Palazzo Seneca is a lovely Relais & Châteaux hotel located in Norcia, a medieval town surrounded by walls built in the 1300s. Filled with antiques that came from the original owners, the hotel has the feeling of a private villa.
Incredible attention to detail is certainly apparent – beds with spiral wooden columns sculpted by Umbrian craftsmen and uniquely designed closets reminiscent of old-time leather bound luggage.
Palazzo Seneca is tucked away from the main town square and I enjoyed strolling the town’s charming streets with numerous food shops selling local products such as cured meats, cheeses, truffles, lentils and other legumes. There is much to do and experience in this Umbrian land – go truffle hunting in the hills with an expert guide and dogs or take a cooking class. If you’re seeking an outdoor adventure, wander the nearby Monti Sibillini National Park. It’s also a destination for white-water rafting and fishing. We stayed at the hotel for two nights, but I could have easily spent more time there and explored the nearby towns of Montefalco, Trevi, Spoleto.
If you don’t feel like leaving the hotel that’s perfectly fine too as there’s plenty of spots to relax and take in the beauty of Umbria, such as the rooftop terrace with beautiful views of the countryside. The library features a wonderful book collection and it was fun to peruse rare and authentic books.
Norcia is truly a gastronomic paradise and foodies flock to the Michelin-star restaurant onsite, Vespasia. Chefs Fumiko Sakai and Fabio Cappiello combine taste, tradition and innovation into their culinary delights. The restaurant’s design is easy on the eyes – an airy crème-caramel complexioned space with white-linen-dressed tables, white walls, and leather armchairs.
The first night we experienced Ristorante Il Granaro del Monte, managed by Bianconi and my heart and belly was warmed by the tagliolini al tartuffo as well as the warm and comfortable ambiance. It paired wonderfully with Arnoldo Caprai’s Rosso wine, a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot.
The following morning we indulged in the buffet breakfast at Palazzo Seneca. Sitting out on the outdoor terrace with a cappuccino in hand and nibbling Italian delights was delightful.
For lunch we dined al fresco at the casual Salsiccia Bar. Of course we ordered the tartufo pasta (again) and sipped on an Aperol Spritz. It was fun seeing locals pass by and I think we were the only tourists there!
Our last evening we dined at Osteria Seneca located in the dining room next to Vespasia at Palazzo Seneca. My eyes became almost too big for my stomach when local gourmet delights were presented in front of me. As for entrees, my boyfriend, Matthew and I shared the Reverse Norcia Tagliatelle and Tartufo pasta. Overall, I found it fun to try the tartufo pasta at different restaurants because the ratio of truffles was different – some had equal amounts pasta and truffles and other times ¾ pasta and ¼ truffle. All of them were delicious!
Overall, Norcia is a wonderful and quaint town to settle into. Matthew and I were very happy with our choice of basing ourselves at Palazzo Seneca and look forward to staying there again as we still haven’t gotten through our list of Umbrian adventures to experience!
