Martius Private Suites Hotel
Cardinal win
Paces from the Pantheon
Once home to counts and cardinals, Rome hotel Martius Private Suites Hotel pairs the pedigree of a palazzo with the privacy of serviced apartments. This set of eight sumptuous suites are part of the Palazzo Lavaggi, built during the Renaissance and remodeled in 1830 for a family of blue-blooded Sicilians. Soaring ceilings, plush fabrics and grand bathrooms come as standard, and the largest suites have period features like frescoed ceilings and walls clad in coloured marble. No less impressive is the location: walk through a charming courtyard and set of thick wooden doors, and suddenly you’re on a cobbled street in the heart of the centro storico – you can stroll to the Pantheon in five minutes, the Trevi Fountain can be reached in under 10. Landmarks aside, you’ll also have some of Rome’s best wine bars, delis, pizza parlours and restaurants right on your doorstep.
Facilities
Rooms
Eight rooms and 11 suites.
Checkout
11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 2pm.
More Details
Rates include a Continental breakfast, which is delivered to your room each morning. You can also pick and choose from the à la carte menu (at an extra cost), which includes eggs, omelettes, bacon and toasties.
Also
The hotel’s historic layout and lack of adapted rooms makes it unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Free Internet Access
Laundry
Room Service
At the Hotel
Cocktail bar, Free WiFi throughout, laundry. In rooms: flatscreen TV; minibar; Nespresso coffee machine; tea and a kettle; Ortigia bath products.
Our Favourite Rooms
They might be the priciest of the lot, but the Deluxe and Presidential Suites are well worth splashing out for. Quite literally fit for the counts and cardinals that once lived in them, these suites lay claim to the best of the palazzo’s period features, including elaborately frescoed ceilings and walls clad in coloured marble. In some, the bathrooms are encased in a golden structure that meant no extra interior walls needed to be added, ensuring every detail of the ceiling is visible.
Packing Tips
A silk dressing gown will chime well with the suites’ aristocratic air.
Also
Palazzo Lavaggi is still owned by a family with an old name, continuing its long history of hosting notable residents. Previous inhabitants include famous men of arms, several cardinals, and the poet-playwright Vincenzo Monti.
Children
All ages are welcome. Babysitting is available from €40 an hour; three days’ notice is needed when booking.
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
Breakfast is delivered to your suite at a time of your choosing.
Dress Code
You’ll be having breakfast in your room, so it’s dress as you please.
Hotel Restaurant
There’s no restaurant at the hotel, but many of the centro storico’s best eateries are within walking distance.
Hotel Bar
Mademe Cocktail Bar, with its nineteenth-century ceiling, fountains, and tasteful artwork, is the perfect place to unwind after a busy day in the bustling city, offering bellinis, rossinis, and kir royals to be enjoyed.
Planes
Rome Ciampino is technically the closest, but you’re more likely to be arriving at larger Fiumicino, one of Europe’s busiest hubs. There are direct flights to the latter from all over Europe and many larger US destinations. From Fiumicino, it’ll take around 45 minutes to drive to the hotel; give our Smith24 team a call if you’d like them to arrange flights and transfers for you.
Trains
Rome’s main station, Termini, is 5km from the hotel. High-speed Trenitalia services arrive there from Milan, Venice, Naples and Florence. Once you’re at Termini, hop on the A-line metro and ride it three stops to Spagna, a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
Automobiles
Navigating Rome’s busy roads is a bit of a sport – sudden lane changing, speeding and liberal horn use are par for the course here. Many people get by without a car, but if you do want to bring one, be aware that the hotel’s within one of the city’s restricted zones. Private vehicles are banned from 6.30am–7pm Monday to Friday, and 10am–7pm on Saturday; if you’re caught behind the wheel, you’ll face a hefty fine. The closest secure car park is 10 minutes away, and costs €40 a day.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
Most guests use the hotel as an opulent base from which to explore the Eternal City – after all, the Pantheon is a five-minute walk away, the Trevi Fountain a mere seven. The hotel’s proximity to the city’s best bars and restaurants is second to none, but that’s not to say you’ll want to leave in a hurry – the grandeur of the larger apartments rivals any cocktail bar in the city, making them a worthy spot for sundowners. For everything else, speak to the concierge team, who are only too happy to arrange gelato-making classes, private tours of the Vatican and wine-tastings in the surrounding hills.
Many a tourist has spent long, hot hours trudging from one iconic Roman landmark to the next, which isn’t necessarily the most enjoyable way to see the city. If you prefer to rest your feet and like to feel the wind in your hair, consider a Vespa tour, which will give you a snapshot of the city’s most famous sights in a quintessentially Italian fashion. However, it is worth making the effort to walk to the Pantheon (it's practically next door). Once you’ve looked inside the vast, open-topped dome, cross the square to Antica Salumeria, a traditional deli crammed with cured meats, fine cheeses and all the building blocks of a rustic Italian meal. Most of the products are meant to be taken home, but they also have tables set up for sampling antipasti platters and sipping Aperol spritzes. Set in meticulously maintained grounds that are owned by the Vatican, the American Academy was established at the end of the 19th century by a group of American artists, sculptors and architects. Thanks to its famous scholarship program, the academy has played a role in the development of some of the most distinguished American artists of the last century, including poets, painters and sculptors. The academy hosts concerts and cultural talks in Villa Aurelia, originally built as the palatial home of a cardinal.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
