The roman temple

Fascinated by Bulgari's cultural roots and ties with ancient Greece and Rome, Peter Marino refurbished, transformed and restored the store in 2014. The interplay between innovation, transgression and tradition lies clearly at the core of Marino's eclectic and captivating style.

Uniquely eclectic, Peter Marino successfully meshes all surrounding spaces into significantly more homogeneous and aesthetically captivating ensembles. All materials for this store were chosen with reference to what was used in Ancient Rome and Bulgari's history. Every room breathes it's own exceptional atmosphere.

Visitors entering the store of Via Condotti will find themselves in a richly decorated elliptical vestibule.
Finely selected works of art from the Bulgari collection have been displayed in four niches carved between the doorways, and a red porphyry eight-pointed star – a symbol of Roman Renaissance and Baroque tradition – can be seen at the center of the floor.

On the opposite side of the grand promenade is the ladies' accessories gallery, beautifully introduced by the 'Maglia Pantheon' (Pantheon Mesh), a bronze lattice-work screen. Also inspired by the floor of the Pantheon is the parquet in the men's gallery. Here, Marino also incorporated the eight-pointed star motif.

In a niche at the end of the promenade, Peter Marino placed one of the ‘Les Colonnes Révolutionnaires’ by Johan Creten, a modern interpretation of Bernini’s twisted columns of St. Peter’s church.

In the new space dedicated to men’s watches, Peter Marino created a masculine atmosphere, reminiscent of a 19th century fumoir, or of a gentlemen’s club.
The color palette is pretty dark, from gray to bronze and dark green.
The circles-and-squares pattern of the bleached walnut parquet was inspired by the marble paving of the Pantheon in Rome.

On the opposite side of the grand promenade, visitors will enter the ladies’ accessories gallery and be beguiled by the ‘Maglia Pantheon’ (Pantheon Mesh), a bronze lattice-work screen. As for the parquet in the men’s gallery, the design was inspired by the floor of the Pantheon, hence the name chosen by Marino. Here though, he introduced an additional motif: the eight-pointed star, like the big one in the vestibule.

Thanks to Peter Marino, a ‘secret’ door has been brought back to use after being closed for decades, and it now welcomes today’s VIPs.
It leads to the so called ‘Salottino Taylor’ (Taylor lounge) for in 1960s VIPs could use this door to reach the private courtyard of Palazzo Maruscelli-Lepri, thereby escaping from paparazzi.
In her autobiography, Elizabeth Taylor wrote: ‘Undeniably one of the biggest advantages to working on Cleopatra in Rome was Bulgari’s little shop.
I used to visit Gianni Bulgari in the afternoon and we’d sit…and swap stories’.

Born in Greece, Sotirios Voulgaris moved to Italy at an early age to shape his future. In 1884, he opened his first shop in Rome on Via Sistina, followed by a second location on Via dei Condotti in 1894, and finally a third and larger space also on Via dei Condotti in 1905. The three Bulgari boutiques coexisted for years - one above and two below the hill, physically connected by the Spanish Steps.

In 1905, the central sign ‘S. Bulgari’ at Via Condotti 10 was surmounted by the wording ‘Old Curiosity Shop’ followed by ‘Napoli, Lucerna, St. Moritz Bad’, indicating Sotirio’s ongoing activity in other locations, both in Italy and abroad.
Furthermore, the store’s English name, taken from a Charles Dickens’ novel, also showed Sotirio’s aim to address a foreign clientele.

As a testimony of the family's very eclectic taste, the boutique initially offered silver, antiquities and fine oriental objects. In 1915, Sotirio Bulgari introduced fine jewels to the assortment that would become the brand's core business. As a result, Via dei Condotti 10 is considered the first Temple of BULGARI.

The third and most important transformation of the façade occurred between 1933 and 1934, soon after Sotirio’s death in November 1932.
Arch. Florestano di Fausto was chosen to redesign the façade – his project included four large openings for display windows and a central doorway, all framed by green African marble cornices.
The central doorway was crowned with gilded brass letters spelling “BULGARI”.
The font and the letter “V” replacing the “U” were chosen to echo the style of ancient Roman inscriptions.
Both façade and display windows have remained unaltered since then.

2014 marked Bulgari's 130th anniversary since Rome boutique was first opened. In celebration, renowned American architect Peter Marino refurbished the Via dei Condotti 10 flagship and Bulgari financed the renovation of the Spanish Steps, a remarkable momunment of the Eternal City and iconic symbol of Bulgari's history.