In the Eternal City, a constellation of stars clustered to redefine the Roman holiday. Whereas the Greeks gave their gods Mount Olympus, pop culture now gives theirs the Bulgari Hotel Roma.

At the debut of the Roman destination, the house’s brand ambassadors Zendaya and Priyanka Chopra Jonas set the tone for Bulgari’s new chapter, sporting ensembles of fluid silhouettes. In motion, the languorous movements of Jonas’ gown recalled the fashions of the Roman beauties immortalized in murals within the remnants of the fallen empire. Donning the Augustus Emerald Monete Sautoir, Jonas radiated with an aura of ethereal glamour. A star piece of the Monete collection, the Augustus Emerald Monete Sautoir stunned with a neckline of over 600 carats of round emeralds. All the while, Zendaya evoked another iconic era of Italian fashion through the vessel of the power suit. At the intersection of structured shoulders and glistening adornments, the American actress emulates both strength and seduction in her attire—both inextricable qualities the Italian power suit recalls today.

Much like the exquisite necklace celebrating the ever-morphing beauty of Rome and the ensembles of both brand ambassadors, the Bulgari Hotel Roma, too, honors the heritage of the ancient city while playing on its progressive design ethos.

The soiree began as an archetype of the opening night: a ribbon, scissors, and the frenetic flash of cameras galore. The Pentelic marble statue of a seated Augustus carved out to the nines with traditional attributes of the Roman god Jupiter represented the very heritage on which the jewelry house was built. While charming in the way a Titian composition is, what followed delighted attendees with something a little more immersive that veered outside the confines of tradition. 

Bulgari invited its star-studded guests to explore the resort’s marvels. Among those in attendance were Adele Exarchopoulos, Emilia Schüle, Lebanese TV Presenter and Journalist Raya Abi Rached, Saudi Arabian TV presenter Lojain Omran and Alina Boz. Local celebrities included Miriam Leone, Cristiana Capotondi, and Alessandro Gassmann. 

Within its corridors, 114 hotel rooms and suites designed to the verve of Milan-based architectural studio ACPV Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel greeted guests. Warm buttery hues bounced off neutral shades throughout its interior. Incredibly chic and inviting, the premiere destination channels modern-day opulence yet veers away from over imposing.

Where live music performances met an exhibition of vintage Bulgari pieces, attendees were stunned with works such as a necklace in platinum scintillating with emeralds and diamonds once sported by none other than the legendary Elizabeth Taylor. 

A-listers then made their way to the ground floor to indulge in a signature menu of small bites curated by Chef Niko Romito, including the Vitello Tonnato, Pappa al Pomodoro, and Tortelli with scampi and tarragon to the live score of music sensation The Shakes. 

“The Bulgari hotel in Rome is not just a new gem of the Eternal City, but a true contemporary and innovative Roman monument that combines the pinnacle of hospitality and gastronomy, setting a new world standard but also a genuine cultural center with a public library on Roman arts and architecture and unique statues from the world-famous Torlonia collection such as the Emperor Augustus welcoming our guests in the entrance vestibule,” said Bulgari Group CEO, Jean-Christophe Babin. “The hotel offers a unique full immersion in a new luxury combining hospitality, arts, and craftsmanship, pioneering a new generation of Haute Hospitalité Monuments.” 

As dusk turned to night, the party got cranked up a few levels higher—four, to be precise. Rising to the fifth floor, guests encountered breathtaking views of the Mausoleum of Augustus. And as the grand finale? A drone show seemed to be the most natural choice considering the melding of past and future at play. Featuring a light show consisting of 200 drones, it was evident Bulgari etched its name into the Eternal City’s skyline.