Residenza Napoleone III

"Comprising just two apartments within Palazzo Ruspoli, this is one of Rome’s most exclusive addresses. It’s named after Napoleon III, who lived here in 1830, and is today owned by Principessa Letizia Ruspoli, who often welcomes guests herself. The two apartments differ widely in style but have their own drawcards: the opulent Napoleon Suite has two ornately brocaded and gilded living rooms in which you can lounge like an aristocrat from yesteryear; while the rooftop suite is a bright and breezy affair with modern appointments and a staggeringly huge private rooftop terrace."

Residenza Napoleone III

"The Residenza Napoleone III is unique—not least because Emperor Napoleon III lived here in 1830. This exquisitely restored suite is in the sixteenth-century Palazzo Ruspoli, at the other end of the Via dei Condotti from the Piazza di Spagna. Coffered wooden ceilings soar, accommodating an immense Gobelin tapestry in the sitting room and six huge landscapes in the bedroom—one the headboard of the sumptuous silk-canopied bed and two others camouflaging doors to a small Siena-marble bath and a walk-in dressing area that leads to a kitchenette. Art, antiques, and the drama of history are as pervasive as the family silver, but the overall effect is remarkably welcoming and unpretentious. The credit goes to owner Princess Letizia Ruspoli, who has stocked it with everything from disposable ear plugs (totally unnecessary) to classical CDs and classic films set in Rome. The unobtrusive butler anticipates every whim, whether lighting a fire in the dining room hearth or providing a delightful surprise at turndown. (Note that the Palazzo Ruspoli also houses a charming modern penthouse flooded with sunlight from windows on three sides and surrounded by terraces amid the Roman rooftops; its mansard roof makes it cozy but cramped.)"

Residenza Napoleone III, a Design Boutique Hotel Rome, Italy

"Set in a 16th-century building, Residenza Napoleone III offers rooms in the very heart of Rome, a 5-minute walk from Piazza di Spagna. The property features free Wi-Fi throughout. With a spacious terrace on the top floor and air conditioning, rooms have a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and DVD player. The private bathroom comes with a bath, hairdryer and bidet. A continental breakfast is served daily in the room. It includes freshly brewed coffee or cappuccino, sweet pastries, cold cuts and cheeses. The Italian Parliament is a 5-minute walk from Residenza Napoleone III, while Castel Sant’Angelo is 0.9 mi away. Roma Termini Train Station is a 10-minute drive from the property." - My Boutique Hotel (en)

Residenza Napoleone III, Spanish Steps, Central Rome, Italy - Explore & Book

"If you can drag your eyes away from the mouthwatering boutique fronts of Rome's Via dei Condotti for a moment, you'll see behind you some large and private wooden gates. They may not gleam and glitter like the window displays, but what lies behind them is dazzling.These doors are a portal into a former, more splendid age. Doric colonnades lined with statues lead up to a wing of the 16th-century Palazzo Ruspoli. Above the all-marble staircase, imperial busts gaze onto fabulous antiques, and rare Gobelin tapestries rub shoulders with 500-year-old oil paintings (one of which artfully conceals a cinema screen). This is where Emperor Napoleone III and his mother, the former Queen of Holland, lived. Now it's home to the welcoming and unpretentious Princess Letizia Ruspoli, who has made 2 apartments (sleeping 2-5) available to the select few. If you have always wanted to stay somewhere fit for a king - or an emperor - this is your chance. Highs A secluded haven on Via dei Condotti, the epicentre of Italian high fashionTextiles and décor that radiate traditional royalty; we felt like kings during our revisitLovely staff who cannot do enough for you, and a personal butler who unobsequiously caters for your every whim, and breakfast is included in the ratesAll modern comforts (iPods, DVD library, lift) to ease museum fatigue, plus silent air-conditioning to ensure a good night's sleepStunning views of Rome from the Roof Garden Suite Lows The Napoleone Suite's bathroom and kitchenette are less spaciousSuch luxury comes at a hefty priceSome might find the décor a bit OTT, but this is a royal residence!" - Michael Cullen