Villa Spalletti Trivelli: A Secret Art-Filled Hotel in Rome

Villa Spalletti Trivelli is a hidden luxury hotel in Rome, located between the Monti and Trevi districts, overlooking the Quirinale Gardens. Built in the early 20th century by architect Domenico Avenali for Gabriella Rasponi, a prominent Italian feminist and descendant of Gioacchino Murat and Carolina Bonaparte (sister of Napoleon), the villa was a cultural salon frequented by figures like Sidney Sonnino and Rabindranath Tagore. Transformed into a hotel in 2004, it operates with a discreet, speakeasy-like entrance—no signs, uniforms, or automatic doors. The property features an open bar beneath a painting by Peter Paul Rubens and his workshop, 16th-century Flemish tapestries, and a library of 10,000 volumes protected by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Guests can prepare their own drinks, dine on family recipes like veal meatballs with lemon and ravioli, and enjoy a wellness area with bio-sauna, hammam, and a rooftop terrace with hot tubs. The hotel emphasizes privacy and personalized service, offering art tickets and guided tours to experience a less touristy Rome.