Detailed Review
Built in late 19th century and recently restored, the Bernini Bristol maintains intact the tradition and the splendor of that era. The rooms and the suites decorated with taste and refinement, offer an atmosphere of great hospitality. The antique Hotel Bristol was inaugurated on 28 October 1874, in an area of ancient Rome - Horti Sallustiani - already known for its gardens. The hotel immediately became a hub for members of the European aristocracy. After a complete renovation, the hotel continues to welcome discerning travellers along with guests from the worlds of business, politics, and diplomacy.
Independent Reviews
-
"Roman classic demolished and rebuilt by Il Duce and now rather overtaken by new arrivals"
Built in late 19th century and recently restored, the Bernini Bristol maintains intact the tradition and the splendor of that era. The rooms and the suites, decorated with taste and refinement, offer an atmosphere of great hospitality.
Hotel Bernini Bristol
By Jamie Dunford Wood
When it was first opened in 1874 the Bristol was a handsome building, but rebuilt under Mussolini it turned into something altogether more brutal. Inside, they have tried to retain and recreate the glamour of the original, when it was one of the most fashionable hotels in town, and the juxtaposition is not always entirely comfortable. The ornate reception area is gloomy, with its 'tobacco stain' marble salon, as are the corridors and halls upstairs. The 125 rooms are done up in a variety of colourways, but all the renovated rooms are ornate with the Roman obsession for using plenty of contrasting fabrics - silk flock on the walls, busy patterns in the carpeting, tassles on the bedcovers, swagged curtains and fabric bedheads. The simple limed oak furnishings in the standards (superior rooms) works best - in the deluxe rooms the inlaid repro antiques introduce yet more decorative elements. The 30s windows are shuttered and are generally on the small side, so the rooms are not always very light. On the roof, the restaurant L'Olimpo offers sweeping views of the city.
© Travel Intelligence. All rights reserved
