Rome will not only be vibrating to the rhythm of the 27e jubilee in the history of the Catholic Church in 2025. The Eternal City will also see the celebration, next spring, of the opening of the first Orient Express hotel since the relaunch of this legendary brand by the Accor group. Located just a stone's throw from the Pantheon, this new palace marks the rebirth, after transformation, of a historic hotel in the Italian capital, the Grand Hotel de la Minerve, established in the 1810s within the walls of the Palazzo Fonseca, dating from the early 17th century.e century.
Baroque in appearance, welcoming its guests with an imposing statue of Minerva, the original work of Canova's disciple Rinaldo Rinaldi, this noble residence was for a long time the heart of the town. the place to be for artists and intellectuals Herman Melville, George Sand and Stendhal, among others. Today's wealthy tourists - a classic room starts at €1,000 and rises to €15,000 for a Signature suite - will soon be able to follow in their footsteps in this historic heritage hotel, which has been completely restored by Franco-Mexican interior designer Hugo Toro.
Ushering in a new era of sophistication, the new décor fuses Art Deco opulence with contemporary elegance. "A place where the history of the Orient Express and the soul of the Eternal City come together.said Gilda Perez-Alvarado, CEO of the Orient Express brand. A unique place where culture and travel stories come togethers ". Business travellers in search of exclusivity will find 93 rooms ranging in size from 25 m² to 235 m², including 36 suites, 4 of which are Signature suites, a spa and a rooftop terrace with a restaurant and bar offering breathtaking views of the Italian capital.
But the Orient Express La Minerva is also dedicated to welcoming to its lounges ultra-chic seminars and eventsThis was particularly true of the Olimpo ballroom, decorated with Murano glass chandeliers and statues by Rinaldo Rinaldi representing the four elements, the four seasons and the four continents known at the time.
The return of the Orient Express name to the gotha of global luxury will not only be marked by the opening of this hotel in Rome. The year will also see the first departures of the La Dolce Vita Orient Express trainWith its 12 luxury cabins, 18 suites and one signature suite, the Orient Express will be criss-crossing Italy in an atmosphere reminiscent of the cultural effervescence of Italy in the 1960s. The Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovanelli hotel will undoubtedly be the next stop for travellers in Venice.
Gastronomic cruises on land and sea
As Orient Express pursues its ambitions on land and sea, 2026 will see the launch of the first of the two Silenseas sailing ships - christened the Orient Express Corinthian - and the long-awaited return of the legendary Orient Express train on European routes. The exclusivity offered to passengers on these cruises by sea or land could not go without offering them the very best of French culinary art. In this context, Yannick Allénoone of only a handful of chefs to have been awarded three Michelin stars, at the Pavillon Ledoyen in Paris and the 1947 in Courchevel, will be Executive Chef of the kitchens on the Orient Express Train and the new yacht.
" This collaboration reflects Orient Express' ambition to surround yourself with top talent to create a unique experience of travel and discovery" added Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin. Inspired by the terroirs crossed and the landscapes of each voyage, these exclusive menus will be served on board the train's two dining cars and the yacht's five restaurants. Among them, La Table de l'Orient Express by Yannick Alléno, for an exceptional gastronomic experience.
