Hotel Lunetta

The building that houses Hotel Lunetta dates back to 1368, and was completely renovated in 2011. There is nothing particularly grand about the place either inside or out, but it has a classy, boutique charm first evidenced in the entryway, with interesting candlestick wall lights, glass elevator, and black-and-white, chess-like floor. There are only a couple of small couches and a flat-screen TV in the lobby area. The highlights of the property are the rooftop bar, with views of the dome of the nearby San Andrea della Valle church, and also the Turkish spa, situated in the foundations of the building where the Theatre of Pompeius stood in 55 B.C. The ancient stone walls are still intact, surrounding the spa’s mineral pools and saunas. There is also a small, cozy breakfast room and bar, but no dedicated restaurant. 

Built within the walls of the Theatre of Pompeius in Piazza Paradiso, Hotel Lunetta is set directly inside Rome’s historic center. Many shops and cafes dot Corso Vittorio Emanuele Il, a few minutes' walk away. Sights such as Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza Navona, Largo Torre Argentina, the Pantheon, and Piazza Farnese can all be reached in two to 10 minutes on foot. Trastevere and the Colossum are about 20 minutes' walk, and Vatican City a half-hour. Anywhere in Rome can be accessed easily by bus or Metro from the Corso Vittorio Emanuele/Piazza Sant’Andrea della Valle stop. Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is a 30-minute cab ride, or about an hour via public transport. 

There are 30 rooms at Hotel Lunetta, and although they are rather small, they are cozy and comfortable. Exposed wooden beams line the ceilings, and the bathroom sinks and tubs have slick, pale-gray marble tile. Decor includes crisp white bedding with pops of red; pale gray armchairs and desk chairs; and dark wood desks. Each room is air-conditioned and has a flat-screen TV, slippers, stocked minibar, safe, and coffee and tea facilities; some have fresh fruit and Prosecco. Suites with private patios are available. Street noise drifts into some rooms, and the free Wi-Fi can be spotty. 

The free breakfast buffet is ample and fresh, including baked eggs, homemade pastries, cured meats, and a variety of juices. There is free Wi-Fi access in rooms, but it is spotty and unreliable. The expansive spa is surrounded by the ancient walls of the Pompeius Theatre, and has a series of mineral pools with hydromassage, multi-sensory showers, and a Finnish sauna. A variety of body and facial treatments are available in rooms with arched ceilings and walls decorated with mosaic tiling. There is also a full rooftop bar that's open in the summer but moves indoors for the winter; there is no full restaurant, however. Laundry and babysitting services are available upon request. There is no parking.