Staying at the Grand Hotel Plaza means retrieving memories and reliving past lives, surrounded by the intense sensations that only the Eternal City can offer. The hotel merges the Spanish Steps behind it with the vast plain of Campo Marzio, providing a seamless dialogue with the historical heart of Rome.
Starting from the Porta del Popolo, wonderfully reworked by Bernini with a unique scenic perspective, one arrives at the splendid Piazza del Popolo, the capital's lounge. Continuing along the northern section of Via del Corso, the street opens up in front of San Carlo, a place consecrated in Roman times, standing a few steps away from the Mausoleum of Augustus. Here stands the Grand Hotel Plaza, a symbol of Roman hospitality.
The sacredness of the place, destined for union and the transmission of values, can be felt in the magnificent spaces of the hotel. The motifs and themes of classical art are brought to life in the details of the furniture and furnishings, creating a luxurious yet homely atmosphere. The Grand Hotel Plaza's guests are welcomed into a space that reflects the tradition and prestige of Rome.
The atmosphere at the Grand Hotel Plaza is unique, as if the time of history had been restored to the timelessness of the city's cultural legacy. While reminiscent of the ancient, there is nothing old in the design of the building: everything is a symbol of a beautiful present and well-being, a hospitality that can be expressed through the language of art. Every stay here becomes an opportunity for growth and an incentive to explore, combining culture, hospitality and the promise of return.
The famous maestro Pietro Mascagni lived at the Grand Hotel Plaza for about twenty years, from 1927 to 1945. The Plaza was one of the places dearest to the composer, whose bust now stands on the façade of the hotel, at the windows of the flat where he died on 2 August 1945. In this residence, Mascagni composed his final opera, Nerone, in 1933.
Living at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Mascagni had a prominent position on the musical scene of the time, thanks mostly to the immediate success he achieved in 1890 with his first opera, Cavalleria Rusticana. He later composed another 15 operas that earned him worldwide fame, although only a few of them have entered the repertoire permanently, such as Iris, which reached the milestone of 800 productions.
Mascagni was a character of great fame, also known for his impeccable elegance and his iconic quiff of hair. Following his death, Prime Minister Ferruccio Parri refused him a state funeral, but Radio Mosca paid tribute to him with a minute's silence, and a large crowd gathered to greet him. Today you can visit his tomb at the Misericordia Cemetery in Livorno, where his remains were relocated in 1951.
In the Grand Hotel Plaza's Lounge, one can admire and play Mascagni's piano, a Friedrich Ehrbar Grand Concert Piano of the prestigious Vienna F brand. An instrument belonging to the famous musician, continues to be a tangible symbol of his presence and connection to this unique place.
