RESIDENZA NAPOLEONE III ROME
As our driver carefully navigated our car through the narrow, cobbled and crowded streets of central Rome, I was curious about just what this property would be like. Being so unique, I really had no clue of what to expect. We were to stay in the opulent residence owned by Princess Letizia Ruspoli, situated on Rome’s legendary Via Condotti and just moments away from the Spanish Steps. The Residenza Napoleone III is named after Emperor Napoleon III, who lived here in 1830. As we were lead to our suite we passed through huge wooden doors and along an elegant arcade of Doric columns with ancient artifacts on display. Up the majestic marble staircase, lined with antique marble busts of Roman emperors we began to feel a sense of history and royalty, when imagining what it would have been like all those centuries ago. Carefully renovated over time, the ultra luxurious apartment has kept all of its original splendor, with priceless antique furnishings, massive oil paintings, XVI century tapestries, parquet floors and hand-stenciled wallpapers – all completely original.
The Residenza Napoleone III consists of two apartment options: the Napoleone Suite (which has an optional extra bedroom called the Blue Room) and the Roof Garden Suite which has an exquisite and rather exclusive rooftop courtyard garden offering extraordinary views over the weathered terracotta roof tops of the eternal city. We had chosen the very large Napoleone Suite, which consisted of three main areas: two reception/entertaining rooms and a magnificent master suite with a king-sized canopied bed, draped in beautiful fabrics and fine silks. One of the six huge oil paintings in the bedroom forms the headboard while another painting opens to reveal an exquisite marble bathroom. The apartment has also been cleverly modernised to include air conditioning, multi-language satellite plasma TV, video projector with pull out screen in the bedroom, DVD, Bose iPod player, minibar, WI-FI internet access, fax and a room safe. All have been carefully and cleverly hidden from view, behind paintings and hidden doors. The attention to detail is clearly evident, even light switches have been painted over so as to blend in.
Although this is a private residence, there is also a 24hour butler service available to cater to your every whim. Breakfast is served in your suite, silver service style and the turn-down casts a most romantic spell with every candle in every candelabra and chandelier being lit for the evening. Staying at the Residenza Napoleone III is akin to being an exclusive guest in the home of an aristocratic Roman noble family. The overall service is precise but also relaxed. Each guest is welcomed in an atmosphere of warmth and with full respect for complete privacy. To experience the magnificence of Rome in such a grand and rare property was a real privilege and one that I would thoroughly recommend.
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