Leave the rhythm of everyday life behind: at Palazzola, you always leave feeling lighter. Housed in a thirteenth-century Cistercian monastery, now fully restored and equipped with every comfort, this place has for generations welcomed travellers from all over the world for spiritual retreats, conferences, holidays and weddings.
A short distance from Rome, Palazzola is situated in the greenest and coolest corner of the Castelli Romani, to the south of the city. It is the ideal place for those visiting the Eternal City who wish to get away from the hustle and bustle, even if only for a few days, whilst never losing sight of all that Rome has to offer.
A Catholic institution open to all
Founded as a Cistercian monastery, Palazzola now belongs to the Venerable English College, the Roman seminary of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, whose entire community returns here several times a year (on these occasions, the house is not available for external bookings). You do not need to be Catholic to stay at Palazzola, but it is impossible not to sense how the Catholic identity of the place quietly runs through every gesture of its hospitality.
Italian hospitality, the real thing
For three generations, the Piacentini family has guarded the authentic spirit of Palazzola. Alfredo, the heart and face of the house for over sixty years, passed this tradition on to his son Giuseppe and his wife Julie, who continued its hospitality until their recent retirement. Their legacy lives on in every gesture of welcome: good food, local wine and that family warmth that has made Palazzola a place where every guest feels at home. Today, the fourth generation carries on this traditional management with dedication, keeping their teaching alive in the warm hospitality that has always made Palazzola feel like home to every guest.
A refuge in the countryside, overlooking the lake
Overlooking Lake Albano, with a view stretching as far as Castel Gandolfo, the popes’ summer residence, Palazzola’s location simply invites you to slow down. Just a short walk away, mountain trails and mountain bike routes open up; for those who prefer a more leisurely pace, there is the poolside, the Italian-style garden tended with careful attention to detail, or a quiet corner of the library where you can lose yourself in a good book.