(CNN) The Orient Express brand, once famous for transporting wealthy passengers across Europe in its luxury vehicles, has resurfaced, this time jumping off the rails with a luxury hotel venture in Italy.
Scheduled to open in the center of Rome in spring 2025, Orient Express La Minerva will be the first hotel to open in the latest incarnation of the legendary brand. Another hotel and a pair of branded ships are expected to follow.
Originally built in 1620 and converted into a hotel in the 19th century, La Minerva has been restored to highlight Rome’s rich history. The hotel claims to combine “Art Deco style” with “contemporary elegance” while expressing the original timeless charm of the Orient Express.
With 93 luxurious rooms including 36 suites, a rooftop bar and restaurant, and a Turkish hammam, Orient Express La Minerva is targeted at sophisticated tourists and Romans, with prices starting at €1,000 per night (approx. Starting at $1,055).
world class location
Located in the heart of Rome, just steps away from the Pantheon, La Minerva boasts what promotional materials call the city’s most “breathtaking panoramic backdrop.”
La Minerva’s rooftop bar and restaurant offers views of Santivo alla Sapienza and the domes of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Altare della Patria and the Quirinale Tower.
With a prime location in historic Piazza Minerva, our hotel is within walking distance of Rome’s must-see landmarks, including the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum and other popular museums, restaurants and boutiques.
luxury rooms
Giampaolo Ottazzi, general manager of Orient Express Hotels Italia, said Mexican-French architect and designer Hugo Toro has carefully designed the hotel to feel more like a private home than a hotel. It seems that he paid a lot of money to design it.
La Minerva’s rooms and suites range in size from 25 to 235 square meters (269 to 2,530 square feet) and all feature king-sized beds, marble bathrooms with walk-in showers, and fine Italian linens.
Some suites have a private terrace, allowing you to enjoy unique views of the city landscape.
Travelers staying in select Signature Suites have a turntable with vinyl records and a Dyson hairdryer in their rooms. Additionally, you can request dedicated butler service to unpack or pack up to two pieces of luggage per person during your stay, as well as one-way transportation to and from the airport or main train station.
As you would expect from a luxury railway dining car brand, La Minerva has two dining and bar venues, one on the rooftop and one in the elegant lobby.
Building a legacy
La Minerva is just the beginning of what the owners of the Orient Express brand hope will be a new chapter. Hotel group Accor took control of the brand name in 2017 by purchasing a 50% stake from French railway company SNCF.
In late 2025, Orient Express will open its second hotel in Venice, Palazzo Dona Giovanelli.
Orient Express is also bringing luxury travel experiences to sea with the launch of two Orient Express Silences ships: La Dolce Vita in 2025 and Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing ship, in 2026.
“After 140 years, this brand is coming back to life. Our responsibility is to set the standards for another 140 years,” Ottazzi said.
And for those who missed the chance to experience this iconic train journey, or who would like to relive it all over again, the Orient Express will soon be returning to the railways.
In mid-2026, travelers will have the opportunity to ride on the original Orient Express from the 1920s and 1930s. The dining and bar cars have been thoughtfully redesigned to evoke intimacy and elegance, with soft lighting and marble columns as focal points.
The suites have been reimagined for maximum comfort and feature embroidered headboards, en-suite bathrooms and changing rooms for a comfortable experience.
CNN Wire
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