In Rome new life but same atmosphere in the historic Hotel d'Inghilterra

Renovating a historic hotel is never an easy task. Regular customers protest if they find even one piece of furniture moved. They get attached to the objects as if it were a home away from home, and feel reassured at the idea of finding it there, always the same, ready to receive them even after years. We have witnessed time and again how, for better or worse, an old hotel is transformed into a gleaming new one. And we have seen that respect for the structure, its history and its guests is indispensable and can only increase its value. The Hotel d'Inghilterra, a piece of traditional Roman hospitality, reopened in September after a substantial refurbishment of its façade, rooms and social spaces. Anticipation was high for this 19th-century hotel a stone's throw from Piazza di Spagna and Via Condotti. But you only have to step through the door to perceive the same atmosphere as always, a bit like an English club lit, however, by the generous Mediterranean light.

The structure is intact, the antique furniture has been restored, the marble and brass polished, the uniforms redesigned, the rooms reduced (from 84 to 80) to create more spacious suites. Wood panelling has been added in the restaurant, mirrors and fine wallpapers, fabrics have been replaced with colourful and cheerful silks and velvets. And soon new rooms will open, the spa, penthouse and rooftop restaurant to enjoy the beauty of Rome as a whole with its domes and hills. The project was supervised by Starhotels designers with the help of local craftsmen and workers. Elisabetta Fabri, president and ceo of Italy's largest hotel group (30 hotels with over 4,200 rooms), herself rolled up her sleeves. The entrepreneur and knight of labour, slept in all the rooms to make sure they were comfortable and well-equipped, fixed the paintings and unscrewed the light bulbs if the light was not 'right'. For this latest piece of his five-star luxury collection, he took care of every detail as if it were home. Even the restaurant is new, as warm and comfortable as the menu, available all day long, signed by chef Andrea Sangiuliano, a pupil of Fulvio Pierangelini, guardian and champion of Italian tradition. Fiori di zucca (courgette flowers), bollito (boiled meat), pasta mista con le patate (mixed pasta with potatoes), in short, those dishes that reaffirm the goodness of our cuisine. Much has changed since the sojourns of John Keats and the other English Romantic poets, and there is no longer a trace of the Dolce Vita. But the Hotel d'Inghilterra still offers many moments of pleasure: lunch in the dehors, reading in the library, a chat at the bar being greeted by a doorman in cloak and tuba are snapshots of a Roman holiday to remember.