This Rome Hotel Was Designed By Challengers Director Luca Guadagnino

2 weeks ago

Inside the newly reopened Palazzo Talìa

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Nestled in the heart of the eternal city, Palazzo Talìa is a 16th century palazzo that has housed humanists, cardinals, nobles and even ancient Roman gods throughout its illustrious history. Reopening as a hotel after a sensitive three-year overhaul, the Palazzo is now home to the first hospitality project by Studio Luca Guadagnino, the interior architecture studio founded by Oscar nominated director Luca Guadagnino, with film projects like Call Me By Your Name (2017), Bones and All (2022) and Challengers (2024) catapulting him to fame. Here’s a peek behind the curtain.

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Palazzo Talìa’s lobby, designed by Studio Luca Guadagnino

Palazzo Talìa: Luca Guadagnino’s Studio Designed This Rome Hotel

Blending timeless elegance with modern comforts in the heart of Rome, Palazzo Talìa is a real sight to behold. An architectural masterpiece for centuries on the outside, the hotel’s innards have been brought right up to date thanks to a sensitive three-year restoration spearheaded by a trio of Italy’s finest artisans, carefully selected by the Federici family behind the business: Studio Luca Guadagnino, MIA Home Design Gallery, and Laura Feroldi Studio. Timeless elegance is the order of the day, with architectural heritage framed by new embellishments, and the building’s rich tapestry woven through every article.

Bar Della Musa, designed by Studio Luca Guadagnino

The Public Spaces

Helmed by the Oscar-nominated director, Studio Luca Guadagnino is behind the interiors of Palazzo Talìa’s Tramae Restaurant (helmed by Chef Marco Coppola and dishing up Roman dolce vita), Bar Della Musa and the wellness spa, celebrating timeless opulence, chromaticism and craftsmanship across the board. With the Federci family – specialists in construction and real estate, but fueled by a passion for the arts – deeply invested in the Palazzo’s restoration, the interiors are a true marvel, providing an unparalleled sensory experience that captures the grandeur and sophistication of Rome itself.

It’s the Studio Luca Guadagnino team’s first venture into hospitality, and guests can expect to see a statement central staircase, guided through the spaces by a monumental floral carpet. Guadagnino’s team is also behind the careful restoration of the 248 sqm Magna Hall, a magnificent event space adorned with 18th-century frescoes by painter Gaspare Serenari.

‘What does it mean to undertake a project like hotel interior design?’ asks Pablo Molezún of Studio Luca Guadagnino. ‘Perhaps it’s one of the quintessential expressions of this profession. This is because decorative arts are not only enjoyed by guests but also by the public. The most exhilarating aspect [of this project] was pondering how to intervene in a place so steeped in history and tailor it to a completely different, bespoke garment to breathe new life into the palace.’

Terrace Suite, designed by Studio Luca Guadagnino

The Rooms

Just 26 rooms are available for guests to check into, each unique, designed by Marianna Lubrano Lavadera of MIA Home Design Gallery and Laura Feroldi Studio, while Studio Luca Guadagnino took charge of the special Terrace Suite. The latter is a bespoke room on the top floor boasting peach wood panelling and a 66 sqm plant-filled terrace overlooking the Palazzo’s historic inner courtyard and the monumental San Andrea delle Fratte. An urban oasis brimming with tropical greenery, the Palazzo’s courtyard below was carefully curated by landscape artist Blu Mambor and doubles as a vibrant lounge, home to the bar and some al fresco restaurant seating.

But the best room in the house is the Talìa Suite, a 250 sqm marvel with space for four adults and two children across a Junior and Grand Junior Suite, connected with a scenic Aula Magna. Here, 11-metre high ceilings create the most grand of effects, boasting frescoes, ancient marbles and a wooden choir to boot.

Each of the remaining 24 bedrooms champions the finest Italian craftsmanship: think one-of-a-kind, handmade-to-measure pieces of furniture nestled alongside ancient marbles and statues of the Collegio, creating an eclectic blend of classic and contemporary style.