For centuries the natural waters from Fiuggi have been known as among the most healthful in the world. Beginning in the 1500s, popes and movie stars, artists and pilgrims have come to this Italian destination in hopes the water would cure their ills. In 1913, an imposing Art Nouveau-style villa hotel opened. In 2021, that same hotel became Palazzo Fiuggi; it was completely renovated, with spa and wellness facilities covering 65,000 square feet and surrounded by 20 acres of lush gardens. The ambiance of the past is reflected in the soaring ceilings and chandeliers in the lobby and dining room, but cutting-edge wellness technologies rule the day.
Just 40 minutes from Rome, lab coat-wearing technicians whisper their way through long halls lined with 39 treatment rooms and a dozen medical offices. This is no mere spa: No treatment or activity begins until after medical and holistic/Ayurveda examinations and various tests reveal nearly every facet of physical health. (Think 3-D body scan or Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, among many others.) It is only then that the specially curated planning begins, starting with a customized menu designed by three-star Michelin chef Heinz Beck and Medical Director Dr. David Della Morte. There will be no sugar, no caffeine and no alcohol, yet the meals are sophisticated and tasty even without them.
Each program is all-inclusive, covering wellness regimens, personalized meals, consultations and assessments, and a hotel stay. At least a dozen additional therapies or beauty services may be added on an à la carte basis, such as Binaural Sound Therapy for relaxation and de-stressing. Children over 14 are welcome at Palazzo Fiuggi. The hotel does not accept pets. All guests are expected to participate in a treatment program, with the exception of one member of a couple traveling together.
Lorenzo Giannuzzi is founder of Palazzo Fiuggi and CEO of Forte Village on Sardinia, a five-star all-inclusive beach resort. Resident Manager Patrizia Di Martino (patrizia.dimartino@palazzofiuggi.com; +39-335-780-8544) has had a long career in luxury hospitality; she was an executive at the former Grand Hotel Palazzo della Fonte prior to its sale, total renovation and relaunch as Palazzo Fiuggi two years ago. Since guests at Palazzo Fiuggi stay anywhere from three days to three weeks, she must balance keeping things running smoothly with providing innovative ideas and activities. One example is a full week of strength and restorative activities in accordance with The Ranch Malibu in California.
Her cohort in this effort is Spa Manager Sharon Cassius (Sharon.cassius@palazzofiuggi.com), who has worked around the world, including for ESPA. Between them, they make certain every guest has a customized schedule of treatments, refreshing personal comforts, and individually designed itineraries. Programs can range from Longevity and Rejuvenation, to Detox and Weight Control, to retreats such as Post Summer Detox or Reset Menopause.
There are multiple pools inside and out, heated or not, bubbling or still. In 1936, the hotel installed one of Italy’s first outdoor Olympic swimming pools, which is still in use today. There is a fully equipped gym, hammam, salt room, extensive Roman baths and Thalassotherapy, plus biking, yoga, paddle and tennis, bowling and hiking. Specialized facials, massages and other beauty treatments are available. A Post-Residence Concierge service is available for those who wish for follow-up support after their programs. And, of course, there is the Fiuggi water, which is provided to every guest daily.
The 132-room property includes 48 suites, including two on the second floor (European first floor) that can be combined via outside terraces. The light-filled Presidential Suite, No. 139 (1,200 square feet), includes one large bedroom, one full bath and one half bath, as well as two terraces (one of which is 1,700 square feet).
The adjacent Royal Suite, No. 134 (1,450 square feet), includes a large living room and one bedroom, both of which open to the terrace (1,500 square feet), and one and a half bathrooms. It can connect to the Presidential Suite via the terrace.
The deluxe doubles and junior suites are spacious and comfortable, many with sitting areas. The expansive bathrooms reflect the golden age with large windows and high ceilings, but have been brought up to 21st-century standards. Some bathrooms have tubs; most have walk-in showers. Throughout the property the décor combines classic marble and crystal pieces with contemporary furniture and facilities. Every room is a view room.
This year, Palazzo Fiuggi introduced the Villa Luisa, an Art Deco villa that has been renovated and modernized top to bottom. With seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, the private house, which sleeps up to 14 guests, includes five floors, two living rooms and a dining room, wine cellar, a gym with sauna and a treatment room. There is an elevator, as well as a staircase in the villa.
Two floors have three bedrooms each; the front bedroom of each is the largest and includes work space and Juliette balconies, the middle bedroom is more compact, and the rear bedroom is spacious, all with panoramic views. The penthouse floor holds the expansive Presidential Suite, which has three terraces, a living room with fireplace, one bedroom and two full baths, including a mosaic-walled shower with a view of the mountains beyond.
Villa Luisa may only be booked in its entirety at this point. Villa staff include a chef and butler; dinner is served nightly. Transport between the villa and the adjacent main hotel and wellness center is available upon request; otherwise, some spa services can be arranged at the villa.
Looking back 500 years, it’s said Fiuggi’s miraculous waters cured Michelangelo’s kidney stones. Whether true or not, we think Palazzo Fiuggi’s current programs may be just the solution for 21st-century stress or to ease back into a positive life balance.
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