< ITALY | ROME: Hotel d’Inghilterra

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The building housing Hotel d’Inghilterra dates back to mid-15th century and originally served as guesthouse for the visitors to Princes Torlonia’s palace located across the street. The square was used to park their carriages, and the fountain to wash them. At that time Rome’s guest accommodations were concentrated in this area, which was prevalently inhabited by foreigners. It seems that the adjacent Via Borgognona derives in fact its name from a colony of Burgundians who lived here from early 1400 onwards.

Carriages entered Rome from the ancient Via Flaminia and Via Cassia, going through Porta del Popolo. Only later on, with the advent of the railways, did the hotels move to the district around today’s Termini Station.

In the 19th century the building development favoured by Pope Pius IX produced radical alterations in the whole district. In 1845 the building became a hotel with the name of Hotel d’Angleterre because the English poet Keats, who lived on the nearby Piazza di Spagna, was attracting here numerous countrymen.

One of the first celebrities who stayed at the new hotel - at that time considered avant-garde because each room had its own fireplace - was the Italian patriot Vincenzo Gioberti who addressed the Romans from one of its windows in 1848 to incite them to fight for their independence. A plaque at the entrance recalls the memorable visit of Pope Pius IX on July 2, 1855, the only instance of a Pope ever leaving the Vatican, in order to meet “His Most Faithful Majesty Don Pedro V King of Portugal”. Another plaque records the stay of Sienkiewicz, author of the famous novel “Quo Vadis”.

From the very beginning the hotel was considered fashionable and was patronized by the nobility and the international society. Later it became the center of the Rome of D’Annunzio, which gravitated between Via Condotti, Piazza di Spagna and Via Bocca di Leone. Innumerable illustrious guests have stayed here over the last 150 years, including Franz Listz, Hans Christian Andersen, Henry James, Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway, up to the recent visit of H.R.H. the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who signed the Hotel’s Golden Book celebrating its 150th anniversary. The logo of the hotel is actually inspired by the British Royal Family’s coat of arms and bears testimony to the centuries-old connections to the Royal House of Windsor.

The Hotel d’Inghilterra enjoys superb advantages from its magnificent location in the heart of fashionable Rome, from its fascinating atmosphere and above all from its historic and cultural traditions. This has always been considered a mythical residence and it continues to host celebrities from the world of culture and the arts. The intimate and warm surroundings make guests feel at home, enjoying efficiency and comfort. Good taste and attention to details are shown by the antique furniture and decorations, cared for by a full-time restorer. A splendid collection of Neapolitan gouaches displayed in the lounges contributes to the beauty of the place.

The marvelous terrace adjacent the Penthouse suite looks out over a postcard view of the Roman roof tops and is often used for exclusive cocktail parties. The hotel’s new food experience “Cafe’ Romano” is an elegant ambience, decorated by contemporary works of art, is a a favourite hangout for a sophisticated snack, for a break during shopping in the exclusive boutiques of the area (Via Condotti, Via Borgognona, the Spanish Steps, Via del Babbuino), and an opportunity to mingle with the city’s élite.

The Menu offers a tour of the high level Mediterranean cuisine. Cosmopolitan opening hours, from 10 am until after midnight, every day of the week. The prestigious meeting rooms set up in the 17th century Palazzo Torlonia in front of the hotel, are available for business meetings, press conferences and exhibitions.

The 88 rooms and suites, fully air-conditioned, are all different, with varying decors, period furniture and precious tapestries creating elegant combinations of prints and colors. All bathrooms are in marble and have been restructured to provide modern and efficient facilities.

The Hotel d’Inghilterra is a refined example of the philosophy of hospitality which characterizes charming hotels: to combine style and maintenance of our architectural heritage with exclusivity and efficiency of service in the best Italian hotel traditions.

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