Palazzo Manfredi

Character and identity

A 17th-century palazzo built atop the Ludus Magnus, the gladiator training grounds, Palazzo Manfredi sits directly opposite the Colosseum yet just off the tourist crush. Still owned by Count Goffredo Manfredi, it functions more as a grand private residence than a hotel: 14 rooms, a reception lined with ancient maps and Chesterfield armchairs, neo art deco interiors with original art, mid-century chandeliers and parquet floors. The Michelin-starred rooftop Aroma, under chef Giuseppe Di Iorio, looks straight onto the amphitheatre, while ground-floor lounge The Court mixes cocktails from Matteo Zed against the same view. Service is formal and old-school.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you're paying for is the address: a Colosseum view from your bed, your aperitivo and your tasting menu, in a 14-room palazzo where the count's name is still on the door. Book a Grand View Suite if the view is the point (some include a hot tub), reserve Aroma well ahead, and remember the same-day cancellation fee is steep.