“The hotel was part of the 1942 World Fair project which never took place, therefore, it was meant to be a monumental, modern yet classical building,” said Maurizio Bettoja, president, Bettoja Hotels. “At the time, there was still a notable difference between the architectural and decorative styles of the different cities. Milan had its own style, Naples, Florence also had their own characteristics, and Rome had a very monumental, almost classical rationalistic style, together with a neo-Roman Baroque style. The collection of Roman emperors busts in polychrome marbles in the lobby is a strong reminder of the city’s traditions and history, and a touch of Baroque color in the austere, luxurious lobby. The idea underlining the renovations was to update the hotel with a contemporary style without losing its ‘soul,’ but rather highlighting the original late 1930s furniture, specifically designed for the hotel, and the general late Deco style architectural feel. For instance, in the lobby of the meeting rooms, the carpeting was designed by my sister, using themes from the architecture and decoration of the hotel but with contemporary irony and colors.”
Celebrating the inauguration of the reopening, the hotel now features a renovated panoramic rooftop terrace with views of the Eternal City. Soaring 164 ft. (50 m.) high, the hotel’s Roof Garden Restaurant and Terrace also welcomes a new addition with its Ligea Lounge Bar. With an elegant vintage atmosphere, the new lounge bar serves as a prime meeting point for guests and non-guests from around the world to gather in its eclectic indoor and outdoor areas.
“A great part of the interior design was done by family, Stefania and Georgia Bettoja,” Bettoja said. “A great deal of the restoration work on the great inlaid rare woods panels, decorative items and furniture was done by our restorer and cabinet maker Gianni Di Maria. The mosaic panels were restored by Livia Alberti. There was a great deal of craftsmanship involved.”
Bettoja added, “The most recent addition was the Ligea Lounge Bar located on the 10th floor of Hotel Mediterraneo. Designed in a vintage style by Stefania Bettoja using 1930s and 1940s furniture from our capacious storage. The name Ligea, a Greek siren, was chosen because of the beautiful, haunting short story by Tomasi di Lampedusa, author of The Leopard, who died in the nearby piazza Indipendenza, actually in the flat under mine, where his relatives still live.”
Precious 1940s lamps and restored Art Deco interior design pieces designed by Mario Loreti and Gustavo Pulitzer Finali furnish the Ligea Lounge Bar on the tenth floor of the Hotel Mediterraneo, creating a new location to be discovered during the magical days and evenings. The lounge is adorned with velvet sofas, mirrors and fine vintage pieces with exotic plants that create an exclusive green nest in which to take refuge, all with a spectacular 180° view of the capital.
“Hotel Mediterraneo was well kept, but colors, fabrics and other details needed more punch. While the public rooms on the ground floor have been restored carefully—the hotel, being of artistic and historical interest, is listed by the State Superintendence for to Monuments and cannot be altered—we were freer to vary and improve the rooms,” Bettoja noted.
He added, “One cannot forget that we are in Rome and some of its most beautiful buildings are from the 1930s. Hotel Mediterraneo is one of the major works of architecture and interior design of that period. The mythological scenes in the mosaics, Prometheus, Ulysses and the theme of travel, the use of marbles echoing Roman buildings and Baroque churches encrusted in marble, the Emperors busts, are all inspired by Rome’s culture and history,” Bettoja said.
Chef Antonio Vitale completes the gastronomic offer of the new Ligea Lounge Bar with and fresh snacks, with menus that will follow the seasons. A robust list of cocktails and wines offering fine labels will accompany the evening and dinner menus daily. Guests can also experience this space by choosing to reserve it completely for private events, gala dinners or standing cocktails.
The Bettoja flagship property, Hotel Mediterraneo, was designed in 1938 by the architect Loreti, and has recently been restored following a careful collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, featuring the participation of master artisans and the most meticulous of Italian restorers. The timeline of restorations began in 2018 and recently concluded with the restoration of the Mosaic Room featuring the “Medieval Hunt” by Franco d’Urso, a mosaic based on a sketch by the painter Achille Capizzano. These restorations have brought the historic heritage of the Hotel Mediterraneo to the forefront, highlighting the charm of its monumental architectural feats and the value of its artistic elements. As part of the restoration of the hotel, the rooms feature carefully restored and preserved period furniture.
“We wanted to keep the individual style and personality of the hotel, avoiding the completely flat and impersonal contemporary style that can be seen from Lagos to Los Angeles,” Bettoja said. “Hotel Mediterraneo is a family hotel built by the Bettoja family who are still very much active there in Rome.”
