A Four Seasons is coming to the Vatican City, just in time for Jubilee Year 2025

If you’re planning a trip to Rome in 2025, you’ll have another accommodation option to choose from.

AFAR reports that the Four Seasons is planning to open a hotel in a 15th-century palazzo bordering Vatican City, the independent state in Rome where the Roman Catholic Church resides. Modern lodging near the Vatican is hard to come by, and this development will mark the first Four Seasons hotel in Rome. Another hotel by the same developer, Fort Partners based in Miami, will be opening in 2026 near the Spanish Steps at the 17th-century Palazzo Marini.

The building that will soon be home to the new hotel is called Palazzo della Rovere. The Renaissance-era structure was once home to Domenico della Rovere, a prominent cardinal from the northern Piedmont region in Italy. The building is currently owned by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the lay institution in the Vatican State protected by the Holy See that dates back to 1336. With 30,000 members in nearly 40 countries, Fort Partners signed a 30-year lease with the order and brought the Four Seasons into the fold to operate the hotel.

“Working on a project in Rome has been a dream of mine for many years,” Fort Partners founder and CEO Nadim Ashi told AFAR. “As a Catholic, I have visited the Vatican more than 10 times. About five years ago, when I was in Rome scouting locations for a different Four Seasons, I learned that the Order was interested in bringing a hotel back to the Palazzo della Rovere.”

The project will serve a dual purpose, as it will renovate the deteriorating building and construct the hotel. The $58 million renovation will restore the property’s historic details, including damaged 15th- and 16th-century frescoes. Italian architect Fabrizio Casiraghi, who has created stores for the fashion brand Kenzo and Paris-based restaurant Drouant, is also behind the project.

“Recognizing the historical importance of this 15th-century structure, we have engaged renowned Italian architect Fabrizio Casiraghi to share in our commitment to respect the site’s provenance and enhance its beauty thoughtfully while preserving its unique spirit,” Ashi said.

Although the hotel’s address will be in the city of Rome, it’s only a three-minute walk to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. Plans for a courtyard-restaurant are also in the works, so be prepared for gorgeous views and mouth-watering meals.

As if the future hotel didn’t already have you dreaming about living your Italian Renaissance fantasy, the property’s architecture is inspired by the Palazzo Venezia next to the Capitoline Hill. It also has a turret and frescoes on the main floor, created by early Renaissance artist Pinturicchio, whose work is also featured in six rooms in the Borgia Apartments in the Vatican.

The hotel, which will only have 55 to 60 guest rooms, is slated to debut in 2025, just in time for the Catholic Church’s next Holy Year. According to the order, the hospitality at the Palazzo della Rovere will honor the occasion with a serene and monastic atmosphere.

Roshae Hemmings is an arts and culture magazine journalist from St. Louis, MO. A graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism, Roshae has bylines in the Columbia Missourian, Vox Magazine and 5280 Magazine discussing topics ranging from pop culture, social justice and eat and drink. She is a foodie at heart and enjoys eating food as much as learning about the story behind it. When she’s not working on a story, Roshae enjoys cooking, watching and analyzing reality TV, and spending time with family and friends.

This story was originally published March 30, 2023 at 4:45 PM with the headline "A Four Seasons is coming to the Vatican City, just in time for Jubilee Year 2025."