30/07/2026
The Dolce Vita ("the sweet life") was a glamorous period in Rome during the 50s and 60s, when the city became an international playground for movie stars, artists, aristocrats, and the wealthy. Much of this excitement centred on Via Veneto, a fashionable street lined with luxury hotels, elegant cafés, and exclusive restaurants.
Following the Second World War, Hollywood studios began filming major productions in Rome, earning the city the nickname “Hollywood on the Tiber." Stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Anita Ekberg, and Marcello Mastroianni filled the streets, attracting photographers and journalists eager for the latest celebrity gossip. These photographers became known as paparazzi, a word made famous by La Dolce Vita, directed by Federico Fellini.
Among the most famous meeting places was Café de Paris. Opened in 1956, it quickly became the place to see and be seen. Actors, royalty, politicians, and wealthy visitors would gather on its terrace to enjoy coffee, cocktails, and conversation while watching the fashionable crowds stroll along Via Veneto.
The café became an icon of the Dolce Vita lifestyle, symbolising elegance, luxury, and celebrity culture. However, its history also reflects a darker side. In the 2000s, it was discovered that the business had been infiltrated by organised crime and was seized by the Italian authorities. It remains a landmark on Via Veneto and a reminder of one of Rome's most glamorous eras. Now all shuttered up you can peek through the windows and see a snapshot of that glamorous era!
For visitors today, Via Veneto is quieter than it was in the 60s, but walking along the street still evokes the atmosphere of a time when Rome was considered the capital of style, cinema, and the Dolce Vita.
To learn more join our Nostalgic Walking Tour today
https://tinyurl.com/Nostalgic-tour
