Iconic Hotels

Echoes of ancient chariots rise from the Colosseum, which appears to be within arm’s reach of Palazzo Manfredi. (A gladiator school once stood a few meters from where the hotel now stands.) Yet this 16th-century palazzo dazzles with more than just its jaw-dropping views. The 15 rooms and five suites fuse Palladian wallpaper, faux fur, Roman busts, and eel-skin-topped tables to surprisingly successful effect; windows overlooking the monument are a must. Sip a cocktail in the bar before slipping behind a plate of lobster medallions on the Aroma restaurant’s terrace. The concierge can arrange private tours with the city’s top guides.