Zaha Hadid’s last masterpiece: Luxurious Romeo Roma Hotel opens in the heart of Rome

In the historic center of Rome, within a 16th-century palazzo, the five-star Romeo Roma hotel has opened its doors — already earning a spot on the Prix Versailles list of the “Most Beautiful Hotels in the World 2025” for its exceptional architecture and design.

This project seamlessly blends top-tier design, gastronomy, and wellness, setting a new standard for luxury travel, reports NYP.

A Historic Setting Near Piazza del Popolo

Located on prestigious Via di Ripetta, just steps from Piazza del Popolo, the building was originally the palace of the Serroberti-Capponi family. Purchased in 2012 by entrepreneur Alfredo Romeo, it has since served various roles — including as headquarters for the Jesuit journal Civiltà Cattolica and offices for the Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority.

Architectural Magic by Zaha Hadid

Although Zaha Hadid passed away in 2016, her firm, Zaha Hadid Architects, completed the project. Due to the building’s protected status as a historic monument, many original elements could not be altered.

To reconcile old and new, the architects designed a unique “second skin” — a futuristic interior embedded within the original walls. Flowing lines, vaulted ceilings crafted from black Macassar ebony, marble, steel, and brass conceal smart-home systems, creating a striking space in dialogue with Renaissance frescoes and ancient Roman artifacts.

During renovation, an ancient Roman workshop and wall fragment were discovered and carefully preserved beneath a glass floor in the hotel’s pool area. The pool itself is a masterpiece: it begins inside the spa, extends beneath a footbridge, and ends in the courtyard, where the transparent bottom reveals the 2,000-year-old Ripetta port below.

Museum-Quality Interiors

Romeo Roma offers 74 rooms, each a distinct work of art. The décor features furniture from B&B Italia, Poltrona Frau, and custom pieces by Romeo Design. Five suites showcase authentic Renaissance frescoes alongside contemporary artworks by Francesco Clemente, Mario Schifano, and Christian Leporini.

Room rates start at $2,950 per night. Access to the hotel is exclusive to guests, with exceptions made only for visitors to the restaurants and spa.

Gastronomy by Alain Ducasse

Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse has opened his second restaurant in Italy at Romeo Roma. Guests can enjoy tasting menus of four, six, or nine courses featuring seasonal Italian ingredients. Highlights include blue Mediterranean lobster with red berries and rhubarb, and a chocolate and coffee dessert from Alain Ducasse Manufacture paired with buckwheat ice cream.

The courtyard restaurant Il Cortile serves Italian classics, while Il Bar and La Terrazza — an open-air bar with panoramic views of the Eternal City — are in partnership with champagne house Krug.

Luxurious Wellness at La Spa Sisley Paris

French brand Sisley Paris curates the hotel’s spa program, offering legendary facial and body treatments, a salt room, hammam, aromatic shower, and a “floating” relaxation chamber for total rejuvenation.

Romeo Roma is more than a hotel — it is a unique journey through time, merging ancient Rome, the Renaissance, and the bold future envisioned by one of the world’s most innovative architects.