Lonely Planet Review
Perhaps it's because you're in Rome that you forgive the extraordinary combination of mosaic floors, heavy Baroque furnishings, frescoes and trompe l'oeil that comprises the decor at this eye-catching hotel. The mid-sized rooms, equipped with flat-screen TVs and wi-fi, are themed on the Renaissance artists after whom they're named.
Taste is clearly a personal matter, but hell, we like it here. As you step through the hotel's pretty doorway - the one discreet feature - you enter a wonderland of artistic excess. The fake columns and frescoes might be as genuine as the legionnaires outside the Colosseum, but they're fun and not meant to be taken too seriously. At least, we hope not. Each of the 20 rooms has been individually decorated and boasts its own paintings and modern, marble-clad bathrooms. Pick of the bunch is the top-floor suite. It's expensive but with its two bathrooms, leather couch, jacuzzi and private roof terrace, it's a splurge worth considering. On the communal roof terrace there's a mini-gym with jogging machines and inspirational photos of Sophia Loren. A quick gripe to sign off - rooms are pretty dark.
Review by author
Duncan Garwood