Palazzo BelVedere

At Belvedere, the small touches from the staff made the stay feel warm and personal. They were kind and attentive, and it was clear they cared about guests. The bright, clean, comfortable rooms had a calm atmosphere and felt thoughtfully arranged. Breakfast was a gentle start to the day, with classic options as well as a station for making fresh juice from fruit and vegetables. I appreciated the fresh, high-quality choices and the focus on well-being. It left me feeling energized rather than weighed down. The whole place has an elegant, quiet feel, especially welcome in a busy five-star hotel setting. Belvedere is somewhere I’d want to return to for its tranquility, quality, and personal touch.

I stayed at Palazzo Belvedere from December 22-26, celebrated Christmas with friends, and came away feeling restored. The staff welcomed me warmly and stayed attentive and genuinely caring throughout. The calm, elegant atmosphere felt especially comforting in winter, more like a wellness retreat than a busy five-star hotel. My room was spacious, quiet, and comfortable, so relaxing came easily. The spa and wellness areas were excellent, and a deeply relaxing massage with Giulia was a real highlight. It left me feeling renewed. Everything felt unhurried and thoughtfully paced, a lovely place to slow down and focus on well-being.

We had a really nice stay, and found a good deal online, so I can’t compare the price with other hotels nearby. There’s a classic, sophisticated feel to the place, with marble in the foyer and Italian/local books. The dining room is nicely decorated, and the spa’s underground walkway feels like entering a grotto. The outdoor pool looks like it would be lovely in summer. Inside, the pool is smaller but has jets around it, and there’s a good sauna and steam room. The room was comfortable and nicely decorated, though simpler than the rest of the hotel. Apart from robes and flip-flops, it didn’t feel especially five-star. We noticed some poor tile fitting too: the grout was missing in places, and the trim sat away from the wall, leaving a gap. The bedding was very comfortable, and there was a pillow menu. Our room was very warm when we arrived. It had been closed up, and the towel rail heating was on full. We couldn’t get the climate control to turn on or set a temperature. Reception said it was winter and they only had heating on, not AC, and that opening the window was the only way to cool the room. They said they’d check the “automatic control for the room.” There was only a small window, so the first night was quite warm. That seemed odd for a hotel room with climate control, and didn’t feel like a five-star experience. Breakfast was great, with lots of Italian and continental choices. A little more fruit to have with cereal and yoghurt would have been nice. Coffee was made to order and really good, better than at most hotels. On our final morning, one staff member was handling the whole dining room, serving guests and clearing tables. He was doing his best, but it was clearly too much. At one point there were no eggs, then no orange juice, and we had to ask or decide not to bother him again. I didn’t think that was acceptable. Breakfast went fine on the other days, and once a helpful staff member even offered to make and bring a custom juice, though there was a juicer guests could use themselves. We were generally happy and would consider coming back, but the hotel didn’t quite live up to its five-star label. Maybe the price we paid reflects that, though there were a couple of times when things could have been better.

The service was terrible. The bar was reserved for a party, so there was nowhere for guests to have a drink in the evening. We could sit outside, but April was too cold for that. For the price, the fourth-floor rooms were terrible, and the staff weren’t friendly. At breakfast, you had to beg for coffee, and the waiter looked as if you were asking too much. We won’t be coming back.