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La Scelta di Goethe

feature is almost certainly its sweeping balcony. It overlooks the Via del Corso and the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio e Carlo al Corso on one side, and Via della Croce on the other, and is the perfect spot for people watching.

The opulent apartment boasts a living room with a wonderfully high ceiling where guests can admire a 1752 painting of Amore and Psiche by Pietro Bardellino. The splendid decoration includes prestigious sofas, 19th-century furniture and precious Florentine fabrics.

The suite has a magnificent dining room, which can seat up to 10 people, making it an ideal spot for entertaining. There are two bedrooms — one has a king-size double bed and the other has two twin beds. Both bedrooms are decorated in gentle pastel shades and invite guests to sink into the sumptuous, comfy beds after a busy day exploring Rome’s varied charms. The bathroom, tiled with an elegant mosaic, provides a hydro massage shower, with Turkish bath and aromatherapy.

La Scelta di Goethe, which means ‘Goethe’s choice’, is redefining opulence by providing a five-star luxury retreat within the heart of the Eternal City. Though Goethe never actually stayed here, the German writer did enjoy the good things in life and so would have felt very at home in this polished two-suite apartment.

Located in the ‘la dolce vita’ side of town — the Campo Marzo district — where just about everything exudes elegance, this stunning building on the Via del Corso looks and feels like the kind of place a 19th-century Tuscan count would have his city apartment. With neo-classical wall hangings, antique display cabinets and bookcases exuding old-school class — if not yet the patina of age — the interior matches the exterior in terms of architectural style and timeless elegance.

As guests would expect from such an exclusive offering, the service is truly impeccable. Discreet, charming and capable, the staff are available all day, and there’s a 24-hour butler service,

too, offering traditional Italian hospitality and absolute privacy. The staff are dedicated to spoiling their guests; parking and a laundry service can be arranged, as can wine-tasting evenings, massages and beauty treatments, and tailor-made tours of the city and its surrounding districts. Whether guests will actually want to get out and explore the city when your apartment is this good remains to be seen. However, there’s excellent shopping and dining available right on the doorstep.

The main entrance to La Scelta di Goethe is on the Via del Corso, a prime central location which connects two famous landmarks — Piazza Venezia and Piazza del Popolo — and is a stone’s throw from the Spanish Steps.

SUITE VILLA MEDICIThe spacious 130sq metre Suite Villa Medici is an apartment that epitomises Italian style and elegance. Tastefully decorated, with impressive architectural features, the suite’s most notable

Defining luxury is often challenging. This couldn’t be more true in Rome, a city blessed with some of the finest luxury hotels in the world, each with their own unique characteristics and charm. However, the five-star La Scelta di Goethe has set a new standard in the world of first-class accommodation

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Don’t miss // Enjoy a private guided tour of Rome followed by Champagne or wine tasting with a professional sommelier and a candlelit dinner on a private terrace overlooking Trinità dei Monti

NEED TO KNOW

KEY FACILITIES• 2 suites • Free parking• Private chef• Complimentary bottle of

Champagne and handmade chocolates

• Hot tub• Turkish bath

GET IN TOUCHlasceltadigoethe.comT: +39 066 994 2219E: info@lasceltadigoethe.com

SUITE TRINITÀ DEI MONTISuite Trinità dei Monti is half the size of Suite Villa Medici at 60sq metres, with 50sq metres of terraces. It’s accessible by a separate stairway leading off the fourth floor and has an elegant library-like area with an open fireplace.

The suite contains a charming bedroom with a king-size double bed and a marble bathroom with twin basins and shower equipped with Turkish bath, aromatherapy and chromotherapy for those looking for total relaxation. This suite has direct access to two jasmine- and wisteria-trellised terraces, the upper one complete with a heated whirlpool bath and sun loungers, the other larger one is an ideal outdoor dining and sitting area. Both terraces have spectacular views of Pincio, Villa Medici and Trinità dei Monti, and the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica can be seen in the distance.

Superior Italian marble, rich wooden flooring, and outstanding craftsmanship characterise the suites; they’re fully air-conditioned and are provided with satellite TV and wi-fi.

FOOD AND DRINKEach morning there is choice of pancakes, cereals, yogurts, cakes, pastries, meats, cheese, fruit, eggs and hot breakfasts made to order. La Scelta doesn’t have a restaurant, but there’s a private chef on hand to cook whatever guests would like and send it up to their suite.

WELLNESSThere are several fitness centres nearby with saunas, steam baths, swimming pools and a running track. The Villa Borghese park is only 10 minutes away on foot — a lovely place for a run.

LOCATIONThe concierge suggests Dillà or Pierluigi for lunch and Il Convivio Troiani or Nino for dinner, and the famous Via Condotti for shopping. On this same road there’s Antico Caffè Greco, Rome’s oldest coffee house, while on Piazza di Spagna, there’s Babington’s Tea Room, plus there’s the city’s excellent Leonardo Da Vinci Museum.

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