One of the highlights of our trip to Rome was the private tour we were given at Fendi. We were able to tour both Fendi's corporate headquarters in EUR and their flagship store near the Spanish Steps. Fendi is an Italian luxury fashion house producing fur, ready-to-wear clothing, leather goods, shoes, fragrances, eyewear, timepieces and accessories. Founded in 1925 in Rome, Fendi is renowned for its fur and fur accessories. In 2015, the fashion house moved its headquarters into the Palazzo della Civilta Italiana, a six-floor geometric edifice of symmetrical arches nicknamed, "The Square Colosseum." The 75-year-old building was never occupied prior to Fendi's arrival! We were given a great tour by Giulia, Worldwide Private Client Relations Manager. She showed us their movie studio, plush theater, employee café, and a special exhibit of Fendi clothing and accessories used in the movies. Speaking of movies, Fendi shows a different movie each night at 9 pm, and the public is invited to come free of charge. Not a bad deal! We concluded our tour with her on the rooftop, which offered spectacular, panoramic views. After leaving Fendi headquarters, we went downtown to the Palazzo Fendi - the company's flagship store near the Spanish Steps, where we were met by Rim, Fendi's Fur Atelier (fur workshop) Ambassador. She told us that she had been with Fendi for 20 years; and, it was clear she really enjoyed her job! Walking us through the various rooms of the Palazzo, she showed us how everything in each room compliments the rest of the items in the room - from furniture to clothes to wall decorations to handbags to fur garments. It was downright impressive! (And, unless she had explained all that, we would have been clueless!) On the second floor of their store is a room where several employees make fur coats and accessories. (The main fur production operation is at their headquarters in EUR.) Obviously, they have this small operation downtown to show important clients how the work is done. We marveled at the steps they took to make something like a fur coat. After viewing the shop, we were taken upstairs to the Fendi Private Suites: a hotel with 7 individualized suites. You can now not only shop at Fendi's flagship boutique in Rome, but stay there. The third floor of the Maison's stunning home, Palazzo Fendi, has been transformed into the world's very first Fendi hotel. This sumptuous palazzo originally belonged to the noble Boncompagni Ludovisi family and sits at the foot of the Via Condotti. Elfriede, the Fendi Private Suites Guest Relations Manager (who has worked for Fendi for 26 years), showed us one of the suites - the honeymoon suite, which was prepared for the arrival of a pair of newlyweds. They had arranged rose petals on the bedspread in the shape of a heart (with a box of chocolates in the middle), as well as a trail of rose petals from the door to the bed. On the top floor - above the private suites - is a Zuma restaurant, which is part of a world-wide chain of very high-end, Japanese restaurants. This one boasts a rooftop cocktail and dining area with wonderful views of Rome. We were thrilled with our tour of Fendi! read more

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Even if you're not a Fendi fan, I'd say this flagship store is worth a visit just for the building's architectural elements alone. And if you are a fashion fiend or Fendi lover, you might want to go sightseeing first, as you'll likely spend half a day here like I did. While it is often overshadowed by Milan, Rome has also played a huge role in the fashion world as the birthplace of Italian Couture, with most of the credit owed to Valentino, who opened his first store in Rome, and another popular name in high-end fashion: Fendi. If you're not familiar with the name, maybe a quick flip through some Google images will help you remember the popular logo you've probably seen numerous times during the course of your lifetime. Like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, Fendi's FF Zucca print could be seen on many credit card swiping victims of high fashion and those with steep wallets especially in the 90s and early 00s. With it celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, I read sometime ago that it will be moving to one of Rome's most striking and grand buildings, the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana. read more