Inside Rome’s Newest Luxury Spa At The World’s First Orient Express Hotel

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Steps from the Pantheon, the stunning new spa at Orient Express La Minerva channels Ottoman-inspired hammam rituals and features beauty treatments by Furtuna Skin.

By [Jim Dobson](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/ "https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/"),

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Jim Dobson is a full-time luxury travel writer based in Italy.

Feb 26, 2026, 08:15am ESTUpdated Feb 26, 2026, 08:25am EST

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Facing the Pantheon, a 17th-century Roman palazzo is now home to the [Orient Express La Minerva](https://www.orient-express.com/en/hotel/europe/italy/rome/la-minerva? "https://www.orient-express.com/en/hotel/europe/italy/rome/la-minerva?"). Marking the legendary rail brand’s first hotel and one of the year’s most anticipated luxury openings, the property channels the glamour of exotic train travel into a refined Roman setting.

It's 93 rooms, including four lavish signature suites; Stendhal, La Minerva, Obelisco, and Orient Express are individually designed with Rosso Verona marble bathrooms, hand-painted ceilings, and original floors. Many of the rooms, along with the spectacular rooftop, offer iconic views of the Pantheon and the Eternal City.

Artist and architect Hugo Toro has worked his magic throughout the hotel and now unveils his crowning achievement: the Spa. Conceived as a tranquil retreat from another era, it invites guests on a journey of baths and treatments inspired by the romance of historic rail travel.

![image (1)](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/69a02ce4637aed7722d866bc/image--1-/1960x0.jpg?format=jpg&width=144)

The spa’s design is inspired by ancient Roman bathing rituals, but as soon as I walked through the impressive entryway, I felt transported to Istanbul. The guest experience starts in the tepidarium, a warm room that helps the body adjust. Next comes the caldarium, where steam and heated pools relax your muscles and help you breathe more deeply. The experience ends in the frigidarium, where a quick cold plunge leaves you feeling refreshed and energized without being overwhelming.

At the spa, guests move from shared lounges to private treatment rooms, where hand-blown Murano glass lights cast a candle-like glow over brown travertine, veined marble, Roman-style plaster, and stained oak. Hugo Toro uses stone, oak, and polished marble to create a calm, welcoming atmosphere that feels elegant, not showy.

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Agatha Relota Luczo, Furtuna Skin Founder & CEO at the spa (L), Designer Hugo Toro in the hammam at Orient Express La Minerva spa (R).