Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat, Italy

Above: Palazzo Fiuggi’s 700sqm Roman bath facility offers an authentic Italian experience with views over the old town

INTERVIEW BY LAUREN HEATH-JONES

A palace of wellbeing

Following a year-long programme of restoration, Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat recently opened in central Italy on the site of the former 102-room Grand Hotel Palazzo della Fonte, now owned by Sardinian wellness resort operator Forte Village.

Located in the ancient town of Fiuggi, renowned for its mineral-rich water, Palazzo Fiuggi offers a 360-degree approach to wellness through the combination of advanced western medicine, holistic traditions and nutrition.

“Palazzo Fiuggi was created by a team of international experts who have developed scientifically backed and innovative protocols to aid a full recovery of health and wellbeing,” says Lorenzo Giannuzzi, CEO of Forte Village.

A private spa suite complements the spa’s 21 multi-functional treatment rooms, eight beauty cabins and six medical rooms

The retreat boasts a 6,000sqm spa and wellness centre with 21 multi-functional treatment rooms, eight beauty rooms, six medical rooms and a private spa suite. Hydrothermal experiences include a 700sqm Roman bath, two thalassotherapy pools filled with Fiuggi mineral water, and two hammams.

A 400sqm Workout Movement Lab, fitted with Technogym, Reaxing and ICAROS equipment, completes the offering. Guests can choose from five bespoke packages: Immuno Boost, Mindful Movement, Deep Detox, Optimal Weight and Complete Life Rewind, each developed by medical and scientific director Dr David della Morte Canosci.

Consultant and pre-opening spa director Thorsten Lipfert discusses the retreat’s new approach to health and wellbeing:

Thorsten Lipfert Consultant and pre-opening spa director Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat

What makes Palazzo Fiuggi special and unique?

Everything here evolves around the healing waters of Fiuggi. Its healing properties date back to the Romans, and the town is set to become a Blue Zone as its natural surroundings, altitude and clean air all contribute to long lives for its inhabitants. Therefore, hydrotherapy in these mineral-rich waters plays an essential role in our offering.

When it comes to our guests, we take a medical and holistic approach to their wellbeing. Their wellness is at the heart of everything we do, and our treatment plans all begin with initial medical, blood and other specialised tests, so we can create completely bespoke therapies with guaranteed success.

What’s the rationale behind the retreat’s approach to health, wellbeing and longevity?

The main goal is to have a lasting impact on our guests’ wellness. We want to teach them how to improve their lifestyles in a way that positively affects their bodies, minds and spirits. Our multidisciplinary teams provide our clients with the tools they need to improve their emotional and physical wellbeing.

Our guests are in the hands of the best medical, spa and wellness teams. Renowned doctors and specialists work in partnership with physiotherapists, osteopaths, massage therapists, wellness coaches and psychologists to create a completely customised offering.

The breathtaking rural setting of Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat in the Lazio region of Italy

Additionally, some of the world’s leading wellness experts come to the resort as visiting practitioners to share their teachings on health and wellbeing. Finally, our offer features the most advanced medical and wellness technology in a unique and majestic setting

Can you detail the guest journey for us?

Purification, nourishment, energising and connection are the key pillars of the Palazzo Fiuggi guest experience and these principles run throughout our guest journeys. The spa experience begins with a unique welcome ritual in the Palazzo Hammam.

ICAROS virtual reality equipment in the fitness area

Guests can then choose from several programmes, such as Complete Life Rewind, Immuno Boost, Optimal Weight or Deep Detox. Each guest is given a medical evaluation, independent of their chosen package, which is then used to individualise their treatment plan with their wellness coach under the advice of their physician. The packages include two to three treatments each day, leaving guests enough time to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

What are the spa’s signature experiences?

The heart of the spa is the thalasso area, which has two connected pools filled with healing spring water from the Fiuggi source, one enriched with sea salt and the other with magnesium and fango mud.

The luxurious interior of the spa and wellness centre

We also have the energising and detoxifying 3-Step Hydro Therapy from Unbescheiden. Forming part of every guest’s journey, 3-Step Hydro Therapy is a revitalising bathing experience that consists of a rich, fango mud wrap on a floating table, ending with a therapeutic Kneipp Jet Shower.

Palazzo Fiuggi is the first spa to offer Gharieni’s Spa Wave, Cellis, and FIR iDome treatment concepts all under the same roof, which improve sleep, aid relaxation and encourage weight loss.

Can you tell us more about the medical offering?

Dr. David della Morte Canosci, a neurology specialist and Palazzo Fiuggi’s medical and scientific director, created our unique medical spa concept. His research and expertise in senescence and metabolic, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases plays an integral role in our offering.

Dr. David della Morte Canosci Medical and scientific director Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat

We have a team of specialists, led by Dr Canosci, covering all fields of integrative medicine. We also have some interesting diagnostic devices, such as the IMEDOS Retina Scan, which checks microvascular health and can detect a guest’s vascular risk at a very early stage, and NILAS, a diagnostic device that delivers a functional parameter of stress levels in real time.

Can you tell us about the restoration process? Were there any major challenges?

It took a year to restore the palace and main spa. Palazzo Fiuggi was built in 1913 and most of the challenges we faced came from its protected status as a historical building. Due to its age, we had to make some structural changes so it would meet the health and safety standards of a five-star hotel and wellness medical retreat. Our main challenge was being respectful of the palace’s history and identity while trying to improve and optimise its spaces.

Chef Heinz Beck with Dr. David della Morte Canosci

How has the guest experience been tailored?

The wellness centre and spa has been designed to create a healing sanctuary, not only for the savvy wellness traveller but for all guests looking for a holistic healing approach underpinned by scientific research.

Arriving guests are greeted by their own wellness coach, who is there to work with them to create a personalised experience. Additionally, our Roman Therme hosts a spacious sauna and relaxation area, which encourages guests from different countries to enjoy our rich Italian spa culture.

SPA STATISTICS

Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat www.palazzofiuggi.com

Owner: Forte Village. General manager: Ciro Verrocchi. Pre-opening consultant: Thorsten Lipfert. Medical and scientific director: Dr David della Morte Canosci. Spa director: Sharon Cassius. Total investment: €30m. Architects: Sandro Sergi, Mario Dal Molin. Design and interiors: Claudia Manunta. Consultant: GOCO Hospitality. Spa team: 30. Spa size: 6,000sqm. Treatment rooms: 21 multi-use treatment rooms, eight beauty rooms, six medical rooms and a private spa suite. Hydrothermal experiences: 700sqm Therme Roman bath, two hammams, steamroom, sauna and experience shower. Pools: Two thalassotherapy pools, contrast cold plunge pool, panorama pool and outdoor pools including a semi-Olympic pool. Suppliers: Treatment beds, MLX Dome, Cellis and Spa Wave equipment by Gharieni; Medi-spa wet experiences by Stenal; Thalassotherapy pools by Unbescheiden; Fitness equipment by Technogym, Reaxing and ICAROS. Product partners: Team Dr Josef, Dr Barbara Sturm, Natural Bio Lifting and Charme d’Orient