A jewel of luxury and history in the heart of Rome, designed by director Luca Guadagnino
Nominated for an Oscar for Call Me by Your Name, for a Golden Globe for I Am Love, and winner of the Silver Lion in Venice for Bones and All, Luca Guadagnino doesn't limit himself to creating only cinematic worlds.
His passion for aesthetics and attention to detail also extends to the field of interior design, and with studiolucaguadagnino — his eponymous studio founded in 2017 — he has plunged into the design of the brand new Palazzo Talìa, a luxury hotel that blends past and present into a symphony of beauty.
Recently inaugurated, it is located in the heart of Rome, near Sant'Andrea delle Fratte. Formerly home to the Nazarene College, this 16th-century residence has seen illustrious figures and crucial moments of Roman history pass within its walls. Its transformation into a 5-star hotel with 26 rooms and suites has been shaped by a conservative restoration that has respected its historical legacy. And it is precisely in the contemporary reinterpretation of the hotel's communal spaces and iconic areas that Luca Guadagnino's distinctive style emerges.
His creative hand has designed the restaurant, bar, spa, and even the spectacular Terrace Suite, featuring peach wood paneling, a sloping roof, softly muted hues of pink, a fireplace, a bed fashioned as an alcove, and an extraordinary 66-square-meter terrace overlooking the inner courtyard. With a keen eye for color and collaboration with local artisans, Guadagnino has managed to blend history and modernity into a balanced and visually fascinating whole.
As in his films, Guadagnino has placed particular focus on emotion and aesthetic experience in designing Palazzo Talìa. The hotel's communal areas are meticulously decorated, with bespoke furnishings, one-of-a-kind accessories, and a perennial dialogue between classic and contemporary materials. His vision has transformed the building into a space that is the epitome of timeless elegance and craftsmanship, where every element is designed to convey a feeling of intimately sophisticated welcome.
"I was struck by the idea of working with a director and having a dramatic, unstructured space," said Elia Federici, the engineer at the heart of the project. Guadagnino's ability to reinterpret elegance, with manic attention to detail and a touch of Sicilian modernity, has created a unique environment, capable of surprising even the most discerning guests.
Among the most spectacular pieces created for the hotel is the floral carpet designed by Nigel Peake, a carpeted path that leads guests along the monumental staircase to the main floor. Here, 18th-century frescoes are interwoven with contemporary design elements, creating a dialogue between eras that is the trademark style of studiolucaguadagnino.
Palazzo Talìa is not just a place of luxury, but a multi-sensory experience, where Luca Guadagnino's passion for aesthetics and visual storytelling blends with the art and history of Roman hospitality. The result? A hotel that celebrates the beauty of the past, reinterpreted through the eyes of one of the greatest artists of our time.