Rome's Largest Church (SM Maggiore) and Hotel Mecanate

On this trip to Rome, we decided to stay at the old world Hotel Mecenate Palace about four blocks from the Rome Termini station.  We liked the close proximity to the station and historical venues.   A real bonus was that the hotel had a fabulous view of the largest church in Rome, the historic Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.  I captured this photo above from the hotel rooftop where there's also a wonderful restaurant and gardens.

The two mercury jars from Anthropologie inspired me to feature the church in this post.  

See more of the church, hotel restaurant, and garden...

The terrace of the Hotel Mecenate.  The church is in the background.

All of these photos were taken from the Hotel rooftop!  Its just breathtaking to see something so large from a birds eye view.

Sunset was spectacular.  

This monument and statue was miles away but my Nikon Cool Pix captured it surprisingly well during sunset.

From the hotel we were able to walk to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

The very old and bold room keys of the Hotel Mecenate.

The Hotel Mecenate Palace and its fabulous rooftop gardens and views:

The lovely rooftop garden dining and floral displays

  

At the Sky Bar, I ordered a pom spritzer with real juice, it was the best, coolest drink I'd had in Rome.  We'd walked all day long and were very tired and thirsty.  The Sky Bar featured this lovely live plant (on right).

Pots were filled with real, healthy impatient plants and the popular 

orange and lemon trees.

Indoor rooftop restaurant

We splurged since it was our last night in Italy...yummy cappuccinos!

We started with wine and the anitpasti platter in the hotel's lounge, 

a lovely place along the street to watch the people!

 

Couldn't get enough cappuccinos wherever we went in Italy...although we ordered the "American" coffee many times also.  The Italians expect it and are pleased to ask you if you prefer the weaker coffee.

Tile tile fresco outdoors

 Our server was a lovely young lady who gave us special attention

The hotel is at www.mecenatepalace.com

See my other Rome revisited post here