The new wellness sanctuary in Rome blends Ottoman hammam rituals, Sicilian skincare and dramatic design for an immersive escape.
Rome has always understood the art of slowing down. In ancient times, locals gathered at elaborate bathhouses to relax, socialize and restore body and mind. Now, one of the city’s newest luxury hotels is bringing that ritual back in style.
At Orient Express La Minerva, a newly opened spa draws inspiration from the bathing traditions of Roman thermae and the cleansing rituals of the Ottoman hammam. Located steps from the Pantheon, the space is designed as a journey — one that unfolds gradually through heat, steam and water.
Guests move through a sequence of thermal rooms inspired by classical bathing culture. The experience begins in a gently warmed space that allows the body to acclimatize before progressing to a steamy calidarium and ending with a refreshing cold plunge designed to awaken the senses.
The spa itself feels cinematic. Designed by artist-architect Hugo Toro, the interiors blend rich travertine and marble with stained oak and hand-blown Murano glass lighting that casts a warm, candle-like glow. A striking marble hammam anchors the space, surrounded by delicate fountains and intricately patterned screens that play with light and shadow.
Treatments lean into ancient purification rituals. Guests can indulge in elaborate hammam experiences that incorporate aromatic steam, exfoliating scrubs, clay wraps and foaming massages designed to leave skin radiant and muscles fully relaxed.
The spa partners with Sicilian luxury skincare brand Furtuna Skin, known for its botanical formulas crafted from ingredients grown on an organic estate in Sicily. Signature treatments combine natural actives with techniques like facial massage and Gua Sha to boost circulation and revive tired skin.
For travellers looking to keep their wellness routine intact, the spa also includes a Technogym-equipped fitness space and a dedicated Kinesis training room offering personalised workouts, yoga and Pilates sessions.
In a city that practically invented the spa day, Orient Express La Minerva has created a new sanctuary that feels both ancient and unmistakably modern — the kind of place where you might check in for an hour and emerge feeling like you’ve travelled through time.
