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Following the management takeover of a historic hotel on the Piazza della Repubblica in Rome, the new Anantara Palazzo Naiadi now shines in a contemporary guise - perfect for immersing yourself in a cinematic "Roman Holiday" like Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck once did.

Surprise! Anantara goes urban. The popular resort hotel group from Thailand has recently conquered Europe's cities. The hotels in Amsterdam and Nice are still in the pipeline, while the hotel in Rome is currently being adapted. The spectacular roof terrace with greenery has not yet been completed, and the extended spa on the fifth floor will probably have to wait until next spring. But the entire Anantara wellness program is already working amazingly well. For example, in the eleven beautiful duplex suites with a view of the piazza and the impressive Naiad Fountain.

You can get a taste of Rome with a glass in the Champagnerie Bar on the piazza, or even better on the "Eat.Pray.Love" tour in an electric buggy. The narrow vehicle squeezes its way through Rome's narrowest alleyways and the guide has a wealth of Roman anecdotes up his sleeve. Although Rome's major attractions such as the Spanish Steps and Piazza Spagna are within easy walking distance, you don't necessarily have to leave the beautiful marble palace Palazzo Naiadi to revel in Roman history: The 19th-century hotel was built directly opposite the Baths of Diocletian, and parts of it can be viewed through glass floors in the hotel's basement. The eternal city can be experienced with all the senses in the 236-room palace: in the Tazio restaurant with a seven-course gourmet menu and also in the spa with the Diocletian ritual, which offers a scrub, a massage and a wrap with ancient Roman herbs. The biggest highlight of the hotel, however, is the huge roof terrace with pool - one of the largest in Rome - which will be completely redesigned next fall and will also have a new restaurant. By then at the latest, the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi will probably be the hottest hotspot in the city.

www.anantara.com