The L'Orologio Hotels - An Italian Trilogy

I recently had the pleasure of staying in Rome, Florence and Venice at the perfectly positioned L‘Orologio hotels. The three L’Orologio hotels are united by the

owner’s passion for timepieces, and each has a subtle ‘‘clock’’ theme running through its décor, as well as a stylish bar and an excellent city centre location. Each of the rooms at all three hotels is uniquely named; they not only have a number but a name, and within the rooms, the décor is reflective of the room name. In Rome, I stayed in the DueTiziano room, 103, named the Milgauss; the artwork in this room represented this very special Rolex watch.

The owner of the hotels, Mr Sandro Fratini, is considered one of the world‘s most important private vintage watch collectors, with his collection renowned for its rare Patek Philippe and Rolex examples. Christie‘s of London catalogued some of this unique collection in a book titled My Time, and a copy of this rare book can be viewed at the hotel in Rome. It is something not to be missed for any watch collector. I was fortunate to meet Mr and Mrs Fratini at their beautiful hotel in Venice,e and Mr Fratini insisted he is not a collector of watches but a lover of watches.

Rome

L’Orologio Roma is a stylish 4-star Superior boutique hotel in a prime central location, within easy walking distance of major landmarks like the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Its biggest highlights are the elegant, well-designed rooms and the stunning rooftop terrace, which offers impressive panoramic views over Rome.

Excellent design, refined elegance, high-quality materials and marble bathrooms embellish every room of the 43 Rooms & Suites. On the main floor of the building, the Deluxe rooms welcome you with large bedrooms with high ceilings decorated with nineteenth-century golden stuccoes and original frescoes. The large windows, soundproofed, illuminate the elegant furnishings, creating precious and relaxing environments. Accessible rooms are available with wider door frames and walk-in showers.

The lead in room category is the Superior room, which has a view through to the city centre or a typical internal courtyard, dark wood furniture and a marble bathroom with a walk-in shower or bath. All rooms and suites come equipped with a kettle for tea or coffee, an LCD TV, a safe, Wi-Fi, Air-conditioning and heating, a hairdryer, a minibar (payable locally) and an iron and ironing board.

There are several deluxe rooms, all offering a king bed, marble bathroom, writing/vanity area and views of the courtyard or city centre. Amongst the deluxe rooms are three "special" Deluxe rooms;

Teatro Deluxelocated on the main façade of the building, with a view through to the city centre. It has a high ceiling with original white and gold Stucco, a walk-in wardrobe, a spacious and luxurious marble bathroom with separate WC, marble chromotherapy shower and a historical marble balcony with city view.

Tiziano Deluxe, the room I was lucky enough to stay in, is located on the main façade of the building, with a view through to the city centre. It has a high ceiling with original white and gold Stucco, a contemporary four-poster king bed and large marble bathroom and a walk-in shower.

Pacelli Deluxe is located on the quiet side of “Sudario” street, a double-height bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe, original frescoed ceiling and a spacious marble bathroom.

Junior Suite Pantheonis is located on the main façade of the building, with a view through to the city centre, plus there is a view of the Pantheon through a small window in the wall, a sort of panoramic telescope. It comprises a spacious bedroom, an open living area and a marble bathroom with a walk-in shower.

Family Rooms

There are two categories of family rooms available: standard and premium. The standard family room is located on the main façade of the building, with a view through to the city centre and is composed of two interconnecting bedrooms (1 triple and 1 king-size bedded), 2 marble bathrooms with walk-in showers. The premium family room is located on the quiet side of “Sudario” street and is composed of two interconnecting bedrooms (1 king-size bedded room, 1 spacious twin bedded room with sofa bed), a walk-in wardrobe, and 2 marble bathrooms with walk-in showers. The premium family room has a lovely private terrace with a view over the beautiful “Altare della Patria” monument.

The Breakfast Room at the hotel is on the fifth floor, featuring a panoramic terrace with stunning views of Rome’s iconic monuments. You can enjoy a generous buffet breakfast with continental and American specialities, including a dedicated corner of fresh organic products and gluten-free options for coeliac and food-intolerant guests are available upon request.

The Santa Cocktail Club Romais is also located on the fifth floor of the hotel's terrace, and it offers amazing, unique views of monuments such as the Pantheon and the Altare della Patria. This is the perfect place to sample expertly crafted cocktails using glasses that are unique in feel and shape. It has love,y warm and inviting lighting, and refined and minimalist furnishings.

Each of the hotels in Rome, Florence and Venice uses unique blends of spirits and botanicals,s which result in distinctive and custom drinks of the region.

The cocktail selection is complemented by a delightful assortment of finger foods and gourmet tastings, thoughtfully prepared by the chef to create a harmonious and satisfying culinary experience.

The L'Orolgio in Rome also offers a small fitness room for use by guests and a meeting space.

Would I stay here again? I absolutely would, the main attractions are approximately a 10-minute walk away, with the Vatican being 25 minutes on foot. The location and service at the hotel make it a perfect choice for guests wishing to make the most of their time in the eternal city of Rome.

Florence

Hotel L'OrologioFirenze is a luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of Florence, directly on Piazza Santa Maria Novella and is just a few minutes from the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. It’s set inside a historic building but designed with a modern, contemporary, but classic thematic concept inspired by fine watchmaking. The hotel blends Florentine elegance with contemporary design, making it especially appealing for couples, design enthusiasts, and city-break travellers. Of the three hotels I stayed in, I loved the style and location of this one in Florence. The views were amazing from the hotel, el and you step straight into the Piazza Santa Maria Novella with many family-run trattorias on your doorstep, the hotel is very happy to recommend places to eat!

Each floor of the hotel is a homage to the luxurious wristwatches: Rolex, Vacheron-Constantin,n and Patek Philippe. Furnished with refined elegance, the rooms feature quality materials, marble bathrooms and curious details such as door handles in the shape of watch hands and sink taps that look like winding crowns of watches.

With breathtaking views of the Basilica, the breakfast room is found on the fourth floor in an authentic Renaissance loggia. In the lounge bar on the ground floor, you can stop for a drink or a light meal at all hours of the day. Complete with a meeting room and fitness area, Hotel L'Orologio is also the ideal location for a business clientele, being refined and exacting, and for those seeking something unique.

The 55 rooms are dedicated to collectable models of watches, with original paintings on the walls depicting them. The rooms are elegant and offer a comfortable atmosphere, with wooden flooring and mahogany furniture upholstered in leather, prestigious fabrics and velvet combined with hi-tech amenities. Each bathroom is made entirely from marble with mahogany details and offers luxurious amenities, including fragrances by Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella and personalised bathrobes in Egyptian cotton. Accessible rooms are available with wider door frames and walk-in showers.

The Superior rooms are the lead in category for the hotel a, nd eachcomese witha king bed, mahogany furniture, rich curtains and warm wooden floor. The rooms feel welcoming,g and they overlook the streets of the city centre or traditional internal courtyards of the ancient Florentine palaces. All the rooms have wonderful marble bathrooms with bath or shower, magnifying mirror, heated towel rail, fluffy terrycloth towels, slippers and bathrobes of the utmost quality.

There are two categories of Deluxe rooms: Deluxe and Deluxe with a view. The Deluxe, as with superior are elegantly decorated, they present all optional extras needed to create a comfortable and stylish stay, including King bed, elegant flooring and mahogany furniture, spacious work desks, furnishings in leather, satin and velvet that all create a cosy and sophisticated atmosphere, the all of course have the marble bathrooms are complete bath tub or shower, magnifying mirror, heated towel rail, fluffy terrycloth towels, slippers and bathrobes of the utmost quality. The Deluxe with view rooms are identical in style but have breath-taking views of the Piazza and Church of Santa Maria Novella o, or enjoy picturesque vistas of the Florence Cathedral - Il Duomo - and the rooms are located on the upper floors of the building.

Suites- There are several differing suites available in Orologio Firenze.

Standard Suites are inspired by unique time pieces from the vintage Patek Philippe watch collection, decorated with bespoke furniture in mahogany bearing leather details, precious Merbau hardwood floors and rich soft furnishings. They comprise a master bedroom, a living room with a sofa and a T, plus a regal marble bathroom, which has large windows offering views over traditional Florentine Renaissance building courtyards.

Junior Suite, of which there is one, is inspired by rare pieces in the vintage Vacheron Constantin and Rolex watch collections that will render your stay in Florence even more precious, providing all the necessary comfort and luxury. It has a spacious bedroom furnished with taste, a living space with a deck area and a comfortable sofa, a marble bathroom with bath and shower, and the views from the windows are of traditional Florentine courtyards.

DuplexSuites are spread over two levels, with a bedroom and marble bathroom on one floor and a comfortable living area with a sofabed upstairs, being a plus for privacy and comfort. It overlooks the historic centre of the city.

Suite with Rooftop Terrace, this stunning suite is used as the Honeymoon Suite and is ideal for a romantic and unforgettable stay. It is split over two floors, its entrance accesses a comfortable sitting area with a sofa and a table, whilst upstairs is an idyllic bedroom with double windows that look out onto the Duomo and provide access to the lovely private rooftop terrace, where it is possible to organise a private breakfast or a romantic candlelight dinner. The marble bathroom has a high ceiling with a skylight and a Cea line bath with an integrated shower.

Steel Suite with cathedral views, this unique suite is situated on the top floor, and it features a breathtaking view of the ‘Duomo’ and accesses a large private terrace. It is inspired by the vintage Patek Philippe “1518 Steel” model, the first astronomic wristwatch with perpetual calendar and moon phases. The Suite is comprised of a spacious bedroom with high-beamed ceilings and a queen-sized bed bearing an elegant leather headboard,d along with a pleasant living room equipped with a velvet sofa, LCD TV, work area and additional stylish furnishings in steel and leather. The luxurious bathroom has a bath with a shower, and is completely fitted out in luminous Afyon marble.

Family Room- travelling with family or as a group of friends, you are in the same stunning décor and are composed of two spacious bedrooms (interconnected), which overlook the streets of the city centre or traditional internal courtyards of the ancient Florentine palaces.

Along with the previously mentioned stunning breakfast room on the 4th floor,r there is the Bar de L'O, which is situated on the ground floor of the hotel. Bar de L’O welcomes guests in an intimate atmosphere, with soft lighting, a large central mahogany bar, and cosy seating areas featuring armchairs and wooden coffee tables and is the perfect spot for a coffee break, an aperitif, or a relaxed lunch or dinner. The seasonal menu includes traditional Italian dishes prepared with high-quality ingredients, and a lovely selection of hot and cold drinks, cocktails, and light sweet or savoury bites completes the experience, with a special focus on Tuscan culinary excellence.

For those wanting to maintain their fitness levels while away, there is a small gym and sauna room for guests to use.

This hotel is stunning and only 5 minutes walk from the main rail station and minutes from the attractions Florence has to offer.

Venice

Hotel L'Orologion Veneziais a is a 4-star boutique hotel with 43 rooms in a privileged and central location on the Grand Canal, just a short stroll from the Rialto Bridge. A small jewel in Venetian accommodation, it is ideal for those wanting to soak up the atmosphere and history of the city. The original theme,e inspired by the world of collectable watches,s renders it unique in all of Venice. The completely new structure is characterised by a contemporary décor and design carefully studied in every detail. There is a large fireplace that welcomes guests to the reception, bar and lounge areas and has vintage leather sofas in shades of red with a wooden ceiling. All rooms are contemporary and minimalist in style but are extremely functional, soundproofed and technological, with every kind of comfort.

The fourth-floor terrace and L'O Bar offer the possibility of grabbing a snack or enjoying a traditional Venetian aperitif.

The elegant and bright breakfast room is located on the ground floor,r directly overlooking the Grand Canal. It has large panoramic windows and a marble fireplace. The buffet breakfast, served on offer, offers a wide selection of sweet and savoury items, in both continental and American style, with special attention to fresh and organic ingredients. Gluten-free options for coeliacs and guests with food intolerances are available upon request, upon request.

The Santa Cocktail Club is also located on the ground floor and gives unparalleled views of the Grand Canal and a unique sight of the Ca' D'Oro Palace. Try a Venetian aperitif, or end the day with a specially crafted cocktail using a range of high-end spirits, quality ice, and care in choosing perfect glasses and refined garnish ensures that each cocktail is an immersive experience created by the hotel mixologist.

The Superior rooms are contemporary and comfortable, perfect for a romantic weekend or a business stay. The furniture is characterised by the use of precious materials,s such as the dark wood of the flooring and the authentic beamed ceiling, which adds an overall touch of warmth. The focal element of each of the rooms is the bright artwork created with real clock mechanisms that hang over the queen-size bed. The bathrooms with a bath or shower are created using marble with custom-made fixtures in bold colours.

Deluxe rooms come in two categories: Deluxe or Deluxe with View. Each of the rooms comes with a Queen bed, writing desk and comfortable chairs and the traditional marble bathrooms in varying colours. As you would expect with the names, the difference is within view. The Deluxe rooms generally have internal courtyard views, while the Deluxe with views are overlooking the Grand Canal and the Ca' D'Oro, a historic early 20th-century building considered one of the finest examples of Venetian Gothic architecture.

Family Rooms are again in two categories, there is a standard family room which comprises two interconnecting superior rooms, and a Premium Family room which overlooks the Venetian Calli, the typical narrow and quiet streets of the city. It consists of 3 rooms and 3 bathrooms with a shower and a bath. There is a ground-floor bedroom (twin or double beds), two windows with Calle view, a desk with an armchair, and a large marble bathroom with a bath, a spacious and bright living room with a sofa, a wooden console table, marble bathroom with a shower. Then on the second floor is the Master bedroom with an original white wooden beamed ceiling, a roof window, aand a arble bathroom with a shower.

Suites, of which there are four types, combine the elegance of a classic Palazzo with the comfort of all modern facilities to offer the most romantic honeymoon in this magical city.

There is a classic suite which overlooks the large inner courtyard, typical of an ancient Venetian palace. The Junior Suite comprises a spacious double bedroom and a comfortable seating area. The décor is dominated by strong colours and complemented by a marble bathroom. The Suite with Grand Canal view is a homage to a contemporary style with strong colours that characterise the atmosphere. The red velvet wall curtains give a classic Venetian touch to the environment, whilst the concept of luxury is reinterpreted in a modern way. The bright red colour dominates the room throughout the walls, ceiling and furnishings, with the black fittings in the bathroom and flooring in precious black granite contrasting against the red of the walls.

The Suite consists of a spacious queen-sized bed with a leather headboard plus a separate living room with dark wood furnishings, whilst the Viabizzuno lamp adds an overall touch of exclusivity.

The final suite is a Premium suite and one of a kind; it is the jewel in the hotel's crown for those seeking true luxury in Venice. Renovations aimed to elevate the existing architectural structure, while remaining welcoming. The suite is spread over two levels. On the first floor is the bedroom and bathroom in fine marble with a bath, while a loft holds the large living room offering a beautiful view of the Grand Canal, plus a second bathroom with an important shower. It is distinguished from all the other rooms in the hotel by the taupe colour of the walls and thin wooden slats. The lounge area is furnished with vintage leather armchairs that provide warmth and elegance. The design elements in the bedroom are by Gio Ponti.

There are no gym facilities at this hotel, so spending the day walking around Venice should be enough exercise!

The hotels are all stunning and elegant in different ways, but all are contemporary and feature the much-loved watches of Sandro Fratin. The locations are excellent and provide an excellent base for exploring each of the cities.