Palazzo Talìa

The conversion of a 16th-century palazzo in the center of Rome into a luxury boutique hotel would be a noteworthy event on its own terms — the fact that Palazzo Talìa’s designer was none other than the film director Luca Guadagnino gives it a cultural resonance that few other hotels can match. This is no mere hobby for Mr. Guadagnino, who operates his own design studio. And it’s clear from a glance around Palazzo Talìa’s public spaces that this is serious work. Period architecture and contemporary design are woven seamlessly together, resulting in something greater than the sum of its parts: a hospitality experience that’s genuinely memorable, even unique. And the same can be said of the rooms and suites. The top-floor Talìa Suite is among the finest lodgings in town, but even the relatively humble Superior rooms are handsome and atmospheric, furnished with custom-designed furniture and unique artworks. Meanwhile a spa modeled after a Roman bath adds an extra measure of luxury, as does the restaurant, Tramae, where chef Marco Coppola serves Italian classics made from farm-fresh ingredients.