Hotel of the Week: Palazzo Seneca
Posted by Caroline on March 11th, 2010We’re honouring all things Italian at the moment, first with our run-down of the land’s finest foodie regions and now with our day-early winning hotel of the week – an Umbrian number in Norcia…
Style Aristocrat’s peaceful palace
Setting Narrow Norcian streets
Why this week? We like to be timely and there’s a massive Italian fair going on in London all weekend (which you can go to for free if you become a member before the end of today). We’ll be there on stand G1 so you can come and say hello. Also, Palazzo Seneca are offering three nights for the price of two for stays between 6–28 April and 1 October to 30 November this year.
Our favourite bits In no particular order, we like the 16th-century stone façade, the locally crafted leather and wood furnishings, the ravishing restaurant and spa, the understated masculine colour scheme, the grand four-posters, the antique armoires and the drawing room’s cavernous fireplace. As for rooms, 107 wins based on its enormous dressing area, wrought iron bed and elegant brown leather sofa. Water babies will love Room 
210, which has an indoor wet room (the whole ceiling rains on you), and a private terrace with sun loungers.
Mr & Mrs Smith say ‘The Norcian black truffle is earthy, dark and precious, its flavour characterising Umbrian cuisine. Palazzo Seneca is equally distinctive, and just as rooted in its surroundings – furnished with materials from Marche and Umbria, crafted by artisans from the area, and styled with Italian elegance.
It’s natural that this 16th-century palace should exude historical gravitas, but the owners have added heavy wooden furniture, antique secretaries and an understated, masculine palette of cream and brown, with touches of black and red. Beds are bold, some with twisted wooden columns, some with wrought-iron frames, their rich orange silk coverings a zingy contrast to the neutral cotton. Leather is used in abundance, providing sleek coverings for writing desks, and stylish storage, with hard leather paneling concealing the minibar, safe and shelves…’
What a beautiful design and finish this building has. I adore the rugged stone as it is actually a fantastic compliment to everything feminine. Very romantic.
By Amina
On June 9th, 2010