Palazzo Fiuggi

Character and identity

Set in the forested hills of Lazio, an hour south of Rome, Palazzo Fiuggi is a wellness retreat housed in a grand spa hotel that first opened its doors in 1910 (Sophia Loren is among its historic clientele). The centrepiece is a 64,000-square-foot marble-clad spa with three thalassotherapy pools fed by mineral-rich Fiuggi thermal water, plus treatments spanning Dead Sea mud rituals, detox protocols, vibrational sound healing and quartz-sand psammotherapy. Rooms lean classical, with silky linens, tufted chaises and sweeping mountain views. The restaurant menu comes from Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, built around colourful, seasonal produce.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The spa is the reason to come: scale, thermal water and a treatment menu that runs from indulgent to genuinely clinical, paired with cooking smart enough to make a week here pleasurable rather than penitential. Book a mountain-view room, commit to one of the structured wellness programmes rather than à la carte nights, and treat Rome as an optional bookend, not the main event.