As you might expect of a city that has entertained more than its fair share of princesses and film-stars, Rome has a large number of five-star luxury hotels. In luxury, things can be more powerful than words. Service. A view. Something you don’t expect. Something more than you’d expected. It’s the ‘wow!’ factor that goes beyond expectations and can be translated into a number of things, in many different ways. Having unveiled Hotel de la Ville in Rome, Rocco Forte Hotels confirms its top spot in stylish luxury while revealing a playful side that appeals to the younger set.
Located at the top of the Spanish Steps, Hotel De La Ville, a Rocco Forte hotel, the historic 18th-century palazzo will have 104 elegant and sumptuous rooms and suites designed by Tommaso Ziffer in collaboration with Olga Polizzi. The 15 suites, including two presidential suites, have terraces overlooking Rome.
The historical structure artfully spread over several levels means that the suites and large terraces are quite unrivalled in town offering a totally unique high rise angle and the grandest of panoramas. Architect Tommaso Ziffer has collaborated with Director of Design Olga Polizzi in bringing to life the aesthetics and cultural sentiments of the 18th and 19th century Grand Tour of Europe in a contemporary key. The result is a bold and vibrant feel which pervades the building offering a sumptuous theatrical set reflective of Roman intricacies throughout the ages up to modern days.
The Grand Tour heavily influenced European design and Italy played a major part in this – the term ‘The Grand Tour’, from which originated the term ‘tourist’, was introduced by Richard Lassels in his 1670 book Voyage to Italy. The country was key to the Grand Tourist’s voyage, and Rome at the heart of it all. Handmade wallpaper from local designers Rubelli and Dedar, and rich Italian fabrics and tapestries from Zardi & Zardi sit alongside ‘antiquated’ design elements created using new technologies such as digitally printed mosaics and laser-cut wall coverings.
An imposing Roman marble trapezophorus, traditionally found in ancient Roman palazzos, stands in the place of a traditional Concierge desk, while the black and white geometric lobby floor, interwoven with handmade terracotta from Umbria, is reminiscent of typical monochrome flooring found in English mansions of the 18th and 19th Centuries, where the Grand Tourists would return to in order to install their new collections of antiquities. Light blue walls, embellished with stone columns and Roman ruins, and a set of mirroirs sorcières hanging across the passage to the staircase, bring the whimsical personality of the lobby to life.
This appreciation for nuanced details extends to every corner of the hotel, including the elevators, which have become centrepieces in their own right. Paisley, green foliage, and studded leather patterns are printed on the glass screens, conceiving a modern tapestry that offers guests a visual feast whilst transporting them up and down the hotel’s seven storeys to the 104 rooms and suites, and beyond.
Sitting on the 8th floor and reached by private elevator, the Suite De La Ville is the hotel’s crown jewel, offering extraordinary space, a curated art collection and antique furniture presented in contemporary flare. The private dining room and the two large terraces with panoramic views over Rome make the Suite De La Ville ideal for memorable evenings and entertaining. It is also perfect for families, with the option to connect with the Roma and Canova suites on the seventh floor to make a lavish multi-bedroom residence.
At the centre of the hotel is the enchanting courtyard, a hidden retreat away from the bustling city that embodies the life and spirit of Italy. Fusing three buildings into one, the courtyard design has been lifted by George Carter, a designer who specialises in creating gardens inspired by the simple geometry of the 17th century. To keep within the Grand Tour concept, obelisks, remarkable greenery and black and gold touches bestow a mystical feel that is further romanticized with prudent lighting, evocative of ancient candle-lit spaces.
Hotel de la Ville is home to six innovative food and beverage outlets. The Lobby Lounge & Bistro will serve authentic, local yet modern dishes, while the main restaurant will offer sophisticated elegance with a Mediterranean inspired menu and views over the hotel’s beautiful courtyard. The diverse offering ranges from all-day dining at Da Sistina, serving authentic trattoria-style food with modern touches, to Mosaico, the hotel’s main restaurant serving Mediterranean gourmet cuisine that overlooks the courtyard. The bold Julep bar offers all varieties of cocktails whilst the rooftop terrace bar, aptly named Cielo, will be entertaining guests with creatively crafted drinks, a fusion of “aperitivi” and memorable views of the Roman skyline.
The hotel provides a range of spa and wellness facilities, such as a 24-hour gym equipped with a range of cardio and weight equipment from Technogym; a hydro pool, plunge pool, Kneipp footbaths, ice showers, salt inhalation room, steam room and sauna. The spa will be set across two floors with six treatment rooms, including a double treatment room. Bringing a piece of Sicily to Rome, the 550 square metre Rocco Forte Spa is the most technically advanced in the capital offering relaxing and indulgent treatments carried out by an expert team of therapists using Irene Forte Skincare products. The spa is an all-encompassing healthy retreat for physical and spiritual wellness cocooned in the centre of the bustling Italian capital.
From the luxury shopping street of Via Condotti to famous monuments and world-class art, Hotel de la Ville is perfectly located to explore the intricacies of the city by foot with the help of the expert team of concierges who can create one of a kind, tailor-made experiences.
Location: in the very heart of the city and is the perfect base to explore the eternal city, only 30 minutes from Ciampino Airport or 45 minutes from Fiumicino Airport. Contacts: +39 06 32 88 88 80, email: reservations.delaville@roccofortehotels.com
