The Corso 281 Luxury Suites

Owner Natalino Gisonna opened Corso 281 with a singular vision: to create the home in Rome he always wanted. So he carefully selected every part of the guest experience, from the wines—from his home region of Calabria—to the daily in-room breakfast service. He also went hunting for the perfect location, until he discovered an 18th-century palace in the city’s historical center, just a short walk from the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and other must-sees. Gisonna appointed Milanese architect Chiara Caberlon to design the 12 suites, requesting that Rome itself serve as inspiration. The result is a restrained palette of primarily black and white, complemented by warm wooden floors. White, mirror-panelled partitions break up bedroom and lounge spaces, while clean-lined bathrooms are decked out in Carrara marble, a modern interpretation of an ancient Roman bath—albeit one stocked with Bulgari amenities. With a location in one of Europe’s leading culture capitals, Gisonna decided to treat the suites as art galleries, with rotating collections arranged by local gallerist Giacomo Guidi, whose namesake exhibition space is a well-regarded promoter of contemporary art. Despite the sophisticated design approach, Corso 281 stays true to the essential tenet of hospitality: comfort. At check-in, guests select their pillow and mattress preferences, as well as the type of champagne they want for the mini bar. With this, Gisonna aims to make the hotel every visitor’s dream home, too.