Palazzo delle Pietre, Rome

The background… I recently toured the Palazzo delle Pietre in Rome and was so impressed. The owner, Carlo Mazzi, the former CEO of Prada, took on a massive renovation of this 15th-century building as a passion project, and the result is an incredibly special new place to stay in the center of the city. 

The vibe… It isn’t quite a hotel: they call these luxury apartments—8 of them, each with a kitchenette—for short or long-term stays. There’s no bar or restaurant, but a front desk, a beautiful little gym, daily breakfast, and really interesting cultural programming that ranges from artist exhibitions to a talk with a Michelangelo expert. 

The rooms… The huge rooms are beautifully appointed with a mix of Roman antiquities and contemporary Italian design alongside an incredible array of rare Caucasian tapestries and modern art from Mazzi’s personal collection. 

Parting words… Like everywhere, the rates fluctuate depending on the room and the season (I’ve seen dates starting in the 500s), but for value and size they are really good, especially when you compare it with the hotels offering a similar aesthetic and vibe, like J.K. Place. The location is excellent—near Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, and across the street from one of my favorite hardware stores.