The Palazzo Fiuggi Diaries
Where Italian elegance meets modern wellbeing. Set within a historic retreat embraced by nature, it’s a place to fully restore both mind and body.
This was what I had read about the Palazzo, and it felt like exactly what I needed. I’d been searching for a place to unwind—somewhere I could escape to for just three days, because that’s all my schedule allows. I wanted a retreat where the food was genuinely good, where I wouldn’t be starving or restricted. So many wellness retreats are much more hard‑core: week‑long programs, rigid routines, and limited meals. That wasn’t what I wanted, nor what I needed.
A Seamless Arrival Into Stillness
I left Oslo at 7 a.m. on Sunday and flew to Rome, where a pre‑booked car was waiting for me. After a one‑hour drive through the countryside, I arrived at the Palazzo at 11:30. My room was already prepared, and I was told to change into sportswear and meet in the dining room for lunch at noon.
The first lunch set the tone—in the best possible way. A beautifully balanced three‑course meal: sea bream with fennel, ravioli filled with burrata and broccoli, and a small nougat mousse to finish. Everything was incredibly fresh, made only with local ingredients.
You can choose to diet here if you want to, but I had communicated in advance that I wanted to maintain my weight, so they set my meals at around 2,000 calories per day. They don’t serve coffee or alcohol, and the menu is tailored individually to your needs. I’m 100% sure anyone would enjoy it—the food is genuinely delicious.
After lunch, I slipped into a swimsuit and bathrobe and headed down to the spa—and what a spa it is. Infrared sauna, steam room, hot sauna, countless pools both indoors and outdoors, a thermal pool filled with warm, highly salted water, a hammam, an entire suite of treatment rooms, and even a dedicated Barbara Sturm spa.
The program is wonderfully full, with massages and treatments scheduled throughout the day—exactly what I was hoping for. I truly needed a few days where someone else could take care of me.
A Sunday Steeped in Treatments
On Sunday afternoon, I had a psammo massage—something I had never tried before. You lie on a warm bed filled with tiny rose quartz stones (covered with a thin sheet), and the therapist gently moves the heated stones beneath your body. The treatment ends with sound healing, and I felt completely melted afterward.
Right after the psammo, I had a deep tissue massage—truly the best one of my life. If you ever go to Palazzo Fiuggi, ask for Paolo; he is exceptional.
The evening ended with Thalasso therapy, where you float in the warm, salty thermal pool. Not my personal favorite, but I have to admit: my skin has never been softer.
Dinner on Sunday night was light but beautifully prepared: a fresh salad, a warm vegetable broth, and chicken breast served with Swiss chard and parsley root. For dessert, they brought out a small dark‑chocolate cannolo filled with red‑berry sorbet—simple, elegant, and delicious.
I went to bed at nine. Housekeeping had already prepared the room, complete with my selected pillow from the pillow menu, and I slept like a baby. Sleep is taken seriously at the Palazzo; the room becomes completely dark, and the silence is absolute. They even turn off the fountain outside in the evenings so nothing disturbs your rest.
My Peaceful Daily Rhythm
There are no group classes or activities at the Palazzo, which suited me perfectly.
I wanted quiet, uninterrupted time to myself, speaking only to my children and husband during my afternoon check‑ins. I set my alarm for 7 a.m. every morning—almost like sleeping in for me, since I’m usually up at 05:45 in Oslo.
The gym at Palazzo Fiuggi is incredible—large, bright, and beautifully equipped—and I had it entirely to myself each morning. I worked out for about an hour: two rounds of the MWH program, followed by 15 minutes on the treadmill with a view of the rolling hills.
Breakfast is served from 7–9, and I always ate around 8:30 at my designated table, where a personal menu awaited each guest. The breakfast changed daily and was always delicious. On Monday, I had porridge, wholemeal bread, whipped ricotta, a tomato–cucumber salad, and fresh pomegranate juice.
After breakfast, I walked through the gardens—warm and sunny even in February, truly springtime in Italy. The rest of the day was a calming rhythm of treatments: hammam, massages, Thalasso therapy, and beautifully prepared three‑course healthy meals for lunch and dinner. That was my routine until I left on Wednesday morning. I slept deeply every night and even finished an entire book.
Active Attire & Radiant Skin
The dress code was simple: gym clothes during the day, a bathrobe for treatments, and casual chic for dinner. I brought new sets from the Norwegian brand Run & Relax—one of my favorite sportswear brands— Black Bamboo Leggings,
Deep Espresso Bandha Tights, a matching Yoga Bra, and two Black Hybrid Bras.
Comfortable, effortless, and chic.
In the evenings, I wore cashmere sets from Falconeri paired with Chanel ballerinas.
For this trip, I wanted to try a few skincare products I’d been curious about—specifically Norwegian Face Formula. I used their Advanced Vitamin A Serum every night, and my skin was glowing each morning. I didn’t wear any makeup during my stay, not even in the evenings—just their Blue Serum and Pro-Aging Firming Cream.
My skin felt hydrated, fresh, and unexpectedly radiant.
