National Gallery of Modern Art, and the Trevi Fountain, among other wonders. It’s probably the best-situated luxury hotel in Rome if you like to walk.
But, I did some research online before booking and a 90 percent “excellent” rating on TripAdvisor sold me on My Vespa.
I took the “Panoramic Rome by Vespa” tour with a driver (145 euros, and one of eight tours offered) although it’s also possible to drive oneself for less. Because you’re on a Vespa, Rome’s challenging traffic (what city isn’t challenging these days?) is more navigable, so in a half-day you see all the major sites plus a lot of little-visited ones that even some Romans might not know about. And because you’re on a Vespa, you can snap photos at will, like a paparazzi, weaving in and out of traffic like a local.
The drivers love what they do and have a wealth of knowledge. They’re also very patient whenever you’d like to stop and snap a picture or ask a question and they all speak impeccable English if that’s your language preference.
Back at the Meridien, the concierge asked how I liked the adventure. By the smile on my face he could tell that the answer would be “molto bene!” The best part? I felt like I had seen Rome not as a tourist but as a local, driven around by a friend and not a tour guide, and I found myself thinking that all cities should offer this experience, although what is more synonymous with Rome than a Vespa?
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