The Eternal City’s luxury hotel scene is built on opulence and antiquity, but the newly opened Corinthia Hotel distinguishes itself through the delicate balance of intimacy and Italian grandeur.
BY TIA KIM
Occupying the former headquarters of the Bank of Italy on Piazza del Parlamento in Rome’s historic center, Corinthia Rome transforms a hulking early-20th-century neoclassical palazzo into one of the Eternal City’s most refined new addresses. Original frescoes, marble detailing, stuccoes, and carved woodwork have been meticulously restored, while richly appointed guestrooms and suites pair residential warmth with contemporary comforts like Brescia marble bathrooms with walk-in rain showers, luscious Santa Maria Novella bath amenities, and premium Frette linens. The flagship Theodoli Heritage Suite presents like a lavish time capsule, with original circa-1920s frescoes, stained-glass windows, a dazzling onyx marble bath, and a sprawling grand salon anchored by a glossy black piano.
The hotel arrives amid Rome’s ongoing luxury hospitality renaissance, joining a wave of high-design openings that have reshaped the city’s upper echelon in recent years. But Corinthia’s approach feels notably more intimate. Described as a “grand boutique,” the property trades pageantry for discretion, layering serene leafy courtyards, a subterranean spa inspired by ancient bathing rituals, and two dining concepts by Michelin-starred Milanese chef Carlo Cracco into an atmosphere of quiet Roman grandeur.