Ortheil, Hanns-Josef Rom: Eine Ekstase. Oasen für die Sinne

Rome has been one of the ultimate tourist magnets for century upon century, and the writer Hanns-Josef Ortheil has been re-visiting the city of seven hills for decades. As in his bestselling book Venice – the Seductive City, he escorts us through the historical heart of the metropolis, exploring wine cellars, bars and restaurants, as well as walking in the footprints of Aeneas, Goethe, Stendhal and Thomas Mann. In his company, we visit the oases of tranquillity provided by the expansive public gardens and parks, along with small hidden-away cloisters, churches, villas and palazzos, and secret terraces with spectacular views of the seven hills. Hanns-Josef Ortheil knows Rome, its culture and its people so well that the reader will discover the city with fresh eyes – or at the very least be joyfully reacquainted with an old friend. It goes without saying that as a true connoisseur he also lays great emphasis on the city’s mouth-watering cuisine. Some of its recipes go back all the way to the days of Ancient Rome – recipes he has charmed from the city’s supremely talented cooks, both male and female, in the course of conversations conducted while enjoying a Roman feast.