Rome’s newest five star Palazzo Ripetta
Behiye Hassan was invited to Rome last week for the official opening of the luxury five-star hotel Palazzo Ripetta after an extensive renovation of the 17th Century building.
Known as the Eternal City for its thousands of years of history, Rome has been one of the most romantic tourist destinations for centuries. I recently experienced the romance of Rome myself when I stayed as a guest at the newly-refurbished five star Palazzo Ripetta Hotel - a mere stone’s throw from the famed Spanish Steps and Keats-Shelley House, a museum dedicated to the 18th Century Romantic poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley in the house where they stayed on their visits to the Italian capital.
Palazzo Ripetta has a unique and romantic history all of its own too. It was built in the 17th Century as a conservatory run by nuns which housed thousands of poor and orphaned young women and girls for nearly three centuries. Now, it’s become a different kind of refuge in the heart of central Rome, featuring an impressive art collection, sumptuous decor, gorgeous rooms and a secret old chapel which can be hired for events.
I particularly loved in the hotel’s wood-panelled restaurant San Baylon, there are old black and white photos of some of the women who lived there with the nuns back in the day - and one woman pictured, who’s now in her 90s, paid a visit to the hotel for the re-opening.
The palazzo was converted into a hotel in the 20th Century and has since been run by the same family for generations - the current CEO Giacomo Crisci is the grandson of the founder - and they have ensured that it has been carefully restored and sympathetically renovated to become an elegantly luxurious 78 room hotel, which fully reopened this month (September 2023).
Located on Via Ripetta, one of the city’s most ancient streets, Palazzo Ripetta is also close to other must-see destinations such as the Forum, the Trevi Fountain and the fancy shops of Via Condotti, all within easy walking distance.
The hotel also features chic family rooms and stylish duplex spa suites, which feature their own saunas or Hydropool baths. Plus, there is a devastatingly romantic suite which includes a gorgeous freestanding bath in the main room.
The revamped rooms and suites were created by leading architect and interior designer Fausta Gaetani to harmonise with the architecture of leading 20th Century architect Luigi Moretti, who created the original hotel within the palazzo (as well as the infamous Watergate complex in Washington DC, USA).
I particularly loved the rooftop terrace which offers wonderful vistas across the city’s ancient skyline. I also adored the hidden-away courtyard resplendent with fountains and lush greenery where you can order from the more relaxed all-day dining of the hotel’s Piazzetta Ripetta eatery and a negroni, from the hotel’s wildly inventive cocktail bar, where drinks take inspiration from artworks by a local graffiti artist which decorate the walls.
The hotel’s flagship restaurant San Baylon meanwhile is a more refined experience, where head chef Marco Ciccotelli prides himself on relying on Italy’s rich culinary history for inspiration. Think modern takes on vitello tonnato, cacio e pepe, bistecca alla Fiorentina and chicken cacciatore - all absolutely delicious.
But despite ticking off many must-haves for a luxury hotel stay, the memory that will truly stay with me is that of the superb staff. It really feels like a family affair, with service that is wonderfully warm, welcoming and friendly, yet still attentive, meticulous and professional. It’s independent hospitality at its best.
Plus, the team at Palazzo Ripetta are serious about sustainability. Everything from the wine to the zero-impact building materials has been sourced within Italy, including bath products from the Sicily-based brand Ortigia. The hotel has signed the Unesco Sustainable Tourism Pledge, has a Green Key certificate, the international eco-label for tourism and leisure as part of the Green Key programme, and is powered by 100% renewable energy.
Rooms at the Palazzo Ripetta start at €550 per night, based on two people sharing and including breakfast.