Traditional Roman bathing and Greek mythology have inspired the new spa launching at Six Senses' first Italian outpost, Six Senses Rome.

Located inside an original 18th-century UNESCO-listed palazzo, the 96-key hotel will open in Rome on 16 March following a sensitive restoration of the building by architect Patricia Urquiola.

“It makes my team and I feel very proud to open the first urban Six Senses property in Italy,” says Francesca Tozzi, hotel GM. “We’re working hard so our guests can experience memorable stays in an authentic, fun and quirky ambience.”

The jewel in Six Senses Rome's crown will be its five-treatment-room spa paying homage to the city’s history of communal bathing.

The urban spa will channel a bygone Roman feel and feature walls embellished with a bas-relief inspired by the myth of Daphne and Apollo.

Each spa customer's journey will be centred around a 60-minute Roman bathing circuit – consisting of a caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium pools – designed to offer a modern-day take on the ancient ritual and encourage socialising between guests.

All three pools were installed by Italian wellness consultancy and supplier Starpool. The company also created a treatment room with a hammam table and a steam bath equipped with a shower for the spa.

Additional spa and wellness companies involved in the inception and equipping of the space include Wellness and Spa Solutions and Lemi, both of which are based in Italy.

Beyond the baths, there will be a herbal hammam, biohacking space, meditation rooms, a sauna, a solarium, an outdoor yoga deck, a fitness centre and a nail bar.

Guests will also be able to choose from a menu of treatments ranging from personalised facials to signature body massages will be on offer. Spa partners include Biologique Recherche, Seed to Skin, Organic Pharmacy and Subtle Energies.

In addition, they will be offered the chance to learn about the therapeutic power of herbs and plants at the Alchemy Bar and tap in-house specialists for high-tech and high-touch therapies such as biohacking, sound therapy, body cocoons and breathwork.

History and sustainability

Following the restoration, Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini has retained some of its most striking features including a marble staircase with a decorative skylight and newly restored 600-year-old columns in the main entrance.

A large baptismal bath dating back to the fourth century was also uncovered during archaeological excavations in the early 20th century and is now visible beneath the glass floor tiles within the hotel’s all-day dining area.

As part of the project, Six Senses sponsored the renovation of the façade of the adjacent San Marcello al Corso Church, the first sustainability project sponsored by Six Senses.

Guests can learn more about the hotel’s sustainability efforts in the dedicated Earth Lab while building their knowledge through interactive talks and hands-on workshops.

Roman hints throughoutFrom traditional Roman Cocciopesto plaster on the walls to the presence of Travertine local stone, the nod to Roman traditions will continue throughout the hotel’s rooms and suites, with some featuring the iconic Triclinium-style marble seating on their terraces.

At the same time, innovative in-room technology will be incorporated along with the Sleep With Six Senses standards of bespoke homemade and organic mattresses, cotton bedding, pillows and additional amenities to promote a good night’s sleep.

The resort will be crowned with a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Rome, complete with an organic fruit and vegetable garden from which chefs will harvest ingredients to recreate traditional Roman cuisine.

Impactful investment

The Six Senses Rome building is owned by the Orion European Real Estate Fund V, which is part of Orion Capital Managers, a European real estate private equity firm.

Orion Real Estate Fund V is the principal investor in the refurbishment of Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini.