La Minerva: The Legendary Orient Express Hotel Arrives in Rome
A palazzo reborn, a golden age of travel reimagined
A Palazzo with Stories to Tell
Just steps from the Pantheon, the newly opened La Minerva is not just another luxury address in Rome—it’s the long-awaited debut of the Orient Express hotel brand. Housed within the 17th-century Palazzo Fonseca, this landmark reawakens with a new spirit, fusing centuries of history with a design vision that celebrates both Roman heritage and the glamour of travel’s golden age. French architect Hugo Toro has orchestrated the transformation, layering frescoed ceilings and classical proportions with Art Deco motifs, sculptural modernism, and cinematic grandeur. The result feels timeless, yet unmistakably new.
Design That Bridges Eras
Walking through La Minerva is like tracing a dialogue between antiquity and modernity. Roman-inspired details—arches, mosaics, marbles—converse with curves of brass, bold colors, and contemporary art commissions. Guests are welcomed by original sculptures from Rinaldo Rinaldi, a pupil of Canova, grounding the interiors in true Roman artistry. The hotel’s aesthetic borrows from ancient Roman domus as much as it does from the 1920s Riviera, a blend that feels richly layered, theatrical, and intimate.
Suites with Soul
With just 93 rooms and suites, La Minerva strikes a rare balance: intimate yet grand, personal yet palatial. Each accommodation is crafted as a private salon, adorned with custom furniture, tactile fabrics, and curated artwork that celebrates the art of slow living. High ceilings, fresco touches, and marble bathrooms root the spaces in history, while thoughtful modern luxuries ensure effortless comfort. Some suites offer sweeping views over the rooftops of Rome—a reminder that here, the city itself is part of the décor.
A Culinary Stage Above the City
On the rooftop terrace, La Minerva frames Rome’s skyline like a masterpiece. By day, it’s a serene perch above the bustle of the piazzas; by night, it transforms into a stage for world-class cuisine and sparkling conversation under the Roman sky. The menu blends classic Italian flavors with modern finesse, while the bar revives the grand tradition of aperitivo with inventive cocktails and a golden glow. Every meal here feels less like dining out, more like stepping into a performance of taste, style, and spectacle.
Wellness in Roman Rhythm
Downstairs, the hotel’s wellness sanctuary takes its cues from Ottoman bath rituals and Roman thermal traditions. Steam rooms, soothing pools, and indulgent treatments create a cocoon of calm—an essential counterpoint to the exhilarating chaos of Rome. True to the Orient Express ethos, wellness here is not an afterthought but a holistic journey: sensory, soulful, and restorative.
The Spirit of Orient Express, Reimagined
La Minerva is more than a five-star stay—it’s a philosophy of travel, reborn. Just as the Orient Express trains once carried dreamers across Europe in carriages of velvet and crystal, this hotel invites guests to reclaim the romance of the journey itself. Every detail—from fresco to cocktail glass, from sculpture to skyline—feels intentional, designed to slow you down, draw you in, and let you dream.
DNA Hotels Verdict
La Minerva is a triumph: a palazzo reimagined as a stage for the return of Orient Express glamour. Equal parts Roman grandeur and Art Deco chic, it ushers in a new era of hospitality in the Eternal City—one rooted in history, layered with culture, and lifted by the spirit of golden-age travel. More than a stay, it’s a dream made tangible: elegant, transcendent, and utterly Roman.
