PALAZZO MANFREDI, ROME

#italywithJoe
#booktravelwithJoe
Palazzo Manfredi, Roma

I travel  to Italy frequently and eventually, no matter the region I am visiting, a stop in Rome, city of my birth, is inevitable. Each time I try to spend a couple of nights in different hotels, ones I had never overnighted in , to better understand how they work, how both the physical structure , the rooms, the food services  and the overall feeling would appear to my prospective clients.

Palazzo Manfredi, a five star luxury hotel was a truly outstanding surprise for me. This is a unique structure which deserves consideration for any discriminating traveler spending time in Rome. Here I will borrow and quote from their website, because I could not write this any better or more correctly, and to allow my reader to understand the history behind the palazzo....

"The splendid building of the Palazzo Manfredi began life in the 17th century as the villa of the Evangelisti family, designed by architect Giovanni Battista Mola. It then passed to the Venerabile Confraternita della Ss Trinità dei Pellegrini e dei Convalescenti (Venerable Fraternity of the Holy Trinity of Pilgrims and Convalescents), as commemorated by the two stones on the façade. 

The villa was completely rebuilt in the 18th century, becoming the hunting lodge of the noble Guidi family and, from 1748, this area was known as “Giardino Guidi”. 

In 2002, the villa was purchased by Count Goffredo Manfredi, one of Italy’s most famous entrepreneurs and construction magnates and, thanks to him, Palazzo Manfredi, our superb luxury hotel, was born. In commemoration of the past, and of the distinction of the noble Manfredi family, you can still read today two Latin inscriptions on the turret, “Fortuna duce”, with fortune as guide, and “Virtute Comite”, with virtue as companion, quoting Cicerone’s famous maxim."

As you can now see, and because this is Rome  after all, behind every façade, there is a long history. Entering the lobby, one is immediately warmly greeted as if indeed entering a private abode. To the right a welcoming check in desk, to the left a cozy library with comfortable couches. The brief interview upon check in is to ascertain one's personal needs while staying; pillow choice, favorite newspaper , special requests etc... The structure has been decorated with great taste and fine artwork. It is immaculately maintained and while there, I noticed someone cleaning and polishing the common areas at all times of the day.

The rooms are spacious and very technologically advanced, with touch button window screens, flat screen TV's , some hidden behind mirrors, modern efficient bathrooms and every amenity one can possibly imagine. It is modern, encased in the ancient, yet comfortable, welcoming and yes..cozy and cocooning!

What makes this hotel quite unique and impossible to imitate is its proximity to the Coliseum. I had the privilege and honor in staying in the "Colosseo suite" with several windows facing directly the ancient structure, while just below my windows I could see the ancient "locker rooms" used by the gladiators, and excavated only a few decades ago.  A set of views which will forever be emblazoned in my memory.

While not all rooms offer that spectacular view, all other views are of the areas adjacent to the Coliseum.....spectacular in their own right.

The fifth floor rooftop is a must visit, whether staying at the hotel or not. No other building can offer this unique view. The rear facing terrace is occupied by a small bar and comfortable seating, while the portion facing the Coliseum is used for guests' breakfast in the morning, then lunch or dinner for both hotel guests or the public, meals prepared by a Michelin starred chef.

The restaurant and bar staff is attentive, professional, accommodating and the top in their field. 

This is not a cookie cutter mass market venue, rather this is a luxurious, private enclave with a past and even a future. The owners have purchased an adjacent building which will be connected to the original palazzo by a private walkway and a courtyard. The new suites will all face the Coliseum, giving more visitors the option of having a unique stay while in the eternal city, and increasing the number of rooms  yet maintaining the level of luxury and privacy. Although the restructuring work on the adjacent building was going on while I was there, it was being done in a manner which was imperceptible and not intrusive at all. Not noticeable unless one looked out a side window from a guest room. 

If looking to being pampered, enveloped by modern luxury and resting one's head a stone's throw from a monument thousands of years old, this indeed is the only choice in Rome!

A personal thanks to Hotel Manager Mr. Bruno Papaleo for hosting me and introducing me to this beautiful hotel. 

An additional note: if you contact me to book this hotel, I will be able to provide you with an e try VIP amenity and possible upgrade, if available.

To book: jgandolfo143@gmail.com

Www.palazzomanfredi.com

Via Labicana 125

00184. Roma

Tel. 06 77591380