Octavian Augustus, the first Roman emperor, can now welcome Bulgari’s new hotel from his circular mausoleum in Rome. With this opening, the house returns to its origins, where it all began. The story began in 1884, when the Greek goldsmith Sotirios Boulgaris opened a jewelry store on Via Sistina. His silver pieces were pure craftsmanship, so his fame grew quickly. Behind him, his heirs have taken the brand to maximum excellence.
Six months ago Bulgari opened a new hotel in Tokyo, and just four months ago it did so in Rome, at number 10 Piazza Augusto Imperator, in an imposing rationalist building designed by the architect Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo from the 1930s, and which It was inaugurated as the headquarters of INPS, the Italian Social Security Agency.
The renovation of the hotel is the result of the Italian studio ACPV Arquitectos, which has already been in charge of the brand’s other hotels. The project is inspired by ancient Rome and the figure of Augustus, while respecting the rationalist architecture of the building and seeking the exquisiteness of the brand in all the details. Handmade marble mosaics, furniture upholstery fabrics inspired by iconic Bulgari motifs, Murano chandeliers, marmorino plasters, original Ginori vases from the 1930s made by Gio Ponti…, these are just some of the unique elements that They decorate the hotel spaces.
The circular motifs also stand out as a tribute to the emperor’s mausoleum, from the drawings on the ceiling to the designs of the Fontana Arte lamps, passing through the rounded mirrors in the bathrooms. There is nothing that has been left to chance. At the entrance, a five-meter-high original Roman sculpture of Emperor Augustus welcomes guests as a reminder of the city’s past and as a preview of what to expect inside, luxury and sophistication. Of the brand.
The building has a total area of ??14,000 square meters spread over seven floors, one of which is underground. It has 114 rooms – including the 300 m2 Bulgari Suite – with splendid views of Piazza Augusto lmperatore or Via della Frezza, a small street full of charm. The unifying theme of the project is color interpreted in four different palettes: white, yellow, red and green, and the use of various types of marble in the bathrooms. The richness of the materials is expressed in the marbles: yellow Brocatelle from the Middle East, red marble from Sudan, green quartzite and white marble from Brazil.
As in all Bulgari hotels, gastronomy plays a very important role and is in charge of the three-star chef Niko Romitola. Starting on the ground floor where Il Café is located, a space inspired by the cafes of the belle époque, it is the perfect place to enjoy espresso, a lunch with traditional Roman food or a tasty Sunday brunch.
We can also find the first Bulgari Dolci boutique in Italy, which offers a luxury experience composed of delicious sweets and a selection of traditional Italian pastries. And adjacent to the lobby, the Lobby Lounge is reserved for hotel guests with a menu ranging from afternoon tea to an evening drink.
Il Ristorante–Niko Romito is located on the fifth floor and offers a menu of contemporary Italian cuisine, traditional recipes that have been rewritten focusing on essential ingredients, such as spaghetti with sea urchins, or a tub of vegetables with Parmigiano Reggiano sauce. The restaurant opens onto a large outdoor terrace, with views of the historic mausoleum. It also has a private dining room with capacity for eight people.
On the same floor, the Bulgari Bar is the perfect place for a cocktail. It has a large black marble bar decorated with Murano glass that reflects light, while outside there is a large lounge terrace with its own bar area.
On the hotel’s spectacular rooftop terrace with panoramic views of all of Rome, from Villa Medici and Trinità dei Monti to the Tiber and Janiculum Hill is La Terrazza, a place to relax in the sun during the day or to have a drink. aperitif at sunset. With more than 200 pots of plants and flowers, it is inspired by ancient Roman residences such as the Villa of Livia and Hadrian’s Villa.
The Bulgari Hotel Roma also houses a library with a collection of excellent books on art, design, history and Roman architecture. It will be open not only to hotel guests but also, by appointment, to the general public.
But the Bulgari Spa stands out with 1,500 square meters, this oasis of peace to rebalance body, mind and spirit has nine treatment rooms and a 20-meter indoor pool decorated with brilliant Bisazza mosaics, following motifs used in the Caracalla thermal baths.
