SimplyAbuDhabi XLIII

On foot, travellers can explore the Diocletian Baths, the National Roman Museum, and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri which are set directly on the square. Guests can meander to iconic locations such as Via Veneto, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, and the fashionable Monti district. Rome offers much more than ancient history and is a destination built on centuries of discovery with something for every traveller. A range of Anantara- curated experiences are available for guests, which range from the Vatican’s gravitas to the ultra-hip, bohemian neighbourhoods of Monti, Trastevere, and Campo dei Fiori. Guests can delight in the hidden scenes of the city of cinema or the lush gardens of the private palaces and villas that make up Rome’s many faces. In colder months, travellers can zip through cobbled alleys on a Roman Holiday, in the style of Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, seated in a double sidecar, or in a vintage Fiat 500 for a romantic tour of Rome’s key sites. Or you can simply explore the hotel itself. Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome itself offers a fascinating architectural history with original elements commissioned by Pope Clement XI for the Vatican in 1705. The building is suspended over the ancient Diocletian Thermal Baths, whose excavated foundations, pools and mosaics can be seen through the lower ground floor. For the Romans, thermal baths were the hub of social life and were embellished with black and white mosaics and decorations, complemented by a gym area, reading rooms and outdoor spaces decorated with fountains and avenues where one could stroll while taking the outdoors in. Originally built in the 4th century, the property extends over 13 hectares and was built to accommodate 3,000 people at one time. The site was delineated by a large enclosure with a main entrance on the north-eastern side and by a large exedra with steps, in line with today’s Piazza della Repubblica (formerly Piazza Esedra). The building was first conceived by pioneering architect Gaetano Koch before becoming the building we know today in the 2000’s, when the property was developed into a luxury hotel, redesigned by architect Maurizio Papiri and completely renovated by Interiorismo Design studio exclusively for Anantara. Redefining luxury The hotel embraces 2,000 y ears of Roman history with aplomb, while offering the epitome of 21st-century cool. Anantara Palazzo Naiadi’s magnificent neoclassical portico opposite the newly restored Fountain of the Naiads is arguably the grandest hotel entrance in Rome and sets the tone for the refined elegance for the interiors. The focal point of the hotel is its soaring lobby, a two-storey confection of white-on-white colonnades and stuccoes topped by an enormous chandelier in Murano glass; its grandeur is tempered by revolving exhibitions of contemporary art and a restrained neutral d cor. With 238 rooms and suites, all set in the late-19th-century main palace and the storied Clementine Wing; their understated earth-tone palette, stately neoclassical style, high ceilings, thick carpeting, and careful soundproofing create an inviting retreat after a day touring Rome. Extra touches like a welcome pastry, lavender linen scent at turndown, and fresh flowers are indulgent perks within the higher category rooms. Should panoramic views be a priority, guests may request a Panorama Room or Duplex Junior Suite while lovers of contemporary architecture will appreciate the Executive Suites. The Presidential Suite offers an unparalleled luxury with palatial interiors and exquisite furnishings. 278 | Simply Abu Dhabi