Tapped by local hotelier Raffaele Tysserand to transform a centuries-old aristocratic palace in Orvieto, Italy into a boutique hotel, architect Giuliano Andrea dell’Uva says that upon seeing the building for the first time, he was “fascinated by the historic palace. It was a challenge that suited my nature.”
The renovation honors the past of the former private home—originally built in 1475 for Petrvs Facienus—upholding the charm within the walls of what is now the nine-key Palazzo Petrvs.
The design also draws from Orvieto’s architecture. For instance, nods to the black and white striped façade of the Duomo di Orvieto, which can be seen from the hotel, were incorporated, with tables, freestanding bathtubs, flooring, and stairwells sporting the striking style.
Tysserand wanted to “offer guests the feeling of a contemporary Grand Tour experience,” dell’Uva says, referencing the traditional trip taken through Europe. “Our idea was to preserve the history of the place where Tysserand grew up, and to create new spaces without altering its context.”
Under layers of plaster, the team uncovered original ceilings, frescoes, and even an old stone fireplace, all of which were carefully restored.
The guestrooms, including a penthouse suite, each have their own distinct character but share a material palette of stone doors, travertine basins, warm terracotta floors, and original wooden ceilings. Moments of color appear in muted tones of green clay and shades of burgundy.
A tranquil inner courtyard grounds the property, while a deconsecrated church attached to the building was reimagined as the hotel’s restaurant, Coro, which was crafted in a way that “respected the space we were in [with] simple, solemn, but sophisticated furnishings,” dell’Uva says.
This article originally appeared in HD’s July 2024 issue.
