Palazzo Petrvs Hotel

Italy

A serene landscape of orange-tiled rooftops and the zebra-like stripes of the back of Orvieto’s Duomo: this is the view from the ancient tower of the recently opened Palazzo Petrvus. Right in the heart of one of Umbria’s most delightful towns, this 15th-century palazzo was originally the residence of a wealthy notary. As you’d expect, it’s all about sturdy architecture, massive fireplaces, exquisite ceilings and door pieces with the name of the owner engraved in the stone. It isn’t merely a celebration of a history-soaked past, though.

The award-winning restoration by Neapolitan architect Giuliano Andrea dell’Uva is respectful, yet bold and playful, bringing the palazzo into the 21st century. Think sleek iron panels enveloping old walls, colourful lamps, minimalist furnishings and vintage pieces like a Marco Zanuso armchair and a Carlo Scarpa console in the first-floor lobby.

Nine deluxe, individually furnished rooms are spacious, and the magnificent top-floor suite boasts unmatched views. Striped tributes to the gothicromanesque Duomo, one of Italy’s finest cathedrals, are scattered across the property, promoting a constant dialogue between past and present – from the larger-than- life black-and-white bathtub in room 103 to the monochromatic stairs leading to the 66sqm penthouse, and terracotta benches in the courtyard. Coro, the restaurant housed under the vaults of the former 15th-century church of San Giuseppe, is the pièce of résistance: low-lit and romantic with bare tufa walls, wrought-iron candelabras, recycled-wood tables and Hans Wegner armchairs. The menu is similarly characterised by apparent simplicity, yet the techniques are innovative. Don’t miss chef Ronald Bukri’s signature dishes: spaghetti with parmigiano Reggiano, green lemon and paprika, and Porto Santo Spirito red prawn with oil, lemon and honey.

Words by Marina Spironetti. Doubles from £329. +39 0763 967230, palazzopetrvs.com