The Spa at Orient Express La Minerva in Rome, Italy, has launched, offering treatments and bathing facilities that are inspired by Roman thermae and Ottoman hammam rituals.

Designed by artist-architect Hugo Toro, the spa echoes the journey one might make on the iconic Orient Express train. It offers a progressive sensory experience inspired by the three stages of ancient thermal rituals. 

The tepidarium provides gradual acclimatisation, the calidarium is a warm environment with pools and steam and the frigidarium houses a final invigorating cold bath. 

The spa has single and double treatment rooms as well as shared relaxation rooms. 

There is also a marble hammam, surrounded by fountains and moucharabieh (wooden latticework screens) that filter the light.

Starpool provided the thermal facilities, rasul and hammam suite.

A gym has the latest Technogym Artis equipment and a Kinesis room for functional training.

Treatments

Treatments also incorporate the Orient Express’ heritage, with two hammam rituals called Dea Minerva and Stop Constantinople. The therapies include rose-infused foot baths, aromatic steam, kassa exfoliation, ghassoul clay wraps, rasul rituals, foaming massages and face and hair treatments. 

C.O.D.E. by AKT Group has provided a custom Theia treatment bed for therapies.

The spa has exclusively partnered with Italian skincare brand Furtuna Skin. Furtuna Skin’s products use ingredients that are cultivated on the brand’s 800-acre regenerative organic estate in Sicily. These include extra virgin olive oil, wild-foraged botanicals and medicinal herbs. 

Agatha Relota Luczo, founder and CEO of Furtuna Skin, said: “The spa’s reverence for ancient purification traditions, historic elegance, and holistic restoration aligns with our own commitment to time-honoured botanicals and transformative wellness. Together, we are crafting immersive rituals that nurture the skin, restore the spirit, and invite a sense of renewal befitting one of Rome’s most storied destinations.”

The Furtuna Skin x La Minerva Exclusive Vibrancy Facial lasts 60 minutes and costs €210  (US$229, £179). This facial stimulates circulation and detoxifies the skin, in combination with the brand’s Obsidian Gua Sha. Inspired by the rich heritage of Roman thermal water healing, the treatment combines warming and cooling sensations for the face, lips and décolletage.

Simone Giorgi, general manager of Orient Express La Minerva, said: “Our spa offers our guests an exclusive journey inspired by Ottoman rituals, while remaining deeply connected to the vibrant heart of Rome and land-driven innovation.”

Orient Express

The Orient Express train began operating in 1883.

Accor purchased a 50 per cent stake in the Orient Express brand from French rail operator SNCF in 2017 in order to develop a series of luxury hotels. The train experience, La Dolce Vita Orient Express, relaunched last year.

There are now two hotels in operation. The 93-room and 36-suite Orient Express La Minerva opened in a Roman 17th-century palazzo in April of last year. 

A new hotel, Orient Express Venezia will open in Venice, Italy, later this year. 

The brand is currently taking bookings for the first sailings on its new ship, which it claims will be the world’s largest sailing yacht when it launches later this year. The Orient Express Corinthian will be joined in 2027 by a sister sailing yacht called the Orient Express Olympian.

Many top hospitality brands are developing luxury yachts, including Aman, Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons.