By Anand Holla
Walk into a room at Rome Cavalieri and the visual that awaits you on the other side of your private balcony is the pinnacle of panorama.
Like a super wide-angle, stellar opening shot of a film in cinemascope, the sheer sight grips you in awe and wonder as an expansive breadth of Rome glistens under the ginormous shield of soft golden sunlight, a dense green cover in the foreground – the Eternal City’s etching of an eternal memory.
Set high above the city on Monte Mario, Rome’s highest hill, is the 370-room Rome Cavalieri – the first Hotel in Europe to be part of the exclusive Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts. Opened in 1963, the Cavalieri underwent a $50 million renovation to emerge swankier, shinier, and yet it has always been “an intrinsic part of Rome’s social fabric.”
Staying at this luxury property is bound to be a memorable experience, as much for its staggering views overlooking the Vatican as for its oasis-like ambience nestled in 15 acres of lush Mediterranean parklands. Cut off just enough from the bustling centre of Rome – 30 minutes to Coliseum and 15 minutes to St Peter’s by taxi; the hotel also provides a free shuttle bus service – Cavalieri is poised to pamper you silly with its famed spa, large pools, vast swathes of green in pretty gardens, and of course, the choicest of Italian cuisine.
The subdued exterior, however, doesn’t prepare you for the refined opulence on show inside. The large lobby is replete with ornate lights, exquisite paintings, tapestries and statues. The Cavalieri claims its sweeping art collection, an integral element of its décor, “outshines many museums”. Art lovers will agree.
To name a few, three masterpieces by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, hailed as the greatest Venetian and European painter of his period, grace the lobby, including his ‘Ulysses Discovers Achilles Among the Daughters of Lycomedes’, which is said to celebrate the virtues of eloquence and intellect. An assorted collection of rare and precious French clocks are scattered through the public areas, while a series of awesome Empire bronzes are kept in the Petronius Suite.
The rooms certainly come with a view – choose the Rome-view – and they are matched with cool comforts. The Imperial rooms, for instance, pack in all the ingredients of upper crest indulgences – King-size “floating featherbed” with top-notch linen, luxe marble bathrooms, high-end bathroom toiletries by Salvatore Ferragamo, soundproof double doors, and private balconies to soak in the city.
The suites – Penthouse, Planetarium, Petronius, Napoleon, Corner, Vista and Alcove – take the high-life to another level. Each room of the sprawling Penthouse Suite, for instance, is studded with cool works of art, including a Warhol series.
Sample this further description of the Penthouse Suite by the folks at Cavalieri: “Elevated above the bedroom level is a hydro-massage tub with views through the windows of the Rome skyline. The bathrooms are panelled in precious marble with malachite inlays, while the taps are made of Swarovski crystal. For the ultimate luxury experience in Rome, climb the staircase as the glass ceiling slides open to your private panoramic roof terrace with a gazebo, a solarium, a Jacuzzi and the best views of Rome. The Suite can be extended to include an extra bedroom or a private gym.”
While a handful of dining options such as L’Uliveto restaurant by the outdoor pool seem to be popular with the guests, it is La Pergola – Rome’s leading gourmet restaurant and its only 3-star Michelin restaurant – that is the pièce de résistance of the Cavalieri’s culinary offerings.
The Cavalieri also happens to have the largest conference facility of any five-star deluxe hotel in Continental Europe with a capacity for 5,500 delegates.
Perhaps the biggest win of all though is the Imperial Club situated on the seventh floor. Available to guests who have reserved Imperial Rooms or Suites, the Club features several cozy sitting areas where guests unwind, meet, leaf through a stash of newspapers and magazines, catch up on news or sports on TV, or find peace in tucking into an endless supply of food and beverages at the scrumptious buffet. To pull up a chair at any of the four balconies here, sip on a cold beverage and watch the city lights at night is as much a privilege as dunking into the Grand Spa.
Bubbling with good energy, the 26,900 sq ft-Grand Spa Club follows the great tradition of Roman baths in how it promises to tend to body, mind and spirit. Apart from the sauna and jacuzzis, the spa offers all sorts of rejuvenating treatments, from Ayurvedic healing to Shiatsu finger pressure, from La Prairie’s exclusive Swiss Treatments to
the highlight of the spa that sits in its centre – a refreshing Turkish bath with hot and cold plunge pools.
The chunk of the crowd gathers by the largest of the four swimming pools – three are outdoors – and taking a plunge in this blue beauty while absorbing the verdant landscape around is extremely calming. For more action, there’s hydro massage and whirlpools in striking distance. As for the fitness freaks, there’s a fully loaded Technogym gymnasium with Pilates and Yoga rooms, and also tennis clay courts.
All in all, the Cavalieri offers luxury wrapped and rolled in time-honoured aristocracy that doesn’t seem to have lost its sway even in these modern times of savvy hotels that strive to be in with the trends. It’s a tough task to play Cavalieri’s role of scoring high on elegance and opulence, without once overdoing it.
PANORAMA: A view from the Imperial Club, overlooking the whole city, during day. Photos by Anand Holla
