Theodoli Heritage Suite converted from a former bank boardroom at the Corinthia RomeWHAT THE FOX STUDIOOn Piazza del Parlamento, right across from Italy’s political center, a former Bank of Italy building has swapped its vaults and boardrooms for marble bathrooms, gourmet meals, and an underground spa. Designed in 1921 by Pio and Marcello Piacentini, it was the bank’s Rome headquarters until 1961. After that, the building went through several uses before sitting empty for years, becoming one of those impressive Roman landmarks you might pass by without realizing what was inside.The Reuben Brothers, an investment group, bought the property in 2019. Six years later, the palazzo has reopened as Corinthia Rome, which is the Malta-based brand’s first hotel in Italy. The ambitious restoration has given the building a striking new look.Exterior of the Corinthia Rome, a former bank headquarters across from Parliament.WHAT THE FOX STUDIOOne thing that makes Corinthia Rome special is that the designers decided to keep the building’s original character. The London-based firm GA spent four years bringing back its historic features. Now, you can see the mosaic floors again, and the stucco ceilings look deep and detailed. Cornices, marble, allegorical touches, and the building’s old grandeur all help create a dramatic atmosphere.Piazzetta central court at Corinthia RomeJonathan Maloney, What The Fox StudioThe highlight is the old Sala del Consiglio, once the bank’s boardroom where directors made decisions about national monetary policy. Giulio Bargellini’s magnificent frescoes still decorate the walls. Guglielmo Janni’s ceiling shows the history of Italian coins from Etruscan times to the early 1900s. Geometric mosaics cover the floor. Marble busts of Marco Polo, Alessandro Volta, and other Italian figures look down from above, as if they are still waiting for the next important vote.Today, that room is the Theodoli Heritage Suite. It’s the sort of extravagant Roman hotel room that might seem unbelievable until you see it for yourself. Guests sleep beneath a painted ceiling, step through a wardrobe into a bathroom made of onyx and begin their day in a lounge with a grand piano.Theodoli Heritage Suite converted from a former bank boardroom at the Corinthia RomeWHAT THE FOX STUDIOA large tapestry by Elisa Grezzani is displayed alongside works by Francesca Longhini, Alice Faloretti, and Maddalena Negrone. Sketches are shown next to finished pieces, a simple touch that makes the art feel more approachable. Plaster friezes reference the plane trees along the Tiber, and custom Richard Ginori tableware brings design elements from the suites into the hotel’s public areas. The result is a space that feels thoughtfully layered, not commercial.Managing director Danilo Zucchetti tells me “What makes Corinthia Rome unique is that the building already had an incredible story to tell. It is an important part of Rome's history, and our vision was to preserve that heritage while creating a contemporary luxury experience. From the spa, housed within the original bank vaults, to our extraordinary suites and penthouses, each one unique in their own style and décor, we have retained many of the building's defining features, including its marble paneling, frescoes and carved woodwork, ensuring a sense of continuity with its past.” Onyx bathroom in the Theodoli Heritage Suite at the Corinthia RomeWHAT THE FOX STUDIOThe hotel has sixty rooms and 21 suites. Entry-level rooms are around 280 square feet and come with pale green Brescia marble bathrooms, one of more than a dozen types of marble used throughout the hotel. The five-star details feel carefully chosen rather than over the top. You’ll find Frette linens and robes, Lavazza espresso machines, Dyson hairdryers, steamers, minibars stocked with pre-mixed bottled cocktails, and bath products from Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. Each room also has a small library with books on Italian art, culture, and history.Each suite has its own unique character. The duplex Campo Marzio Suite offers plenty of space to relax. The Arte Suite features a spiral staircase that leads to a 750-square-foot private terrace with wide views of Rome, including St. Peter’s dome from the top step. The Chigi Suite on the fifth floor, named after one of Rome’s historic noble families, opens onto a rooftop terrace facing Parliament. At the very top, the Aurea Penthouse, inspired by Nero’s Domus Aurea on the Esquiline Hill, has two bedrooms and a large terrace overlooking the garden lounge.Arte Suite living room with separate dining room at Corinthia RomeWHAT THE FOX STUDIOThe food program stands out, led by Carlo Cracco. He runs a Michelin-starred restaurant in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and is well known from his appearances on Italian television’s MasterChef.Viride is the formal dining room, with 28 seats, parquet floors, green velvet banquettes, and Murano glass chandeliers. Guests can order à la carte or try the ten-course tasting menu for 220 euros, which highlights Cracco’s contemporary Italian haute cuisine. The dishes show precise technique, seasonal ingredients, and just enough creativity to keep the atmosphere relaxed. The wine list is a thick book, featuring Champagne and top Italian names like Gaja and Tenuta di Fiorano.Bar Ocra at Corinthia RomeWHAT THE FOX STUDIOPiazzetta, set in the central courtyard, offers a more relaxed option. The menu focuses on Roman classics like cacio e pepe, carbonara-style rigatoni, Roman-style artichokes, and aged bistecca Fiorentina with roasted potatoes and sautéed chicory. It’s the kind of charming and relaxed courtyard where lunch can stretch on for hours.At night, Bar Ocra takes over. The speakeasy-style room glows with a gold-leaf ceiling, ochre velvet sofas, and an extravagant cocktail menu.Spa pool at Corinthia RomeJonathan Maloney, What The Fox StudioDown in the basement, you’ll find one of the hotel’s most striking features. The old bank vault, once used to store money and secrets, has been transformed into the Corinthia Spa.Many original bank details remain. Mosaic tile floors cover the lower level, and a laurel-leaf artwork by a Roman artist hangs on one wall. The space feels cool, dark, and far removed from the busy city above.The wet circuit takes its inspiration from ancient Roman baths. It includes a warm pool, a cold plunge, a Finnish sauna, a steam room, and an ice fountain. You can relax on heated black-stone beds between sessions. While the setup is loosely based on the tepidarium, calidarium, and frigidarium, the design feels modern and understated. There are three treatment rooms as well.Lobby at Corinthia RomeWHAT THE FOX STUDIOCorinthia Rome stands on Piazza del Parlamento, just across from Palazzo Montecitorio, where the Italian Chamber of Deputies meets. The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and Spanish Steps are all about a ten-minute walk away. The hotel is in Campo Marzio, one of Rome’s liveliest neighborhoods, full of boutiques, artisan workshops, and winding side streets that are great for exploring on foot.Rome now offers plenty of luxury hotels. It is the busiest luxury hotel market in Europe after London, and Corinthia is part of a recent surge of high-profile openings, such as The Rome Edition, Six Senses Rome, and Orient Express La Minerva.Corinthia began in Malta in 1968 and has expanded quickly, with hotels in cities such as London, Lisbon, Budapest, Brussels, Bucharest, and New York. The Corinthia Lake Como, a 58-room hotel in Menaggio beside Italy’s second-oldest golf course, is scheduled to open in 2028. There are also plans for new hotels in Doha, Riyadh, Dubai, and the Maldives.MORE FROM FORBESForbesVenice, Italy: Where To Eat, Stay And Explore Beyond The CrowdsBy Jim DobsonForbesThe 16 Best New Hotel Designs In Europe—According To TabletBy Jim Dobsonhotels in rome