The hotel’s common areas showcase a bold interplay of historical and modern elements. Studio Luca Guadagnino’s approach was reverent yet innovative, preserving the architectural splendour while injecting a cinematic flair, a hallmark of its creative ethos. The use of luxurious materials such as marble, precious woods, and mouth-blown mirrors harmoniously complement the palazzo’s Baroque architecture, while pops of vibrant colour inject playful accents. “The project was about striking a balance,” notes project manager Pablo Molezún. “Every detail had to honour the past while embracing the innovations of the present.” Much of the furniture, including sofas and chairs, have been custom-designed by the Studio, enhancing the scheme’s whimsical flair. Others are archival pieces sourced for the hotel, such as the monumental Murano-glass chandelier hanging in the entrance, which was created by Napoleone Martinuzzi in the 1940s.

One of the standout pieces commissioned specifically for Palazzo Talìa is a monumental carpet by Irish artist Nigel Peake and Roman rugmaker Chi Design that guides guests across the palazzo’s hallways. Featuring floral and geometric patterns, it combines soft shades like pink and buttermilk with more intense hues like dark blue and burnt orange, inspired by the palazzo’s restored frescoes including those by 18th century painter Gaspare Serenario in the Magna Hall, a resplendent space on the first floor with a soaring 11-metre-high ceiling, chequered floor and ancient Roman busts lining the walls that can be used for private events.

The 25 rooms and suites by Marianna Lubrano Lavadera and Laura Feroldi, who also designed the bespoke carpets in the corridors, echo Studio Luca Guadagnino’s artful blend of past and present. Modern four-poster beds, ottomans in pink and mauve hues, and colourful bathroom tiles, all custom-designed for the hotel, create spaces that are both contemporary and steeped in history. Each room is further elevated by carefully curated details such as sconces made of handmade blown glass, striped brown-and-ivory wardrobes, and photographs from the Federici family’s contemporary collection. At the pinnacle of this design ethos lies the Guadagnino-designed Terrace Suite on the palazzo’s top floor, where wood-panelled walls, bespoke rugs, and a green marble-lined fireplace converge in a harmonious display of luxury, crowned by its pièce de résistance: a private terrace overlooking the timeless Roman skyline.

Tramae, the hotel’s restaurant, is a French bistro with a distinctly Roman sensibility, where Executive Chef Marco Coppola invites diners on a culinary Grand Tour of Italy. Blending regional flavours with seasonal ingredients, the menu celebrates tradition and innovation in equal measure. The design of the space is more subdued in colour than the vibrant common areas, but no less captivating. A bronze and copper coffered ceiling, walls clad in Murano glass mirrors, and decorative stucco portals by Mauro Peverada create an atmosphere of understated elegance.

For a more intimate escape, the Bar della Musa offers an atmosphere of refined seclusion. Its silver-tiled bar counter serves as a shimmering backdrop, enchantingly reflecting the historic frescoed ceilings above. Glazed lava-stone tables by Rosario Parrinello enhance the bar’s sophisticated allure, as do its signature cocktails inspired by the Muses—including the raspberry-infused Clio, the zesty Calliope, and the sage-and-pistachio-flavoured Melpomene.

A lush terrace nestled within the palazzo’s inner courtyard serves as both a bar lounge and an outdoor dining area, offering a serene oasis amid the city’s lively bustle. This tranquil retreat perfectly encapsulates Palazzo Talìa’s essence—a sanctuary that is as vibrant and multifaceted as the eternal city it calls home.