Palazzo Manfredi

The palazzo's interiors are the work of designer Giorgia Dennerlein and are an eclectic mix of period grandeur and contemporary Italian design. Think bold wallpapers, velvet furnishings and pieces by the likes of Ingo Maurer and Cassina. Up on the rooftop (open all year around), enjoy Chef Giuseppe Di Iorio's refined take on Roman and Campanian cooking at AROMA, accompanied by a cellar of over 600 magnificent labels. The Court cocktail bar, ranked among the world's top 500, occupies a sunken courtyard with the Colosseum and Ludus Magnus ruins as a one-of-a-kind backdrop.

There are 12 rooms and nine suites spread across the palazzo, each individually styled in a collision of old and new: travertine marble bathrooms, oak floors, intricate wallpapers and furniture from Italy's finest design houses. Acqua di Parma toiletries, Bose sound systems and heated floors are standard throughout. For the best view, book one of the aptly-named Grand View Suites in the neighbouring annex; their floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Colosseum and Ludus Magnus below perfectly. Some rooms also include jacuzzi tubs and private balconies, whilst the split-level Penthouse has a terrace that's worth the splurge alone.

Step outside and you're practically standing in the Roman Forum. The Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Domus Aurea are all within a few minutes' walk, and the trendy Monti neighbourhood, full of independent shops, wine bars and trattorias, is a pleasant ten-minute stroll. The concierge can organise private after-hours tours of the ancient ruins, personal shoppers or even a Lamborghini for the afternoon (really). For something more contemplative, the Basilica of San Clemente, with its remarkable three-level archaeology, is just around the corner and rarely overcrowded. And the Colosseo Metro is a mere two minutes away when your legs need a rest.