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The five best places to stay in Rome
New hotels and apartments to check out in the Italian capital
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Rome is choc-full of elegant palazzi, but few are open to paying guests. Just behind the River Tiber and moments from the iconic Piazza del Popolo and the Borghese Gardens, one bucking the trend is the 30-room Palazzo Dama, which opened last December. The former home of the aristocratic Malaspina family, it’s named after one of its former residents, Marquise Anna Maria Malaspina who lived there during the 18th century. Architect Antonio Girardi, also responsible for the D.O.M Hotel Roma, was in charge of remodelling the building and the result is grand yet welcoming; crystal chandeliers have been married with mid-century modern furniture, antiques, oil paintings, wooden floors and marble bathrooms. There is a rooftop terrace, bar, private club and unusually for central Rome, a swimming pool set in a shady garden.
Palazzo Dama, Lungotevere Arnaldo Da Brescia (00 39 6 895 652 72; palazzodama.com). Doubles from €350 including breakfast.
The Fifteen Keys, Monti
If you are looking to escape the tourist hordes, Rome’s Monti neighbourhood is right in the heart of The Eternal City, yet feels more off the radar. One of Rome’s oldest residential quarters has a more bohemian feel and is dotted with family-owned restaurants and an increasing number of hip cafes, bars and vintage boutiques. The Fifteen Keys is another new reason to explore. This small hotel with a decidedly down with the locals feel has 15 bright, tastefully done rooms with parquet floors, some with exposed brick walls. There is a tranquil courtyard for a spritz Aperol and complimentary baby blue bikes if you want to brave the Roman traffic.
The Fifteen Keys Hotel, via Urbana 6/7 (00 39 06 4891 3446; fifteenkeys.com). Doubles from €120 including breakfast.
Palazzo Cinquecento, Esquilino
Many of the contemporary-styled 177 rooms of the just-opened NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento have views over the piazza from which it takes its name or the remnants of the Servian Walls dating from the 6th century BC that are preserved in the hotel’s gardens. But this being Rome, the historic theme does not end there; the hotel is housed in a restored Art Nouveau palace not far from the central Termini station. Next up is a panoramic bar to make use of the far-reaching views from the rooftop terrace.
NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento, Piazza dei Cinquecento 90 (00 39 06 492 221; nh-collection.com). Doubles from €249, room-only.
CasaCau, Trevi
The owners of CasaCau are veterans of the Roman hospitality scene with a couple of restaurants and a hotel. More home than hotel, their newest venture, CasaCau, is a collection of five apartments set in a 17th century building and decorated in fine style with mid-century furniture, a coin’s throw from the newly restored Fendi-funded Trevi Fountain. Sleeping two, three or four people with an option to join two of the apartments together, breakfast is delivered each morning in the former of fresh bread and croissants and for other meals you have your own kitchenette. Set right in the historic centre, most of the Roman must-sees are within easy walking distance.
CasaCau, via Arcione 94 (00 39 06 692 90159; casacau.com). One-bedroom apartments from €306 per night b&b.
Via della Scala, Trastevere
With its added extra frills, upscale rental service onefinestay has already proved a hit with travellers in London, Paris, New York and Los Angeles. This June its newest portfolio of privately-owned properties in Rome will open their doors to guests. One of the carefully vetted debut collection of six properties ready to book now is the two-bedroom Via della Scala in the buzzing Trastevere district of the city. Set over two floors, it’s all beamed ceilings and idiosyncratic décor and has a balcony and a terrace – guests also get the use of a local iPhone for the duration of their stay, toiletries from Capri-based Carthusia, fine bed linen and access to 24/7 hosts.
Via della Scala, Trastevere (020-7167 2426; onefinestay.com). One night’s rental starts at €280 (minimum stay of four nights).
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