ROME — A new hotel steps away from The Roman Forum and next to the Bocca della Verita’ provides a fresh perspective on the relationship between art and a hotel space. This 18th century property is considered a mixed-use hotel under the “Design Hotels” brand name of Marriott.

 “We are all betting on Rome,” says the CEO and Founder of Lab & Hotel Management, Cristina Paini, who opened the hotel in the spring of 2023. She mentioned that there are a lot of other hotels opening in Rome that cater to the traditional market, and that Palazzo Velabro provides a unique alternative to visitors staying in The Eternal City.

 When asked what makes her hotel different, she responded we are “More than a room” explaining their value “along with the unique location, the possibility of choosing between a room or a spacious apartment, the view, the precious service of the staff make us different”. Every aspect of the hotel is designed to make each guest feel at home enjoying the luxury and the history of the city.

 Cristina Paini, a Parma native, spends half of her time in Rome and half in Brescia. She finds Rome to be a picture perfect Italian city she loves the energy and the incredible food. When asked about the challenges of working in Rome Cristina stated, “the fascinating challenge about working and living in Rome is to keep up with the heritage of almost a 3,000-year-old world capital, that has seen so many geniuses, leaders, Popes, artists and innovators and trying to innovate myself in a city that has definitely seen a lot!”

 Cristina started LHM in 2012 after serving as a CEO for a Brescia-based real estate group where she managed luxury and mixed-used hotels. She also worked with the Wyndam Hotel Group International, the world’s largest hotel franchising group. After venturing out on her own with LHM she has become an innovator with boutique properties and the mixed-use market bringing together guest rooms with residential apartments.

 This new hotel model just opened a new exhibition called “The Photography of Luisa Lambri Meets the Drawings of Ettore Spalletti.” The lobby and library of the hotel become a stage for showcasing Italian masters and emerging artists. The show, on display until the end of June, highlights Ettore Spalletti’s geometric forms which float seemingly suspended above a white background, as well as Luisa Lambri’s photography which showcases the relationship between light and architecture.

 Located on the part of the Tiber River where Romulus and Remus reputedly were washed ashore, the original structure was built as a grainery back in the 15th Century. Years later, Pope Pio IX converted the building to residences in the 18th Century, out of goodwill for workers on the Tiber. At this time, the river was closer to the property.

 The property was transformed in the 1960s by the famous Rationalist Architect, Luigi Moretti. Cristina pointed out that there are no corners inside the hotel interior - everything is rounded. Moretti is known for The Fencing Academy at Foro Italico in Rome and the infamous residence complex, The Watergate, in Washington DC. 

 The most recent renovation to the property was completed by Garibaldi Architects. The Milan firm wanted to enhance the historical features of the hotel by utilizing four key elements:  color, wood, marble, and raw earth. Each room feels like stepping back into the 1960s, or to the set of Mad Men, but with ultra-modern features.

 The mixed-use hotel property is made up of 26 design suites and six standard rooms, most of which have amazing views of Palatine Hill and the beautiful garden of the convent next door. The hotel also includes a library, private theater, fitness center, outdoor terrace bar and the restaurant, Apico16.

 Apico16 offers traditional Roman cuisine sourced with local ingredients, including some from the weekend farmers’ market, Campangina Amica, located steps away from the hotel. The chef Tiziano Tanteri is from Sabina in the Provence of Rieti. 

 Cristina explained that “Tiziano is a true artist of the kitchen. His ability to take traditional Roman dishes and reinterpret them in a modern way is unique. Every dish tells a story and manages to keep tradition intact but with an innovative and contemporary touch that always surprises our guests” She also wanted to keep menu prices low to give guests a reasonable option when choosing where to eat and to serve external guests as well. 

 The 26 suites range in size from 30 to 80 square meters and all have a kitchenettes to provide guests a homelike stay when they first arrive in Rome, as well as the ability to cook if desired. Cristina wanted to entice the guests to feel more comfortable enough to extend their stay past the normal 2-to-3-day visit to Rome. 

 Palazzo Velabro provides a welcome alternative to The Eternal City’s existing hotel market. The new mixed-use hotel model provides a space to mix emerging artists with the surrounding the Roman history. 

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