The Eternal City is no stranger to reinvention. Across centuries, palaces have shifted from noble homes to government offices, from artists’ retreats to cultural salons. Yet few transformations have carried as much anticipation as the arrival of Orient Express La Minerva, which opened its doors on April 7.
This is not merely a hotel. It is the first Orient Express hotel in the world, a bold new chapter for a legendary brand that has long stood as a symbol of glamour and discovery. Its address alone, Piazza della Minerva 69, just steps from the Pantheon, places guests at the center of Roman history, with ancient stones and Renaissance façades forming its immediate neighbors.
La Minerva inhabits a 17th-century palazzo known historically as Palazzo Fonseca. Over centuries, its marble halls echoed with the voices of aristocrats, statesmen, and writers on the Grand Tour. Long before luxury brands redefined hospitality, this address was already a discreet stage for encounters between intellect and art.
The renovation, entrusted to architect-artist Hugo Toro, respects this layered past. Original frescoes have been uncovered and restored, marble columns polished to a soft sheen, and the central dome now floods the lobby with natural light. Presiding over it all is the statue of Minerva, goddess of wisdom, who seems to guard this new temple of hospitality.
Toro’s interiors elevate the romance of the Orient Express brand into tactile detail. The hotel offers 93 rooms and 36 suites, each singular in scale and decoration. Many suites open directly onto views of the Pantheon and Piazza della Minerva, a luxury that ties the guest experience to the city’s heartbeat.
“Opening the doors of Orient Express La Minerva marks a powerful moment in our journey,” said Gilda Perez-Alvarado, CEO of Orient Express. “Rome, with its layered beauty and bold character, offers the perfect canvas to reimagine the legacy of Orient Express through new purpose and experience — where Romans gather, and international aesthetes unite.”
Inside, wardrobes are clad in woven leather, nightstands resemble vintage steamer trunks, and bathrooms are sculpted from gleaming travertine. Beds are dressed in Rivolta Carmignani linens, the same fabric once used in Orient Express sleeper-cars. Corridors whisper with hand-painted tiles, while public spaces mix plaster, fresco, and contemporary art. It is a design ethos that feels at once timeless and vividly of the present.
“With Orient Express La Minerva, we are inaugurating the very first Orient Express hotel in the world, giving shape to a new concept of ultra-luxury hospitality,” said Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenal Group, the Orient Express’ development partner. “This project combines the identity of a legendary brand with the entrepreneurial vision of Arsenale… transforming iconic places into world-class destinations.”
Hospitality here extends beyond guest rooms. On the ground floor, the La Minerva Bar lies beneath the palazzo’s glass dome, framed by original marble columns. It is an all-day gathering place, equally suited to a morning espresso, an afternoon aperitivo, or a nightcap that lingers past midnight.
Above, the rooftop unveils Gigi Rigolatto Roma, a restaurant and bar that delivers Rome in 360 degrees. From its terraces, the domes and rooftops of the Eternal City stretch out in golden light — the Pantheon close enough to touch. Soon, Mimi Kakushi, the acclaimed international dining concept, will add its cosmopolitan flair to the mix.
Event and meeting spaces, including the Olimpo Ballroom and carriage-inspired salons, make La Minerva a stage for celebrations and gatherings. From private weddings to global conferences, these venues ensure the hotel remains as much a Roman cultural hub as a luxurious retreat.
What sets Orient Express La Minerva apart is not only its design or cuisine but its vibrancy. To stay here is to take part in Rome’s renaissance, where history is not merely preserved but lived.
“In a period of renaissance for the city, Rome is the ideal setting for a global project aimed at creating an authentic, memorable, and personalized luxury hospitality experience,” said Giampaolo Ottazzi, general manager of Orient Express Hotels Italy. “With La Minerva, we restore a historic stage to the city that for years has been a refuge for renowned intellectuals and artists.”
Reservations and details are available through the hotel’s official site: laminerva.orient-express.com. Guests can explore images of the restored palazzo, discover culinary menus, and preview suites overlooking the Pantheon. For those drawn by the Orient Express name — long synonymous with romance and adventure — La Minerva offers a chance to experience that spirit in the heart of Rome.
In Rome, every corner tells a story. With Orient Express La Minerva, an old palazzo tells a new one, of heritage reborn, of luxury reimagined, and of timeless discovery awaiting those who step inside.
