La Posta Vecchia - Relais & Chateaux -Luxury Hotel in Rome Italy
- By Gianni Buonsante
- Published May 14th, 2010
- Solo Travel Tips & Ideas
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Rating:
Unrated
La Posta Vecchia, Relais & Châteaux, was once the residence of J. Paul Getty who transformed it into a magical temple of art and is now both a luxury hotel with 19 rooms facing the Tyrrhenian sea and also a museum of considerable importance.
La Posta Vecchia Hotel is a mansion built in around 1640 on the remains of the Roman city of Alsium, commissioned by the Orsini princes to receive friends and travellers. In 1693 Flavio and Lelio Orsini sold the property – the castle of Palo with La Posta Vecchia – to Livio Odescalchi. La PostaVecchia maintained its function as a rest stop until 1918 when it began to deteriorate to such an extent that it almost fell into ruin.
In 1960 it was purchased by J.Paul Getty, who brought it back to its historic splendour and furnished it with pieces from princely residences all over the world. During the renovation work, the remains of a large Roman villa were discovered which form the heart of the small archaeological museum situated in the hotel basement. The current owner, who bought it directly from the American magnate, brought La Posta Vecchia back to its original function of refined hospitality, transforming it in 1992 - without touching any of the treasures collected by J. Paul Getty - into one of the finest hotels of the Relais & Châteaux Association, equipped with all modern conveniences and security systems.
THE HOTEL
The 19 rooms and suites each have their own particular style and original furnishings, some bearing the names of personalities who have stayed in the mansion in various eras, others the names of the past owners of the furniture present in the rooms. The common denominator is the total absence of noise other than the sounds of nature: that of the luxuriant historic park and that of the Tyrrhenian sea which is present here in all its vastness. Each room is equipped with a safe, mini-bar with a rich selection of drinks, DVD player, Sky TV, pay per view and Wi-Fi internet connection.
The museum’s internal Roman museum offers guests the opportunity to see the remains of a second century B.C. Roman villa discovered during the hotel renovation work. The towns and villages situated in the immediate vicinity of the hotel form an area which has everything for the perfect tourist trail.
The necropolis of Cerveteri, declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2004, and Tarquinia are examples of Etruscan civilisation a few kilometres from the hotel. The Castle of Bracciano which can be visited with multilingual guides and the villages of Trevignano and Anguillara Sabazia complete a day on the banks of the lake which formed after the volcano became dormant.
Ostia Antica, approximately 30 minutes away, provides an opportunity to broaden one’s knowledge of Roman civilisation. Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este complete a picture of Imperial Roman history that is enclosed within a range of just a few kilometres.
THE CESAR RESTAURANT 1 star Michelin
Michele Gioia, the young Chef, provides dishes from Italian and local tradition with the addition of the expertise and experience that he has gained over the course of his career. The vegetables used as ingredients in all dishes are grown in the kitchen garden, thus preserving the classic perfumes and flavours of organic cultivation.
Particular attention is paid to vegetarians, as well as those with gluten intolerance, with specially dedicated menus. The elegantly furnished restaurant has a spectacular sea-facing patio on which the fresh sea breezes may be enjoyed.
Dinners for just two people can be organised in “reserved, exclusive” places with a menu carefully selected by the Chef.
RELAXATION & ACTIVITIES
The Beauty Centre, located by the indoor swimming pool, offers a wide range of treatments, Ayurvedic massages and Holistic Reflexology therapies as well as basic beauty treatments using natural products from the Lakshmi line. It is possible to take part in many sporting activities in the area such as tennis, golf and horse riding.
Bicycles and a club car are made available to guests for visits to our kitchen garden and park.
BEACH & POOL CLUB
Services reserved for non-resident guests, according to availability, for which a kit with beach towel and slippers is provided, along with reserved sun loungers with towels. The life guard service is guaranteed from 10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. every day including Sundays.
EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE HOUSE
The entire hotel may be reserved for exclusive use. The hotel’s distinguishing features make it an ideal location for first class meetings where the absolute peace and privacy are conducive to excellent brain storming sessions. The Mansion, with its 19 rooms, is also perfect for exclusive occasions such as birthdays, weddings and family get-togethers.
OUR ROMAN MUSEUM
La Posta Vecchia was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman Villa dating from the second century B.C. which formed part of the historic settlement of the Roman port of Alsium. The multitude of remains that have been discovered form part of the private collection on display for hotel guests.
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