Rome legends. Famous hotels glorified by history or celebrities

Westin Excelsior The historic Westin Excelsior is a true legend of Rome. Ever since the opening in 1906, it has been acknowledged as the most prestigious hotel in the city. For more than a century, the hotel has been attracting numerous celebrities. The world’s richest people stayed at Westin Excelsior, so even nowadays many travelers and locals visit the prestigious Doney restaurant hoping to see movie stars or famous musicians. In the 60s of the previous century, Frederico Fellini chose the luxurious hotel as the main filming spot for his famous Dolce Vita.

Besides a long list of rich and noble guests, the most famous hotel in Rome has one more peculiarity. The biggest suite in Europe, Villa La Cupola, is open at this hotel. The size of the suite is, indeed, striking – more than 560 square meters. A day in the fantastic Villa La Cupola costs 11,000 euro. In addition to numerous rooms with fabulous design, the suite has 170 square meters large open terraces and balconies. Villa La Cupola got a revamp during the latest reconstruction in 2000, so nowadays guests of the exclusive suite will find only finest materials, such as crystal, brocade, silk and satin textiles. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

St. Regis Rome The next hotel in our review, St. Regis Rome , has already become a true historic landmark of Rome. The opening of the luxurious hotel took place in 1894. St. Regis Rome was the first hotel in the luxury segment in the Italian capital, so no wonder why the guest book of St. Regis contains names of royalties, outstanding artists, and writers. Such famous people as Queen Elizabeth II and the King of Spain Alfonso XIII chose to stay at magnificent suites of the hotel.

Émile Zola and renowned Russian writer Leo Tolstoy visited the legendary hotel, and later St. Regis Rome greeted such celebrities as Sharon Stone and Sophie Loren. The design of the luxurious hotel is beyond any praise. The decorations include handmade carpets, gilded and marble décor, unique old frescos, and a large collection of art that only grows each year. These are not all advantages and peculiarities of the legendary hotel. There is a fantastic wine cellar that is open in a unique underground hall. The cellar is, actually, the remains of ancient Diocletianus thermae.

Grand Hotel de la Minerve Grand Hotel de la Minerve occupies a special position in the list of historic hotels in Rome. It greeted its first guests yet in 1700. The magnificent suites of the hotel have always drawn the attention of famous and noble people, so Pope Pius IX, Empress Carlotta di Baviera, and many other members of royal families stayed there. In order to remind of the glorious past, the hotel exhibits a large collection of ancient sculptures, the age of many of which is several hundred years. An ancient statue of Minerva is considered the gem of the collection, and all guests of Grand Hotel de la Minerve are welcome to admire the masterpiece. The hotel’s international cuisine restaurant, La Cesta, is one more advantage. Some tables of the restaurant are served on an open terrace.

Villa del Parco The historic Villa del Parco also has its own miraculous history. Several centuries ago, the villa belonged to the rich Bernadini family, members of which decided to transform the old family mansion into a hotel in 1950. They personally designed rooms for future guests of the hotel and carefully selected elements of the décor. Besides gorgeous design, Villa del Parco exhibits a large collection of antique furniture and paintings. It’s particularly interesting to look at portraits of first owners of the old house. Experienced travelers recommend booking mansard guest rooms on the top floor of the villa due to their incredible charm and coziness. Villa del Parco is a fantastic choice for romantic couples and travelers who want to relax in a serene atmosphere.