Iconic Italian property reimagined as €30m medi-wellness retreat

Following a €30m (£26m, $35.9m) restoration, the Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat will open this May in Fiuggi, just under an hour away from Rome.

The iconic property, once the Grand Hotel Palazzo della Fonte, is now owned and run by the Sardinian-based Forte Village team, who have spent a number of years carefully restoring and reinventing the Palazzo to offer ‘a radical new approach to health, wellbeing and longevity’.

Located on a hilltop within a private 80,000sqm park amidst a landscape famed for its rich mineral waters, every detail of the 6,000sqm wellness medical retreat has been designed with the guest’s health and wellbeing in mind.

Building architect Sandro Sergi and spa architect Mario Dal Molin worked in cooperation with wellness and medical experts overseen by the retreat’s medical and scientific director, David Della Morte Canosci, and spa director Thorsten Lipfert.

The Medical Spa facilities were designed, engineered and built by Italian company Stenal, who also supplied a 700sqm Therme Roman bath.

Twenty-one multi-functional treatment rooms and eight beauty cabins will feature professional products from Dr Barbara Sturm and Vitalis whilst Gharieni Group supplied treatment beds as well as MLX Dome, Cellis and Spa Wave equipment.

The spa’s Hydro Circuit includes two thalasso pools incorporating Fiuggi waters; one contrast cold pool and a hammam. The Fiugi water that originates within the region’s natural springs and mountains is said to help restore the kidneys and balance the immune system.

A 400sqm Workout Movement Lab in the Palazzo’s former ballroom will feature Technogym products, with Reaxing providing cognitive training and the benefit of Icaros virtual reality fitness experiences.

There will also be a 700sqm Terme Romane connected to the central body of the building which will reproduce the experience of the ancient Roman Baths.

Fusing holistic traditions with advanced western medicine, Palazzo Fiuggi’s integrative approach takes a 360-degree approach to health. There will be five, fully bespoke programmes: Complete Life Rewind; Optimal Weight; Mindful Movement; Deep Detox and Immuno Boost. Each can be booked for one or more weeks and guests will be able to add extra  treatments as part of an a la carte menu to further enhance their experience.

Three-star Michelin chef, Heinz Beck alongside David della Morte, a specialist in senescence-related diseases and medical and scientific director at Palazzo Fiuggi, have designed a Food Line which will be unique to Palazzo Fiuggi. Designed using food nutrients able to activate cellular pathways linked with anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant processes, the Food Line will showcase ‘food as medicine’, that aids the body when cooked and served the right way.