Villa Laetitia

City Guide: Rome

How to Spend a Long Weekend in Rome, Italy

@heremag

"For a dip into the world of contemporary Roman royalty, a weekend at Villa Laetitia is the only address. The secluded art nouveau villa is a one-of-kind oasis restored by Anna Fendi Venturini of the famed Fendi family, whose innate design sensibility includes contemporary art from her personal collection, Fendi home pieces, and Venturini’s own custom lamp designs."

Rome

"Anna Fendi (of the fashion empire) acquired a fabulous Art Nouveau mansion along the Tiber River with a foresteria, or guest villa, behind it, and has transformed the latter into Villa Laetitia, a 15-room hotel. (There are plans to open seven suites in the main mansion.) Set far back from the street in the meandering gardens and eclectically decorated by Anna and two of her daughters, the compact rooms mix modernism with design pieces from the ’30s and ’40s, ranging from Hoffman-style woodwork to bold black-and-white checkerboard fabrics and antique tiles. Each has a kitchenette, and most have direct access to the garden. Ground-floor public rooms are beautifully restored, with faux marble pillars, ceiling flourishes of stucco angels, and intricate wrought iron balustrades on the grand marble staircase. There are flamboyant chandeliers on every level and glass archways in the Victorian conservatory at the back of the main mansion facing the garden. In keeping with the residential atmosphere, staff are friendly but few. Still, fashion mavens will love the style and the tranquil location, just a 15-minute walk from Piazza del Popolo."

"How did it strike you on arrival?Villa Laetitia exemplifies the epitome of modern Italian style: unashamedly glamorous, a little eclectic with just the right amount of glitz. Owner Anna Fendi Venturini (of the Fendi fashion dynasty) has furnished Villa Laetitia as if it were her own: think potted palms, fur covered stools, and marble busts dotted around the place, because, you know, why not? Nice. What’s the crowd like?Fashion industry heavyweights, beautiful people, and anyone looking for a unique boutique hotel in Rome. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.Each room has its own style. The Anna Deluxe Room is elegant and refreshing, with cool marble tiled floors, big mirrors and airy windows designed to let the light stream in. The room’s white with silver accents, the bed base made from white leather (trust us, it works), the mattress dressed in Frette linen, no less. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Wi-Fi is free, the connection strong. Room service: Worth it?Forget room service; instead, make your way to Villa Laetitia’s Enoteca La Torre, or nip over to the property’s Piccolo Bar for cocktails. Or book in for a cooking course, then host your own private dinner in the ever so glamorous Sala Ozio. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The staff here can arrange pretty much anything for you: they’ll set you up on a bike tour, bring a cot to your room for your baby, pack or unpack your bags, even arrange a private picnic in Rome’s most beautiful gardens. Bottom line: worth it, and why?Villa Laetitia’s one of the most unique spots to stay in Rome: grand, beautiful, and discreet. Staying here is like a trip into another world, and well worth the journey." - Maresa Manara

Q Sps

Google

Superb place ! As the staff rightly say, it is a House and not a Hotel. The hospitality is great, rooms are nicely designed and authentic ! Will definitely come back.

fontenot

Google

To cut to the chase, we would NOT return to this hotel and cannot recommend it to others.||Pros—as many reviews have noted, the old mansion in the quiet Prati neighborhood has been stylishly restored. Our bright, high-ceiling room on the 3rd floor at the front of the building was large and well-furnished. The bed was comfortable and the marble bathroom large and the towels and bathrobes soft. Coffee, tea and water were provided in-room.||Neutral—service was indifferent at best, though we require little so this wasn’t particularly a problem for us. If you are used to high-end service you may be disappointed. We chose the neighborhood because it’s quiet (ironic in light of the rest of the review)—about a mile from the action of the center. This either is or isn’t to your taste.||Cons—the basic function of a hotel is to provide the opportunity for restful sleep—that’s why we chose the Prati—and it is here that the Laetitia failed terribly. The hotel is situated on a very (very) busy artery that runs along the Tiber. With the windows closed the noise was tolerable with earplugs. With the windows closed the room was also unbearably hot because the staff would not or could not (which was unclear) turn on the air conditioning (noted on its webpage as a feature of the hotel). Our choice was between suffocating heat and the sound of a raceway complete with motorcycles and ambulances throughout the night. We were relieved to check out.||For the price we have done better in Rome and so can you.

Addi Regev

Google

The food is exquisite, the wine list superb. The service and atmosphere impeccable. A very special place for a special occasion.

Miguel Manzano

Google

Gorgeous property in a quiet residential neighborhood. Close enough to walk everywhere but expect some healthy distances. We love to walk so it was perfect. Dining room was spectacular and very good breakfast. Excellent and professional service from the breakfast staff. Room was simple and modestly decorated. Now the bad news. The room was dirty. Literally two cm of dust under the bed, garbage from previous guests on the bathroom floor. Very disappointing for a room at 400 euros a night.

Mita R

Google

We had prebooked and stayed in this property for 4 days end of July then again for 9 days in August. Both times we had specifically booked a unit on their noble floor with full kitchen. Our reservation and itinerary clearly stated full kitchen. It was a major inconvenience was that the stove is (not connected to electricity) and does not work. It’s misleading because the hotel brochure inside the room says that some of the units have no stove connected but they will connect if requested. So we believed they would.||It turns out that it is not possible for them to connect the stove or provide a microwave. They did offer to put us on a lesser priced ground floor unit with stove instead, but we stayed on the noble floor. Many things needed repair (door handle was loose and falling off) but the staff was kind and repaired it on the second day. One night there were ants in the bathroom, the staff came and cleaned and sprayed. The switch plates on the wall were loose and almost falling off. The windows had no screens or drapes and did not shut properly. The armoires did not shut properly, and many things are in a state of constant repair. ||Overall, the property had an old-fashioned style, elegant chandeliers crystal glassware decor etc. The gardens and grounds were beautiful but it's not possible to sit outside too long because of small biting bugs. The staff are kind and attentive – they come and make adjustments if you report something.|

Karen M

Google

Amazing place! Grounds were beautiful, comfy beds, cold air, powerful hairdryer, perfect size bath and hair towels. Staff was wonderful and helpful. Breakfast was so much better than expected. Delicious food! On other side of river so a little off the beat and path but close to all of the public transportation. Would definitely stay here again!

nay m

Google

Just recently stayed here from Monday 21st to Wednesday 23rd. The hotel is in a great location only 10/15 minutes in a taxi away from all the sights. Taxi was ranging between 8 and 14 depending on time of day/evening. The room was a nice size decent shower in the bathroom and the bed and sofa bed were both comfy. Only down side to the hotel is there isn't really anything surrounding the hotel in terms of bars shops etc it meant a taxi to St peters or Spanish steps etc.

Dan G

Google

Do not make reservations via Villa Laetitia’s own website. You risk as I did being a victim of unethical “bait and switch” behavior during my December 31-January 8 stay. Instead, book via Trip Advisor, Hotels.com. In early December, I booked a “flexible rate” reservation for my extended family because 2 of my grandchildren had expired passports. In mid-December, renewed passports arrived, and on December 15, I sent an email requesting that the reservation be converted lower rate “non-refundable”. Villa Laetitia initially claimed that they didn’t receive the request. ||After being charged the higher rate, I requested a refund. The hotel claimed that I should have canceled the original reservation and re-booked. Ethical behavior would have dictated that the hotel would respond to my December 15 policy statement. Instead, they inflated their income by US$1,200.

City Guide: Rome

How to Spend a Long Weekend in Rome, Italy

@heremag

Rome