Il Palazzetto, Rome, Italy
Il Palazzetto 5 Stars
"Intimate, lavish and right next to the Spanish Steps, this intimate four-roomed boutique hotel attracts vinophiles galore."
Hotel Overview
Review of Il Palazzetto, by Jeroen Bergmans
Plush but intimate, Il Palazzetto feels more like a private residence or a smart members' club than a Rome boutique hotel. With only four, spacious rooms, it oozes exclusivity and its prime location right by Rome's legendary Spanish Steps makes it the perfect pied-a-terre for a romantic, Roman Holiday-style trip to the Eternal City. In fact, Il Palazzetto's palatial proportions and magnificent setting was used as the set for The Siege starring Halle Berry.
The facilities
Built in the 16th-century by an aristocratic Roman family, Il Palazzetto's grand interiors had fallen into ruin by the 1980s when it was salvaged by Roberto E. Wirth, owner of The Hassler, one of Rome's most famous luxury hotels. An accomplished wine connoisseur, Wirth turned the ground floor into the International Wine Academy of Rome where acclaimed wine journalist Ian D'Agata lectures aspiring sommeliers and wine-buffs on the vast range of excellent vintages produced in Lazio and Umbria.
Up the magnificent spiral staircase a cosy restaurant with a library lined with books on wine and a roaring fire in the winter months serves up excellent, gourmet Italian fare. In the summer guests dine on the verdant private patio of Il Giardino in the shadow of the Spanish Steps, peruse the 400 wines on the impressive wine-list and sip cocktails on the fifth-floor terrace of the boutique hotel.
The rooms
The four rooms display the distinctive, contemporary classic style of Astrid Schiller who created the look for The Hassler's most recently re-designed rooms and suites. Spacious and luxurious without being frilly or frou-frou, they are all furnished with enormous plasma TVs, a mini-bar packed with (you guessed it) fine wines, and cavernous marble bathrooms with generous showers that can comfortably fit two. Room service may be limited (guests have breakfast at the Hassler next door), but this is not boutique hotel to linger in - the incredible views over the Spanish Steps will inspire you to go out and explore the magic of the Eternal City.
Facilities
Hotel Policies
Rooms
4Who stays here?
This is the place to stay for wine buffs and die-hard romantics.Come for...
- Wine-courses and wine-tasting every evening with the experts
- One of the most exclusive and intimate places to stay in Rome
- Incredible gourmet meals
Not Suitable for...
- Lobby culture - there isn't one
- Peace and quiet - late night revellers on the Spanish Steps can be noisy
Children
Extra beds and baby cots can be added in the rooms, and babysitting is available upon request.Eating in
Chef Vincenzo di Tuoro's florid dishes which mix classic Italian flavours with a contemporary cooking style are one of the major attractions of Il Palazzetto. Eating in the walled garden during the warmer months make a meal here a perfect Roman experience.The Press Say
"This has just four rooms, but a wonderful position overlooking the Spanish Steps. The bedrooms are not large, but they are classy, comfortable and surprisingly quiet." Telegraph 07Reviews
Review of Il Palazetto of the International Wine Academy, by Joanna Monkhouse
Perched right on the Spanish Steps is one of Rome's most intimate places to stay. Il Palazzetto houses the International Wine Academy of Rome, along with its highly regarded restaurant, wine bar, terraces, cosy salons and now 4 desirable rooms.
The facilities
Were it not for the lack of room service, the setting of the Palm Court Garden for breakfast is idyllic in the summer months, as is the Salone Eva in the winter and the fabulous location in the heart of Rome's fashion district which demands to be visited, it would be tempting to stay put for your whole stay. More like a private club come private home than a boutique hotel, Il Palazzetto of the International Wine Academy is one of Rome's most inviting havens. The restaurant nestles during warmer months beneath large umbrellas, shading diners from both the sun and inquisitive onlookers. The wine list is the most extensive in Rome.
The rooms
Redolent of the most recently renovated rooms at the Hotel Hassler, Il Palazzetto's rooms are decorated in the trademark style of the wife of the owner of both these hotels: a chic, contemporary take on classic, richly luxurious yet not overstated. Rome is not a city of spacious rooms, but these are perfectly big enough for an indulgent weekend. The high, kingsize beds have a multitude of carefully stacked scatter cushions just crying out to be swept onto the floor. Further treats include a plasma screen tv, a minibar stocked with a thoughtful selection of vino and, of course, the view - you couldn't be any closer to the Spanish Steps without joining the throngs congregated on them, enviously admiring your position.
The marble bathrooms have a multitude of mirrors, huge shower heads, large baths and luxurious supplies. The glass fronted entrance from a small side street off Piazza di Spagna leads to a marble staircase with an art-nouveau wrought iron balustrade. The rooms lie at the top of the four-story Palazzetto, above the Academy and the public areas, with easy access from the rooftop exit across Piazza Trinita dei Monti to the Hassler.