In 2019, the Rocco Forte family purchased the Hotel de la Ville. After a major renovation, it quickly transformed into an icon of luxury accommodation in Rome. European nobility had frequented the building since the 18th century. Therefore, the City Hall It is full of works of art and has a very careful design, inspired by the European Grand Tour. The decoration mixes modern and ancient elements and pays homage to different periods of Italian history and culture. The location of the five star hotel in Rome is sublime, just a few steps from Spanish Steps it’s yes Spanish Square. There are 104 elegant and sophisticated rooms, some with stunning views of the Eternal City. In addition, there are two restaurants and two bars. A renowned spa and impeccable service complete the description of this luxury hotel no center from the Italian capital.
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The history of the Grand Tour and the Hotel de la Ville
The Grand Tour was a cultural phenomenon between the 17th and 19th centuries in Europe. It was a trip of education and cultural enrichment taken by young elite English and European aristocrats. Therefore, young travelers visited various cities and countries, especially in Italy, to discover the main works of art, architecture, literature, music and culture. The purpose of the Grand Tour was to improve the education and knowledge of young people. In other words, a symbol of status and prestige, which significantly influenced the way these young aristocrats perceived culture and art. Therefore, architect Tommaso Ziffer and designer Olga Polizzi were inspired by this moment in history to create the project for this luxury accommodation in Rome.
The architecture and design of luxury accommodation in Rome
Using the historic palace as his canvas, Tommaso Ziffer has recreated a contemporary retrospective that pays homage to the cultural attributes of the era. Therefore, the idea is to invite guests to discover the timeless building through its various environments. The process of enhancing the historical heritage inherent to the building was carried out through the careful intervention of Italian artisans, such as the personalized, handmade wallpaper by Rubelli and Dedar. Furthermore, the use of precious Italian fabrics and a refined selection of vintage tapestries by Zardi & Zardi complete the décor.
The courtyard of the luxurious Hotel de la Ville
The internal courtyard is the central vein of this luxury accommodation in Rome. It boasts the vitality and essence of Italian culture and offers a secret refuge from the frenetic city, without straying far from the heart of Rome. Designer George Carter specialized in creating gardens inspired by the geometric lines of the 17th century. In other words, he ingeniously reworked the space by uniting three buildings into a unified core and incorporated elements reminiscent of Grand Tour themes, such as obelisks, a greenish black and gold color palette, and an environment that contemplates a mystical character. The certainly romantic atmosphere has soft lighting that recalls the ancient allure of the candlelit space.
At the hotel gastronomy at Rocco Forte
It is in this courtyard that invites you to moments of leisure and is reminiscent of a piazza Italian restaurant that is the Mosaico restaurant. The menu features seasonal dishes with culinary touches inspired by Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Masterful chef Fulvio Pierangelini, Creative Director of Food at Rocco Forte hotels, has created a conceptualized menu based on sharing. In addition, a rich and delicious breakfast is served there, which offers a variety of juices, hot dishes, cereals, a variety of breads, cakes and Italian sweets.
O rooftop El Cielo and o Da Sistina
Meanwhile, the romantic El Cielo bar is located on the terrace and is a great option during the summer, with stunning views of the center of Rome, where you can even see the Vatican. There is also the Julep Herbal & Vermouth Bar, which opens during the colder months and Da Sistina, an elegant bistro serving local cuisine with a separate entrance on the street of the same name.
The accommodations
Hotel de la Ville, this luxury accommodation in Rome, has 104 rooms divided between 89 rooms and 15 elegant and spacious suites. The decoration mixes modern elements, such as designer furniture, and antique ones, in an intriguing balance. Furniture collected from the Grand Tour era was restored and used in the environments. Bed king size, powerful acoustic system and great comfort are fundamental features for a guest to have a good night’s sleep. And so it was throughout my stay at this five-star hotel in Rome.
A Suite Deluxe
With a great size of 35mq and beautiful views of the Via Sistina or the stunning internal park, it is very well equipped, with a bed king size, sofa, table, full minibar, coffee maker, marble bathroom with bathtub and great shower – without a doubt the best shower of the trip, in fact. The wooden floors, the large windows, the noble fabrics and the elegant and stylish decor make the accommodation a welcoming place that you hardly want to leave.
The Forte suites
The exclusive suites are breathtaking and measure between 56mq, in the case of Canova, up to 103mq, with fabulous outdoor areas and all possible comfort, in other words, true apartments. Furthermore, the Penthouse Suite has an area of 346mq, that is, a combination of three accommodations. It even has a private elevator that gives direct access to the garage. Furthermore, the guest can request other rooms on the same floor, and thus have even more exclusivity, with capacity for up to twelve people. The styles of the rooms vary and it is difficult to choose the most elegant one, with that mix of contemporary and antique pieces.
Luxury accommodation service in Rome
The staff at the Hotel de La Ville are absolutely elegant and polite. Therefore, the intensive training of the team can be seen, always with smiles on their faces and willing to help. Highlight for the experienced team of concierges, who helped me a lot during my stay, suggesting restaurants in my style and answering countless questions that a guest always has, even if they are not first-timers. In short, I left this five-star Roman hotel completely seduced by it, wanting to return as soon as possible!
Text and photos by Renata Araújo.
