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Palazzo Fieschi Culinary Luminaries - Green Vacations - Historic Residence - Romantic Lodgings |
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Located just over an hour's drive from Malpensa Airport, this charming hillside retreat makes a perfect place to start or end your trip. Anyone who has ever been to Liguria knows that the entire region is basically a range of deep green foothills tumbling straight down into one of Europe's cleanest seas. This means that although only five kilometers separate Palazzo Fieschi from the autostrada and the coast, it seems to be a million miles away from the hustle and bustle. To get there, you wend your way along a sleepy little mountain road, past pretty farmhouses and breathtaking vistas, ending up in a delightful hamlet that consists of several historical homes gathered around a large, shady square. Dominating the western edge of the piazza is the elegant 15th-century palazzo, whose walls are decorated with delicate frescoes.
For many centuries, Palazzo Fieschi was home to one of the most powerful families in nearby Genoa. As has often happened in Italy's past, the family eventually died out and their grandiose residence fell into sad disrepair. The exquisite frescoes and moldings were marred by water stains, the tile floors were moldy and cracked, the enormous windows had long ago lost their panes. Birds were nesting in the grand ballroom. It seemed an impossible task to resuscitate this neglected grande dame, but today what seems impossible is that she was ever anything but glamorous. Austere yet elaborate, understated yet priceless, the hotel now offers a wonderful combination of warm personal hospitality, peaceful tranquility and some of the best cuisine to be found anywhere in Italy.
As spacious as it is, Palazzo Fieschi has only 20 guest rooms. Each is unique, as dictated by the original blueprint of the building. They share a feeling of spaciousness perhaps amplified by the warm sun streaming in through ancient windows. All furnishings are antiques befitting the overall atmosphere, which is in no way diminished by the modern amenities -- direct-dial telephone, color satellite TV, mini-bar and wall safe in every room. Each room has a private bathroom with tub or shower.
The two lower floors of the building contain a series of grandiose salons, hung with enormous portraits. There is a grand piano for banquets and an upright piano for informal post-prandial gatherings. There is even a small tavern in the rear of the building, where locals (and guests!) can congregate for a game of cards. But probably the most spectacular room is the restaurant, with its enormous working fireplace and arched frescoed ceiling. It is here that Palazzo Fieschi's truly memorable meals are served, presided over by an affable multilingual maitre. If you love inventive cuisine which uses the finest and most characteristic local ingredients and traditions, the hotel restaurant alone is worth a detour. There are other reasons to come to Palazzo Fieschi, however. Take the little tourist train down the hill into Genoa for a day: your hosts will gladly help you plan a perfect itinerary. Or drive half an hour to glamorous Portofino and Rapallo, or slightly farther to the Cinqueterre. Whether you are just starting your trip or on the last lap, you are sure to be utterly restored by a short sojourn in this picturesque corner of Italy, with its clean mountain air and warm Mediterranean sun.
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OPEN MARCH-OCTOBER
For this property:
One wing of Palazzo Fieschi does not have an elevator. Please tell us if you need to stay in the wing that does have an elevator.
Click here to see a sample menu from the restaurant.
Click here for information about regular boat service between Portofino, Rapallo, Santa Margherita, Cinque Terre and San Fruttuoso.
Please note that you need a car to stay here.
It is not possible to guarantee Internet access at any property, because the property does not generate the service, it merely provides access from a server. If the server experiences any kind of problem at all, the property regrets it cannot be responsible for any inconvenience caused by subsequent lack of service.
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