A historic building near the Vatican will soon host a Four Seasons hotel, following a leasing agreement signed by a Catholic knighthood organization.
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem entered into a contract with Fort Partners, a development firm based in Miami, on March 10, as revealed in a statement on Tuesday. This lease enables Fort Partners to operate a hotel managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts within a section of the historic building.
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a lay institution under the Holy See’s guardianship, has its headquarters in another part of the building. The organization, first mentioned in historical documents in 1336, now consists of approximately 30,000 members from almost 40 countries, committed to supporting the Church in the Holy Land.
The Renaissance-style Palazzo della Rovere, which features a turret, a magnificent courtyard, and Pinturicchio frescoes on the main floor, is situated a mere three-minute walk from St. Peter’s Basilica.
Since 2018, the order has been urged by the Special Department of Rome Archeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape to carry out the building’s restoration.
A Wall Street Journal report dated March 13 stated that Fort Partners agreed to a 30-year lease and committed $57.5 million for the restoration project. The completed hotel will comprise 55 to 60 rooms and feature a courtyard restaurant.
The luxury development is expected to be finalized by 2025, in time for the Church’s Jubilee Year.
The essential repairs will not only conserve the structure and introduce necessary safety enhancements, but also help restore the invaluable 15th- and 16th-century frescoes that have sustained severe damage.
Fort Partners will fully fund the renovation, allowing the order to direct its members’ voluntary contributions entirely to the Holy Land.
