Presented by Capital One
What might go into conjuring the platonic ideal of a Roman hotel? To start: a prime setting in a pretty piazza in the heart of the centro storico; an atmospheric backdrop, preferably in a sepia-toned palazzo; panoramic rooftop views over the skyline, with the dome of the Pantheon close enough to spill a drink on; and impeccably attired staff at every step. At Orient Express La Minerva, there’s no conjuring necessary—the essence of the Eternal City has somehow been distilled into a glamorous 93-room hideaway. The erstwhile 17th-century mansion was originally converted into a hotel in 1811, quickly becoming a favorite among creative types like Stendhal and Picasso. Now completely transformed by Orient Express, the luxe train company synonymous with the golden age of travel, La Minerva is ready to return to its roots as a requisite stop on the European Grand Tour.
Franco-Mexican artist Hugo Toro left his stamp on every surface and piece of furniture in the hotel, from mahogany ceiling fans to shell-shaped pedestal sinks and a carved travertine bar. That bar, nestled in the lobby under the watchful gaze of a marble statue of Minerva, is a stunner, but there might be no better perch in the city from which to enjoy an aperitivo than the rooftop bar Gigi Rigolatto Roma. As you take in the terra-cotta rooftops, the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Altare della Patria looming in the distance, one thing is clear: when in Rome, there’s nowhere else to be.
But the best part is, should you choose to leave the perch, you are truly in the heart of the city. The Pantheon, for our taste the best monument in the city, is maybe 10 steps away (get there literally at dawn if you want to be first in line to enter). There is the famous Armando Al Pantheon restaurant, which has one of the best scallopines in the city. If you feel like venturing farther, it is nice to know that the seriously delicious Da Francesco (don’t sleep on the pizza!) is just 10 minutes walk west, but feels like a whole new world, just behind the marvelous Piazza Navona.
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