Palazzo Dama, Rome – An Oasis In The Eternal City
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2 hours ago
A chic Roman palace, in the heart of the city
Kamin Mohammadi enjoys a late summer sojourn to one of Rome’s best boutique hotels
Review: Palazzo Dama, Rome
Summer may be over for most of us but Rome holds on to its hot sunny days a bit longer, making a September break in the Eternal City the perfect antidote to the end-of-summer blues. And yet even September in the city is not for the faint-hearted. For those in the know, the key to surviving – and thriving – hot Roman days of sightseeing, eating and shopping lies behind the discreet entrances and shaded courtyards of the city.
Palazzo Dama is one such secret. Tucked just moments from Piazza del Popolo, this former aristocratic villa offers not only a refuge from the crowds but a transportive experience altogether. Once home to the noble Malaspina family, the palazzo now houses a jewel of a boutique hotel that manages to feel both extravagantly grand and deeply personal – the kind of place where you might imagine slipping into the life of a decadent 19th-century Roman, albeit one with a penchant for contemporary art and impeccable air conditioning.
The pièce de résistance? The garden and its swimming pool. A lush, fragrant sanctuary of lemon trees and palms, with a turquoise pool at its centre, it feels like a portal to another world. There are striped sun loungers and pale linen parasols, and an atmosphere that’s more Riviera than city break.
Come mid-afternoon, when the Roman sun is at its most unforgiving, and, Aperol in hand, be cooled by the dappled shade and the promise of a post-swim nap. Inside, the interiors are a lesson in eclecticism done right. Think velvet banquettes, Pop Art pieces rubbing shoulders with antique mirrors, lacquered coffee tables, and low-slung Italian lighting that feels more Milan gallery than hotel lobby. It’s all slightly unexpected – a joyful departure from the Roman norm of heavy drapery and museum-like solemnity – yet it works seamlessly, creating a sense of playfulness without sacrificing luxury.
Rooms are vast – no Roman shoeboxes here – with soaring ceilings and parquet floors that speak of the building’s noble past. The beds are gloriously comfortable, swathed in fine linen with cloud-like pillows, and the furniture is a considered mix of vintage finds and bespoke pieces. Bathrooms are equally impressive, all marble and light, with walk-in showers, freestanding tubs, and a generous array of the most delicious cult Italian products that seem to replenish themselves magically overnight.
For deeper restoration, Palazzo Dama’s intimate spa provides a cocoon. Tucked away from the buzz of the pool and garden, it offers a serene retreat of soft lighting and hushed tones. Treatments lean on Italian skincare expertise, with massages and facials designed to revive travel-worn bodies, while the hammam and relaxation area extend the sense of sanctuary.
Palazzo Dama is a love letter to a certain kind of Roman lifestyle – elegant, relaxed, and a little bit louche. It’s the sort of place you dream about long after you’ve checked out, and where a late-summer sojourn in Rome is not just bearable, but utterly beguiling.
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