The Capo d'Africa is a real gem. Bright and clean, it provides a welcome alternative to the usual heavy Roman fare without the price tag of the de Russie or the pretensions of the Alephi or the ES. A former school, the hotel is located on a quiet residential street just east of the Colosseum, a few paces from the magnificent and under-visited San Clemente church - in fact a ticket to the archeological crypt of this church should be included in the room rate.
Two palms guard wide steps set back from the street. Inside, a series of black rubber roses stapled to the wall - an installation by Paolo Canevari - sets out their stall. However, for the design-weary, this is as far as they go, for inside the tone is one of understated elegance. Splashes of colour - primary colours, in paintings, furnishings and fresh flowers, brighten the neutral tones of the walls and floor. In the hallways and up the stairs, they have mixed up a magical and luminous lilac paint scheme which wafts you up to your room. Here, high ceilings and the judicial use of linear elements in the design of the modern furniture and side tables gives the whole ensemble a balanced, formal feel, while managing to retain a softness often lacking in design hotels elsewhere. Honey coloured wood is used throughout - both for the furnishings and the doors - with single prints or modern paintings. About a third of the rooms have independent power showers, with the others having good wall mounted models. The doubles seem large, largely a result of the high ceilings.
A highlight of the hotel is the large and meandering roof terrace - impossibly romantic at night, when candles flicker on the tables, and the neighbouring medieval church of Santissimi Quattro is lit to perfection - this is what Rome is all about. The terrace is draped with honeysuckle and peonies and other greenery in season, and opening up onto it is a bright breakfast room. Next door, a junior suite boasts its own private terrace - perfect for honeymooners.
The one drawback people may infer is the location - but frankly there is no such thing as a perfect location in Rome, since this is a city of so many centres. If you overlook the Pantheon you are mobbed by crowds all day; if you're on the Via Veneto, the traffic is relentless; here, a five minute stroll to the Colosseum, you have a quiet location with more than its fair share of Roman magic, packaged up in the best of modern design. This is a classic that will last well beyond the next fad.
|
The finest collection of chic, boutique & luxury hotels on the net
Why book
with TI?
Reviews by professional travel writers, detailed hotel information and practical tips, lowest rates guaranteed and a secure booking service.
Other hotels in
Colosseum
Hotel Capo d'Africa
"Crisp designer boutique close to the Colisseum - one of the best boutiques in Rome"
Hotel Capo d'Africa by Jamie Dunford Wood
Address: Via Capo d'Africa 54, Rome 00184, Italy
Reservations: +44 (0)20 7580 2663
Rates from:
Come for
Contemporary interiors with original modern art pieces
Great location a few steps from the Colosseum
One of Rome's most iconic churches, the magnificent San Clemente, next door
Romantic roof terrace, candelit at night
Not suitable for
Traditional tastes
Awards
"Best Luxury, Travelers' Choice" TripAdvisor 06
Children
Hotel Capo dAfrica pampers your children, providing them a welcome gift upon arrival, babysitting with 24 hour notice, child-size bathrobes, childrens amenities, colouring books and crayons, bedtime milk & cookies, assistance for family oriented activities and much more. Additionally, extra beds and baby cots can be added to rooms.
Getting there
Hotel Capo d'Africa is located just next to the Colosseum and Domus Aurea, very convenient to the Colosseo stop on Line B of the Metro. Ciampino and Fiumicino airports are approximately 30-40 minutes away. The hotel can arrange a private car transfer from and to the airports for a fee.
Press quotes
"This former school turned design-minded hotel near the Colosseum hides its true (quite dazzling) colours behind the graceful exterior. Inside, its high-ceilinged rooms are a lesson in cosy modernism, with brightly-hued paintings, bedspreads and furniture pumping life into otherwise neutral furnishings. The real selling point, however, is its roof terrace. One suite has its own private terrace but other guests still get the views at breakfast, especially in the summer when the breakfast room spills on to the main terrace." Independent 05
"Glassed off from the street bustle, the tiny reception of Il Palazzetto (the building which houses the Wine Academy) leads to a remarkable wrought-iron and marble staircase. And with only four guest rooms, the place will feel as though it's all yours.
This island of serenity and elegance lies in the heart of the Roman tourist beast, only a few short metres from the Spanish Steps. In fact, the view from the terrace onto the 18th-century landmark is absurdly perfect - you're the envy of every tourist who looks at you as if to ask: 'How'd you get there?'
The private spaces are quiet and airy. King-size beds are swathed in voluptuous fabrics and the plasma TV screen is just the right size. The marble bathrooms seem demure but, on inspection, they're quite naughty, with discreetly mirrored walls, large, old-fashioned showerheads that can easily wet two, and a huge bath made for sharing.
...
The restaurant, sheltered in the covered garden, serves wildly tasty traditional dishes given a modern touch by Roman chef Antonio Martucci. So any lovers staying at the Wine Academy will be faced with the eternal question: 'Do we stay here or go out?' Choosing between the Inner Rome and the Outer Rome has never been so difficult." Observer 04
© 1999-2008 Travel Intelligence | Powered by Starfish Luxury Travel Distribution
