Sightsee05822970464
September 9, 2023
This was our second city-break to Rome in the past few years. As experienced independent travellers, we had of course done our 'homework' in advance and were looking for a stay in a centrally located boutique hotel with character. We therefore booked a 3 night stay in a Deluxe Double Room at Palazzo Cardinal Cesi, for £702 through ***********. The Hotel has about 30 rooms and occupies around a quarter of a 600 year old former Ducal Palace, which is now owned by a Roman Catholic religious order (The Salvatorians). The Salvatorians, whom we never saw, occupy the remainder of the building as their Motherhouse & Headquarters. We flew into Ciampino Airport and took a taxi on the 40 minute journey to the Hotel. Taxis are highly regulated in Rome and charge a flat rate fare of 31 Euros from Ciampino Airport to anywhere in Central Rome. Similar flat rate fares (55 Euros) apply from Rome's somewhat larger Fuimicino Airport. Take an official taxi (they are all painted white) from the taxi rank immediately outside the Arrivals Hall. Taxis accept both cash credit card payment. On arriving at this historic pastel-coloured Hotel, it is both discreet and impressive. Around 5 storeys in height, it adjoins the Vatican and is quite literally a 45 second walk from St Peter's Square. Only 'Palazzo Cardinal Cesi' flags hanging from above the huge wooden doorway, give a hint that this is not a Vatican building, but in fact a Hotel. We pressed the buzzer and part of the huge door began to open at a stately pace. There is no need to push the door. Just be patient and it automatically opens inwards. We then stepped through, into an ornate marble vestibule and then made our way up three steps, through double glass doors and found ourselves in the tranquil tree-filled courtyard, which is surrounded by a shady colonnaded arcade, dotted with religious statuary and centred around a water-feature, replete with koi carp. At the far end of the courtyard is the wing which houses the hotel. The Reception is just off the Courtyard. We were warmly welcomed, checked-in efficiently and shown the location of the adjoining Breakfast Room (a vaulted chamber, just off reception). We then made our way to the lift and our room on the second floor, #206. The corridors leading to rooms on each floor, whilst having modern marble floors are rather cold, utilitarian and clinical - a sharp contrast to the splendour of the rest of the building. On entering our room - we were disappointed with the proportions. As a 'Deluxe Room' - and the largest offered at the property - it was very compact. The soaring height of the bedroom was almost exactly the same as the width and breadth of the room - presenting overall as a cube of approximately 4m x 4m x 4m. The shower room was tiny - around 1.5m x 1.5m, which is roughly the size of a WC on an express train. Both bedroom and shower room have marble floors. That being said, we had two large windows, each draped in heavy crimson swags with privacy