Latest news with #Hoteld'Inghilterra
The Age
19-05-2025
- The Age
The revamped grand Rome hotel that inspired an Oscar Wilde sonnet
There's no shortage of grand, historic hotels in Rome, many of which welcomed wealthy young travellers on the Grand Tour of Europe in the 19th century. One of the most beloved, Hotel d'Inghilterra, has reopened after a years-long refurbishment overseen by owner Elisabetta Fabri, the president and chief executive of Starhotels Group. Ideally positioned near the Spanish Steps and the luxury boutiques along Via Condotti, the hotel was originally built in the mid-16th century as private accommodation for invited guests of Palazzo Torlonia across the street. In 1845, the guesthouse became a hotel known as the Angleterre, a welcoming home away from home for travellers, many of them British. Starhotels acquired the property eight years ago, inheriting a landmark address and a storied history. Pope Pius IX is said to have met there with Dom Pedro V, the former King of Portugal. After staying at the hotel on his first visit to Rome and visiting John Keats's grave, Oscar Wilde was inspired to write a sonnet. Fabri says loyal repeat guests – there are many – implored her not to change too much during the renovation, a request she has honoured. Elegant modernisation of the rooms and suites (reduced from 84 to 80), building facade, bar and restaurant has been done with a tasteful eye to the property's historic, boutique charm. Starhotels supports an initiative, 'La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory', to protect and promote the methods and expertise of Italian master craftspeople. As part of the project, restoration of the hotel's luxe chandeliers, furniture, frames and doors was undertaken by hand using traditional techniques. Bed linens by Frette and custom Rubelli fabrics on the walls are further evidence of a preference for Italian design from companies with roots in the 19th century. The hotel's signature restaurant, Cafe Romano, is now under the direction of executive chef Andrea Sangiuliano, formerly of Mama Shelter Roma. His handmade tagliatelle and zucchini flowers stuffed with Cacio e Pepe are already being talked about as must-try dishes in the capital. If the weather's nice, ask for one of Cafe Romano's outdoor tables along Via Borgognona. The pedestrian-zone cobblestone street in the heart of the city is a prime spot for people-watching. Still to come, a spa and subterranean gym, plus a chic rooftop terrace bar that will provide one of the best views of the Eternal City.
Sydney Morning Herald
19-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
The revamped grand Rome hotel that inspired an Oscar Wilde sonnet
There's no shortage of grand, historic hotels in Rome, many of which welcomed wealthy young travellers on the Grand Tour of Europe in the 19th century. One of the most beloved, Hotel d'Inghilterra, has reopened after a years-long refurbishment overseen by owner Elisabetta Fabri, the president and chief executive of Starhotels Group. Ideally positioned near the Spanish Steps and the luxury boutiques along Via Condotti, the hotel was originally built in the mid-16th century as private accommodation for invited guests of Palazzo Torlonia across the street. In 1845, the guesthouse became a hotel known as the Angleterre, a welcoming home away from home for travellers, many of them British. Starhotels acquired the property eight years ago, inheriting a landmark address and a storied history. Pope Pius IX is said to have met there with Dom Pedro V, the former King of Portugal. After staying at the hotel on his first visit to Rome and visiting John Keats's grave, Oscar Wilde was inspired to write a sonnet. Fabri says loyal repeat guests – there are many – implored her not to change too much during the renovation, a request she has honoured. Elegant modernisation of the rooms and suites (reduced from 84 to 80), building facade, bar and restaurant has been done with a tasteful eye to the property's historic, boutique charm. Starhotels supports an initiative, 'La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory', to protect and promote the methods and expertise of Italian master craftspeople. As part of the project, restoration of the hotel's luxe chandeliers, furniture, frames and doors was undertaken by hand using traditional techniques. Bed linens by Frette and custom Rubelli fabrics on the walls are further evidence of a preference for Italian design from companies with roots in the 19th century. The hotel's signature restaurant, Cafe Romano, is now under the direction of executive chef Andrea Sangiuliano, formerly of Mama Shelter Roma. His handmade tagliatelle and zucchini flowers stuffed with Cacio e Pepe are already being talked about as must-try dishes in the capital. If the weather's nice, ask for one of Cafe Romano's outdoor tables along Via Borgognona. The pedestrian-zone cobblestone street in the heart of the city is a prime spot for people-watching. Still to come, a spa and subterranean gym, plus a chic rooftop terrace bar that will provide one of the best views of the Eternal City.
The Independent
14-04-2025
- The Independent
The best hotels in Rome for nights in historic palaces and lavish city hideaways
Luxury hotels are popping up so quickly in Italy 's capital city that it's hard to keep track of each new opening. They join an already crowded field of palatial properties, yet often stand shoulder to shoulder with more modest hotels that have been welcoming guests for decades, if not longer. And while the hotel market for budget and middle class travellers may be growing less robustly, there are still more than 72,000 hotel rooms in Rome – meaning there's a bed out there for just about every kind of traveller. Depending on your preferences, your hotel in Rome is either going to be central to your experience or merely a place to lay your head in-between exploring ancient sites and sampling handmade pasta. But a lousy hotel can ruin any holiday, so here is a look at the best hotels in Rome across a range of price points and styles. Whether through ambience, amenities, location or value, they each have stand-out offerings that make them worthy contenders for your next stay in the Eternal City. Keep in mind that through the rest of the 2025 Jubilee Year, prices will be at a premium, even for the most ho-hum of hotels. Minimum stay rules of two or three nights may apply on weekends and holidays, and rooms will be snapped up fast, so be sure to book well in advance. Best hotels in Rome 2025 1. Singer Palace Hotel The madding crowds may fill busy Corso Cavour just outside, but inside this boutique five-star hotel, they're left far behind. Set in the former European headquarters of the Singer Corporation (of sewing machine fame), Singer Palace Hotel Roma preserves the palace's stunning Art Deco features, offers a lively rooftop bar and terraced restaurant, and provides a welcome refuge from the hubbub of one of Rome's busiest streets — which you'll never hear through the triple-paned windows of the elegant guest rooms and suites. For travellers who love to stay in hotels that offer a real sense of place and an intimate setting, Singer Palace offers a refined, historic and understated alternative to the city's large luxury properties. 2. Hotel d'Inghilterra In a palace dating to the 1500s, Hotel d'Inghilterra has been welcoming guests since the days of the Grand Tour, and from Hemingway to Hepburn, artists, writers and Hollywood royalty have made this hotel their quarters in Rome. Today, d'Inghilterra's elegantly pleasing jumble of clubby lounges and lavish suites still evokes a more refined time. Part of StarHotels, Italy's largest privately held hotel brand, d'Inghiterra is fresh from a top to bottom renovation, which saw the addition of a rooftop restaurant (there's also a ground floor dining room and bar) and a small spa area, all without losing a speck of its storied ambience. 3. Hotel Mediterraneo One of the tallest buildings in Rome was built for an event that never was: the 1942 World's Fair, scuttled after Italy's entry into WWII. Today, this Art Deco beauty is still heady with history, from stories of hotelier Maurizio Bettoja's sheltering of Jews during the Nazi occupation of Rome, to its vintage bar once frequented by the American GIs who based here after the liberation of the city. Rooms and suites are large by European standards, and the longtime staff are dedicated to warm, old-school service. All in all, this mostly affordable hotel feels like a splurge. The 10th-floor restaurant offers sweeping views of Rome. Address: Via Cavour, 15 4. Damaso Hotel For location, comfort and value, few hotels in Rome can match this upscale three-star. Set just off Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, from where a bus or tram or setting off on foot will get you just about anywhere you want to go in Rome, Damaso is simultaneously warm and sleek, with carefully planned rooms that make the most of modest square footage. Breakfast is served in a lofty dining room that doubles as an evening cocktail bar, and there's also a roof terrace. Although a budget-friendly choice most of the year, prices do climb quite a bit in high season. Address: Piazza della Cancelleria 62 5. Donna Camilla Savelli hotel A few nuns still call this 17th-century convent home but for the rest of us, this walled complex, set at the foot of the Janiculum Hill in trendy Trastevere, is a tranquil, upscale retreat and an off-season bargain. Remarkable common areas were designed by Borromini, the Baroque architect who helped shape the Rome we see today. Rooms and suites are comfortable, even if they're showing a bit of their age, but the real heart of the hotel is in the vaulted arcade and cloister, now a peaceful garden and summer bar and dining area. On request, staff will show you the Roman crypt. 6. Chapter Roma hotel Irreverent and hip, this boutique hotel in the Rome Ghetto was among an early wave of chic hotels targeting younger, affluent travellers with ready-to-party touches like rooms stocked with full bars, including premium booze and mixers, and Marshall speakers. There's a lot to like here, including the industrial meets minimalist room decor, with wood floors, designer lighting and rugs, and eco-friendly bath amenities, plus two restaurants and a buzzy bar. The location puts you in one of Rome's most ancient, charming quarters, and a short walk from Campo de' Fiori, Piazza Navona and Trastevere. 7. Albergo del Senato hotel Set on some of the most coveted real estate in the city, this old guard hotel is what accommodations used to be like in Rome before things started getting fancy. It's traditional, reliable and utterly unsurprising in decor, with excellent service that has earned it consistently high reviews and loads of repeat customers. Oh, and then there's the location in the very heart of Rome and flanking Piazza della Rotonda. Updated rooms are pleasant and well-equipped, and those facing the Pantheon offer some of the most romantic views in Rome, though they may be a little noisy at night. In the summertime, a rooftop terrace bar has the best seats in town. 8. Maalot Roma hotel Eclectic luxury might be the best way to describe this delightful boutique hotel, where the vibe is as cheerful as the color palette in its 30 rooms and suites, each adorned with a surprising mix of patterns, textures and original artwork. The resulting feeling is one of stumbling into the chic private home of sophisticated, yet approachable friends. Plus you're in the heart of things here: close enough to the Trevi Fountain to hear its waters rushing at night, and a short walk from the stylish shops of the Tritone. And while this is an expensive hotel by any standard, its prices are more accessible than many of Rome's five-stars. Address: Via delle Muratte 78 9. The Fifteen Keys hotel As the name suggests, there are just 15 rooms in this intimate hotel, housed in a five-storey villa. Each is different from the other, but all boast light-filled spaces, serene colour palettes, original photography and premium bath amenities. All in all, it exudes tastefulness that never feels forced. There's an ample breakfast buffet, a leafy private courtyard, nightly bar service and complimentary afternoon tea. The hotel is set in Monti, a lived-in neighborhood with great restaurants, bars and one-off boutiques, and far enough from the tourist scrum to retain a local's feel that's increasingly hard to come by in Rome. 10. Palazzo Dama hotel An away-from-it-all vibe pervades at this perfectly lovely small hotel, located just steps from the Tiber River and Piazza del Popolo. Housed in a Liberty Style villa, Palazzo Dama's 29 rooms are done up in restful blue or green color schemes and period furnishings. Standout amenities include a large courtyard and swimming pool — both rarities in central Rome — as well as a spa suite built for two. Book directly through the website and you'll find a complimentary bottle of prosecco waiting. The Prati neighbourhood, with its proletariat shopping and dining, is just across the river.
