Rome-– Italy’s film and music royalty gathered on the rooftop of Anantara Palazzo Naidi Rome Hotel to celebrate the 90th birthday of beloved cinematic luminary and icon, Sophia Loren. To mark the occasion, the hotel announces the creation of the Sophia Loren Suite in honour of its most glamorous guest.
On Friday 20th September, nearly 200 guests including renowned actors, directors, and friends from around the globe, gathered at the hotel to celebrate Italy’s cherished starlet as she extinguished her 90 candles in a place she has known and loved for years. Sophia was dressed for the occasion by Giorgio Armani and guests were served a carefully curated menu of her favourite dishes inspired by Ms Loren’s cookbooks and prepared by the hotel’s Executive Chef, Heros De Agostinis. Tables were named for the star’s most famous films, including “A Special Day,” “La Ciociara,” “The Sunflowers,” “The Gold of Naples” and “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.” The evening ended with the presentation of a nine-tier birthday cake decorated with white chocolate roses, Loren’s favourite flowers, prepared by the hotel’s Pastry Chef, Daniele De Santi.
Guests included Ferzan Ozpetek, Aurelio De Laurentis, Alessandra Mussolini, Christian De Sica with his wife Silvia Verdone, Trudie Styler, Regina Scully, Al Bano, Gigi D’Alessio, Mara Venier, Giancarlo Giammetti, Zubin Mehta and many others. Singer Laura Pausini serenaded the invitees with a rendition of “Lo Sí” from the soundtrack of “La Vita Davanti a Sé,” the 2020 film by Edoardo Ponti starring Sophia Loren, for which she won the David di Donatello Best Actress award, concluding an evening of elegance and celebration, perfectly embodying her innate timeless grace.
The evening also served as an opportunity to officially unveil the Sophia Loren Presidential Suite at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel, the world’s only suite dedicated to the actress. Curated as if it were her Roman home, the suite offers a chance for fans and guests to immerse in the world of a cinematic icon and explore the life, habits and passions of an iconic actress. The suite’s creation was developed over many months in collaboration between Anantara and Ms Loren’s son, Edoardo Ponti. In honour of her love for the hotel, the suite will bring to life the star’s habits, joys and passion.
“It will not be a museum, but a place of the soul, creating an immersive and exciting journey for the guest, giving them the sort of authentic experience for which Anantara is known around the world,” explains General Manager of Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel, Francesco Mennella.
A dynamic space, the suite will be a sensory expression of Ms Loren’s tastes, loves and memories, filled with, for example, her favourite white roses, books, and pictures of Pozzuoli, her beloved hometown. It will invite guests to inhabit the actress’ world in a place she adores.
“Mia madre has always loved this hotel,” added her son, Edoardo Ponti. “She knows every corner but is especially fond of this suite where, on many occasions, she has gazed out over the Piazza della Repubblica with the Fountain of the Naiads and beyond towards the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri. She first stayed here when visiting Giuseppe Marzio Prontrandolfo, who, in addition to his role as the hotel’s Head of Institutional Relations, is a dear friend of whom my mother is particularly fond. They have known each other for twenty years, and it is thanks to him that this collaboration with Anantara Palazzo Naiadi began. This suite feels like her Roman home, and we hope the guests who choose to stay here will feel the same.”
Features of the room include a beauty station with some of Ms Loren’s must-have cosmetics, a movie corner with a DVD player and her most iconic films, a playlist loaded with her favourite songs, and family photos on the walls. Her biographies and a selection of books she authored will make up a small library, along with her favourite reads, and the air will be scented with her favourite perfume.
Guests will enjoy coffee served in her customary style – with two savoiardi Italian biscuits– and have the chance to taste some of her favourite dishes, prepared on request by the hotel’s expert chef from Ms Loren’s own recipe books, including “Recipes and Memories” and “In Cucina con Amore.” Finally, exclusive arrival and departure gifts will complete the experience, which has been carefully curated with the hotel’s team by Edoardo – a renowned film director in his own right.
“Edoardo is known around the world for his work,” emphasises Giuseppe Marzio Pontrandolfo. “He has spent a lot of time building this project with us. He did so because he, too, is very close to this hotel. Edoardo stayed here while working on the short film, ‘La Voce Umana’ and the 2020 film ‘La Vita Davanti a Sé,’ with which his mother won the David di Donatello award for best actress.”
Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel thus proudly announces the launch of the first and only suite dedicated to Sophia Loren, offering an authentic experience that invites guests into the world of an actress who considers the hotel her home in the Eternal City.
