Hotel Columbus
Book from £196
Address: Via Della Conciliazione 33, , Rome, IT
No of Rooms: 92
Location. This historical hotel occupies a 15th century palace which housed cardinals for 65 years and priests for 200 years, and lies 400 metres from St Peter's Basilica on the avenue leading to St Peter's Square. Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is 30 kilometres away. The hotel provides a tranquil atmosphere which invokes its long history as a refuge for cardinals and priests. Frescoed by Pinturicchio and his students, the palace was completed around 1490. It was considered so beautiful that Charles VIII stayed here rather than the Vatican before leading his military expedition to southern Italy. During World War II, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, which traces its origins to the Crusades, purchased the palace. Part of the palace is used by the Order as its headquarters. Since 1950, the remainder has housed Hotel Columbus. The air conditioned restaurant features walls and a high vaulted ceiling with original 15th century frescoes. Other historical features include 16th century ceiling frescoes by Francesco Salviati and two small 17th century fountains. Reputedly Rome's first interior garden, the walled courtyard is shaded by laurel trees and is where cocktails and a complimentary buffet breakfast are served in warm weather. Guestrooms. Hotel Columbus offers 92 air conditioned guestrooms with street or garden courtyard views in a four storey building. Rooms are decorated in a typical Italian style with tiled floors and dark woods. Amenities include complimentary high speed Internet connections, minibars, laptop sized safes, and satellite television. Modern bathrooms come with phones and shower/tub combinations or walk in showers.Expert Tip. Unnoticed by most guests, a 15th century clock on a wall facing the garden courtyard tells the time on sunny days. Protruding from the clock's centre is a long spike that casts shadows on the face's Roman numerals as the day passes.
