A modern, elegant lounge featuring a long green sofa, round tables, warm curtains, and abstract patterned flooring. Natural light floods in.

Palazzo Talìa: A Boutique Hotel Boldly Channels Rome's Timeless Allure with Cinematic Flair

Words by Eric David

Rome, Italy

Rome has no shortage of historic palazzos where visitors can explore the city’s artistic and cultural heritage. Once the grand homes of nobility, many have been turned into museums or galleries, while others that remain private residences offer guided tours. Some have even been transformed into hotels, inviting guests to immerse themselves in Rome’s storied past while experiencing its timeless allure. To meaningfully achieve this, it is imperative that they seamlessly straddle heritage and modernity—a delicate balancing act that few manage successfully. The 26-room Palazzo Talìa is one of them.

A cozy room with a soft pink armchair beside a classical marble bust, framed by large windows showcasing an elegant street view.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

A cozy lounge featuring a curved pink chair and sofa, a round wooden table, and a colorful geometric rug against wood paneling.

Terrace Suite. Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

Elegant lounge with arched ceilings, featuring pink and orange chairs on a colorful rug, surrounded by classical busts and artwork.

Magna Hall. Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

Meticulously restored under the stewardship of the Federici family, this sixteenth-century palazzo showcases an extraordinary confluence of design talent. Acclaimed film director Luca Guadagnino has lent its artistic flair to the hotel’s common areas, restaurant, and bar through his eponymous design studio, crafting spaces that merge Baroque grandeur with contemporary sophistication, while architects Marianna Lubrano Lavadera of Mia Home Design Gallery and Laura Feroldi, have infused the guestrooms and suites with a harmonious blend of bespoke craftsmanship and modern elegance. The result is a boutique hotel that doesn’t just preserve history but elevates it, transforming a centuries-old residence into a vibrant, living monument to design and culture.

Elegant lobby with a white sofa, glass doors leading to a lush garden, and vibrant blue floral arrangements on display.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

Built in the 16th century, Palazzo Talìa has borne witness to a rich tapestry of narratives. Once the residence of papal secretaries and cardinals, it later served as an esteemed school whose alumni included diplomats, politicians, and iconic Italian actors Cristian de Sica and Carlo Verdone. When the school closed its doors in 1999, the building's fate hung in the balance until the Federici family, renowned Roman industrialists with a deep passion for the arts, stepped in. What followed was an ambitious, three-year restoration launched in 2021 guided by the vision of merging heritage with contemporary aesthetics. “Palazzo Talìa is about more than luxury; it’s about storytelling,” says Elia Federici, the driving force behind the project. The name Talìa, derived from the Ancient Greek Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry, symbolizes the flourishing of art and culture—a spirit that is palpable in every corner of the hotel.

A serene outdoor dining area surrounded by lush greenery, featuring a white table set with glassware and inviting chairs.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

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.

A grand staircase features elegant design with a decorative carpet in warm colors and a classical statue on the landing.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

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.

Bright, modern living space featuring green velvet chairs, a round mirror, and a wooden window, with warm natural light streaming in.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

A cozy hotel room featuring a bed, red velvet chairs, a round dining table, and a window with sheer curtains, adorned with flowers.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

A stylish living room featuring a deep purple sofa, a colorful side table, and a bouquet of flowers on a patterned coffee table.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

A stylish room featuring a bed, purple armchairs, a colorful block table, and a floor lamp, with an inviting doorway in the background.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

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.

A chic bathroom featuring a marble sink, elegant mirror, botanical wallpaper, and stylish chair against a black and white patterned floor.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

A stylish bathroom featuring geometric patterned tiles, two pedestal sinks, round mirrors, and a freestanding bathtub.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

A stylish hotel room with a green palette, featuring a four-poster bed, plush seating, and large windows with sheer curtains.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

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.

Elegant dining area with white tablecloths, modern decor, soft lighting, and large windows, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Tramae restaurant. Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

Elegant dining table set with glassware and decorative lamp, featuring a textured wall art of leaves and geometric forms.

Tramae restaurant. Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

A chef grates an orange over a dish of pasta on a white tablecloth, accompanied by a glass of red wine.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

A chef in a white uniform stirs pasta with green sauce in a stainless steel pan on a modern stove in a well-equipped kitchen.

Chef Marco Coppola. Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

Elegant restaurant interior with white tablecloths, golden lamps, and a warm ambiance, featuring mirrored accents and soft drapery.

Tramae restaurant. Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

A colorful cocktail with a twist of orange sits elegantly on a marble table, next to a bowl of crunchy snacks and a reflective backdrop.

Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

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.

Elegant café with ornate frescoed ceilings, polished tables, and a shimmering bar adorned with intricate mirrors and vintage lighting.

Bar della Musa. Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.

Cozy cafe interior with frescoed ceiling, pink banquette seating, wooden tables, and floral arrangement by a window.

Bar della Musa. Photography by Giulio Ghirardi.