Hotel with Picasso artworks at Piazza Navona This hotel has 54 guestrooms, all of which feature antique furniture and high ceilings. Color schemes are dominated by ochre yellows and Roman reds. Rooms are decorated with Flemish tapestries and bathrooms feature power showers and Bulgari toiletries. Some deluxe double rooms have balconies. Rooms overlook the small Largo Febo piazza or internal courtyards. The ivy-covered façade gives way to a lobby boasting artworks by Picasso and Miró, as well as classical Roman statuary. Past guests include Robert de Niro and former Italian president, Bettino Craxi. The middle-aged, well-heeled clientele are divided equally between international tourists and upmarket business travellers. A rooftop terrace on three levels has stunning views over St Peter's, the Vittoriano monument and Castel Sant'Angelo. The marble-floored and antique-filled Picasso Restaurant serves seasonal Italian cuisine. There is also a marble-columned fitness centre in the basement.
Concierge tip: The Library on the ground floor has an extensive collection of books on architecture (Richard Meier, Frank Lloyd Wright) and in particular hotel design. Meier is redesigning the third floor of the hotel in 2004, so soon guests will be able to read about his work and see it in action. Books can be taken to rooms or the rooftop terrace on request. A three-tiered terrace level with nearby church domes offering panoramic views of St Peter's, Castel Sant'Angelo, and Piazza Venezia. Breakfast and snacks are served here in summer.
The air-conditioned fitness centre is lined with mirrors and dark green marble columns. A satellite TV entertains visitors who can work out on the six aerobic machines. A small Finnish sauna is adjacent to the fitness room.
The hotel's conference room has grey stone columns and parquet flooring. It seats 40 in a classroom setting. Just outside the conference room is a leather-topped desk where guests can use the laptop for complimentary high speed Internet access. Picasso Restaurant - Located on the ground floor of the hotel, this upmarket restaurant serves Italian/French cuisine to a capacity of 40 diners on glass-topped antique tables and 19th-century, maroon silk-upholstered chairs. The specialty is Tarte Tatin. Breakfast is served here every morning.
The Bar - Situated between the lobby and Picasso Restaurant, The Bar features a special fruit cocktail each month with the fruit of the moment displayed on antique tables. A grand piano offers nightly live music. Snacks, teas, coffees, and alcoholic drinks are served until late. Just off the bustling Piazza Navona, this ivy-clad hotel is a 10-minute walk
