Tucked away in the quietness of a park, the Grand Hotel Palazzo della Fonte rests on top of a hill overlooking the valley of Fiuggi, a prime SPA destination. A majestic example of Art Nouveau architecture, the Palazzo welcomes its guests in rooms whose décor and drapery epitomise the timeless elegance of English traditional country houses. It seduces with the culinary delights of local tradition; its SPA greets with delicate scents and sweet melodies gently diffusing. An elegant and sumptuous retreat, an hour away from the capital, the Palazzo is a haven of relaxation where to abandon oneself to the warmth and hospitality of a dedicated staff that will ensure that every whim is catered for.
A history that spans a century
At Fiuggi everything is born from water, the source that since the Middle Ages was known for its ability to "break stone" and that cured the illness of Pope Boniface VIII and Michelangelo.
The birth and development of one of the most famous Italian "villes d'eaux" is closely linked to the history of the Grand Hotel Palazzo della Fonte.
Majestic, elegant, unique in its liberty style, the hotel was built to be the most elegant and modern in Europe. After opening in 1913, it became the most fashionable meeting place for the high society as well as a favourite destination for the European aristocracy. After all, in 1914, the King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele III along with all the royal family chose the Palazzo for an extended holiday period. On that occasion, an entire apartment was outfitted and furnished, the same prestigious suite with terrace that still houses famous personalities with unchanged discretion.
After the First World War and during the '30s the hotel reached its maximum splendour. In 1936, it was equipped with one of the first pools built in Europe while in its sumptuous saloons tables of roulette, baccarat , and chemin de fer were set up. The Palazzo at this time consildated its reputation of a true royal residence, frequented by the high society of the time. Among the guests there were Giovanni Giolitti, Luigi Pirandello, Pablo Picasso, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Guglielmo Marconi, Eleonora Duse, Caruso, Caroll Baker, and Titta Ruffo.
During the Second World War, on the roof of the Palazzo waved the flag of the Red Cross as it served as the hospital for all the German officers injured on the front at Cassino. The hotel would later become the headquarters for the Allied Powers for the entire period of their occupation in Italy.
Returned to the prestigious clients, between 1946 and 1960, the Palazzo became the summer residence of the leaders of the country's new political class, as well as a place of relaxation for many health-conscious personalities of the entertainment world, including Vittorio De Sica, Eduardo De Filippo, Totò, Roberto Rossellini, Ingrid Bergman, and many others. A celebrity also came in the kitchens of the Palazzo: the legendary chef Luigi Carnacina at the beginning of a magnificent career that made him one of the most famous chefs in the world.
In 1988 the international hotel group Forte returned the palace to its ancient splendour, starting a renovation that lasted more than two years and fully respected the impression of the original project.
Thus the frescoes of the Art Nouveau façade, the harmonious elegance of the rooms, and the charming setting of the pool were restored and today the Palazzo relives its best season.
Immersed in the greenery and quietness of a eight-hectare park, its 153 rooms - elegant and comfortable, decorated with floral motifs - afford views on the warm sunshine and clear nature, which radiates the vital energy of water. The lobby, corridors, and halls have all maintained the impressive dimensions and refined decor of the past.
In 2008, the Palazzo was recognised by the Italian Ministry of Heritage and Culture as a "palace worthy of protection and conservation as an important example of Italian hotels and spa tourism business as well as the architecture of the early twentieth century where the Art Nouveau style, in all its environments, gives the building a unique architectural value. "
The Grand Hotel Palazzo della Fonte still continues its great mission: to provide its guests the warmth of a unique experience where every detail recalls its precious tradition of hospitality and the history of our country.
