Opened April 2025
Orient Express La Minerva
Rome, Italy. Orient Express, Accor.
- Opened
- April 2025
- Rooms
- 93
- Operator
- Orient Express, Accor
- Type
- City hotel
Orient Express announced on 8 April 2025 that Orient Express La Minerva, its first hotel in the world, was open, after saying in December 2024 that it would open in spring 2025. It occupies an entire island site on Piazza della Minerva in Rome, steps from the Pantheon.
The building is the 17th-century Palazzo Fonseca, built in 1620 and a hotel since 1811, that hosted Stendhal, Vittorio Alfieri and Herman Melville. Arsenale SpA bought it in 2021 and the artist-architect Hugo Toro restored it. The hotel has 93 rooms and suites, from 25 to 235 square metres, and 36 of them are suites, including four Signature Suites with views of the Pantheon. Rates start from €1,000 a night for a Classic Room and reach €15,000 for a Signature Suite.
Gigi Rigolatto Roma is a rooftop restaurant on the seventh floor with 360-degree views, and La Minerva Bar sits in the lobby under the restored glass and iron roof. The Spa is an underground space of 210 square metres inspired by Ottoman bath rituals, with treatments by Furtuna Skin. The Olimpo Ballroom covers 165 square metres.
“Orient Express proudly announces that Orient Express La Minerva, its first hotel in Rome, is now open.”
The operator’s wording, read on its own page and last checked 1 November 2026.
Photographs
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Rooftop terrace of Gigi Rigolatto Roma, with views across Rome. Photo: Orient Express -
Living room of the Orient Express Suite. Photo: Orient Express, Alexandre Tabaste -
Bedroom of the Stendhal Suite under its frescoed ceiling. Photo: Orient Express, Alexandre Tabaste -
The Spa. Photo: Orient Express, Alexandre Tabaste -
The Olimpo Ballroom. Photo: Orient Express, Alexandre Tabaste
The facts
Each line links to the operator's page it was read on.
- Rooms
- The hotel has ninety-three rooms and suites, ranging from 25 to 235 square metres, including thirty-six suites, among them four Signature Suites with views over the Pantheon and the Roman skyline (hotel FAQ). The April 2025 release says 93 rooms and 36 suites. Source
- Designer
- Restored by the artist-architect Hugo Toro, with a design identity that appropriates Art Deco codes while remaining rooted in Roman architecture. Bedding is by Rivolta Carmignani, the linens once used in Orient Express sleeper cars (release). Source
- History
- Built in 1620 as the residence of the Portuguese Fonseca family, the 17th-century palazzo formerly known as Palazzo Fonseca has welcomed guests since 1811 and hosted Stendhal, Vittorio Alfieri and Herman Melville. Arsenale SpA acquired it in 2021 (release of 4 December 2024). The statue of Minerva was sculpted in 1854 by Rinaldo Rinaldi. Source
- Address
- Piazza della Minerva, 69, 00186 Rome RM, Italy. The hotel occupies an entire island site, steps from the Pantheon. Reservations +39 06 99 74 81 80. Source
- Dining
- Two dining addresses. Gigi Rigolatto Roma is a panoramic rooftop restaurant and bar on the seventh floor with 360-degree views over the Vittoriano and St Peter's Basilica. La Minerva Bar in the lobby sits under the restored glass and iron roof. The April 2025 release gave Gigi Rigolatto's public opening as May 2025. Source
- Spa
- An underground wellness space of 210 square metres, inspired by Ottoman bath rituals, with hammams and Turkish baths and treatments using botanical formulations by Furtuna Skin. A fitness facility is on the first floor. The SPA opens 9AM to 8PM and was unveiled in a February 2026 news item. Source
- Rates
- Rates start from €1,000 per night for a classic room, rising to €15,000 for the Signature Suites with views over the Pantheon (hotel FAQ). The December 2024 release gave classic rooms from €1,000, suites from €2,500 and Signature Suites from €3,500, breakfast included. Source
- Website
- orient-express.com
