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Times
12 hours ago
- Times
JK Place Rome hotel review: one of the Italian capital's poshest palazzos
Hotels that claim to be homes-from-home are two a penny in the boutique scene, but this one really does feel like the kind of place where everyone knows your name (and they probably do, since almost half the guests are repeat visitors). Opened in 2013, this was the third hotel for the Florence-founded JK Place brand, which has since spread from Italy to France, and aims to give guests the feel of a family home. In fact, it's located in one of Rome's poshest homes — a wing of Palazzo Borghese, the vast complex built for the legendary Borghese family of popes and princes in the 16th century. The familial atmosphere is impeccably maintained by the staff, who walk the line between genuine, smiles-that-reach-the-eyes friendliness, and quiet efficiency (there's more or less one member of staff for every guest). Guests even get personalised presents (such as a handbound notebook, or even a birthday gift from a stalwart Rome brand) before checking out. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Score 9/10The 27 rooms — designed by Florentine Michele Bönan and refreshed in 2022 — are the height of modern elegance: neutral colours, walk-in closets and contemporary four-poster beds paired with soft wood panelling. Add the odd antique chrome lamp or art deco-ish counter, plus minimalist sofas, tables and the overall feeling is that of a rather timeless affair. Higher categories (from Grand Deluxe upwards) might have a separate bathtub as well as a shower, or a rare-for-Rome balcony from the JK Deluxe Balcony rooms upwards. Note that there are no knockout views — this is all about ease of location rather than jaw-dropper panoramas. Possibly best of all are the complimentary minibars that are restocked daily and full of fun things, from chocolate truffles to savoury taralli biscuits. Bathrooms are clad in the ubiquitous Carrara marble, but in a modern way — candy stripes of grey and white stone on the walls, mixed with simple wood parquet — and stocked with luxurious toiletries. There's another neat combination of ancient and modern on the walls, with arty photos of outré ancient palazzos by Florentine Massimo Listri. Though the rooms are slickly adult, the hotel welcomes children — younger guests get presents, from Rome colouring-in books to a treat from the Lego store. Score 8/10 Unlike its five-star cousins around Rome, JK Place doesn't aim for the stars with a fine-dining restaurant; instead, more in keeping with its home-from-home vibe, it has a relaxed restaurant, JK Café, spread across three downstairs, semi-connected rooms and spilling into the library. The all-day menu, stretching from lunchtime to late night, does Italian classics, walking the fine line between tradition and modernity. It's the kind of relaxed place where you can retire to the library for an amaro or a coffee at the end of the meal. The Café is also the breakfast space. Instead of a buffet, guests are brought a basket of pastries and toast, and can order larger dishes. Everything has been meticulously thought through — even the butter is stamped 'JK'. Between the restaurant and the vast lobby is a jewel-like bar. The joy of this place is that you can always find a space that feels private, thanks to the warren of rooms on the ground floor — there's no penning guests into a single area. There's a great boutique wine list including local Lazio labels, and there's a decent cocktail menu too. • Best restaurants in Rome• What to do in Rome Taking the home-from-home idea to its logical conclusion, there's little else on the property. However, guests get free access to nearby gyms while spa treatments can be arranged at nearby top hotels. If a massage is all you want, they can call in a therapist who can set up in your room. Although there may not be time — the concierges are adept at fulfilling every request, from nabbing sold-out tickets to private tours of St Peter's and the Vatican, as well as ArcheoRunning tours of Rome sites. The hotel has close links with Rome designers, and offers guests discounts and skip-the-line access to the top boutiques of nearby Via Condotti. You can also hire ebikes to get around the city (for a fee). Score 9/10If you want a bit of everything, this is a great base. Walk to the end of the block and you'll see the Spanish Steps in the distance; the Pantheon and Piazza Navona are each a 10-15 minute stroll away; while a straight shot across the Tiber is the Vatican (about 45 minutes on foot). The Mausoleum of Augustus (due to reopen in 2026) and the Ara Pacis are at the other end of the street. Having said all that, despite the proximity to some of the most famous sites, this is a quiet area, and the entrance is on a tiny side street. If the crowds around the Pantheon leave you cold, this is the perfect place to be. Price B&B doubles from £667Restaurant mains from £17Family-friendly YAccessible Y Julia Buckley was a guest of JK Place Rome ( • Best affordable hotels in Rome• Best tours of Italy for your next getaway
New York Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The Classic Villa Borghese Hosts a Classic Equestrian Event
When jumping a course, a horse and rider must always be looking ahead. But at the Piazza di Siena horse show in Rome, spectators are also invited to reflect on the past. That is because the grounds where the event is held, from Wednesday to Sunday, have a history dating back centuries to one of Italy's most famous noble families: the Borghese. The show takes place at the Piazza di Siena, an arena inside the Villa Borghese, a large public park in the heart of Rome just north of the Spanish Steps. The park was once the estate of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who in the 17th century commissioned the expansive gardens and a villa to house his art collection. The piazza was added in the late 18th century and was inspired by the Piazza del Campo in Siena, the Borghese family's home city. Since the 1920s, the arena has welcomed riders from around the world to compete at the highest levels of equestrian sport. Many ride on teams representing their countries in addition to competing as individuals. 'I think the event place and the atmosphere brings so much to the event itself,' said Karl Cook, an American rider who won the grand prix, the most challenging event of the show, at last year's competition. Having a stunning, historical backdrop 'just adds something different and something better to the whole experience, and that is on full display in Rome and at the Piazza di Siena,' he added. The Italian government bought the park at the turn of the 20th century, eventually opening it to the public, and it wasn't long before equestrian sport took center stage. The first horse show was held there in 1922, and the Piazza di Siena event has been held there every year with a few exceptions. Over the years, it has become one of the top equestrian competitions and last year joined the new Rolex Series, a group of seven show-jumping events around Europe and the United States. 'With events like Piazza di Siena, the most important thing is the legacy between these sport events and Villa Borghese,' said Diego Nepi Molineris, the chief executive of Sport e Salute, the state-owned company responsible for the development of sports in Italy and the event director of the show. The combination of the historical location and the artistry of equestrian sport, he added, means 'everything that you see during these events is beauty.' This year, the show will welcome around 600 horses and 470 riders, said Paolo Franci, head of communications for the Piazza di Siena show, and is free for anyone to attend. 'Every kind of person can go there,' Nepi Molineris said, 'and they can see the best show.' The competition begins on Thursday, lasts four days and will include the Intesa Sanpaolo Nations Cup, in which 10 teams of four riders compete on behalf of their country. It will culminate with the Rolex grand prix event. 'I just think it's a great celebration of horses, as well, and what they're capable of and what they bring us,' said Cook, who this year will be returning to the event with the same horse, Caracole de la Roque, hoping the pair can recreate last year's magic. 'Bringing horses into the middle of a city kind of sounds like oil and water, in a way. But I think that sort of reconnection and that celebration of horses is, I think, always healthy for us.' Since 2018, the park has been undergoing yet another transformation — to restore it to its former glory. Salut e Sport has been working to refurbish the park, leaning into a 'less is more' mentality, Nepi Molineris said. The goal is to make it look and feel as it might have years ago through landscaping and other projects, including restoring the arena's stands and replacing its sand footing with grass. With these improvements, 'Villa Borghese lives not only for the horse riding and the competition, but also for sport all during the year,' Nepi Molineris said. But equestrian competition will always be key to the identity of the Piazza di Siena. Comparing the event to Wimbledon, Nepi Molineris explained that there were 'some places in the world that you can see some things only there.'
