By Patrick Maurizio Ferrara
A terrace overlooking the history, tradition and superb nature of the Upper Tiber Valley.
Located a few steps from the historic centre of Montone, in the heart of Umbria, the Hotel Fortebraccio aims to become a reference place for tourist accommodation in the Upper Tiber Valley. The hotel now has completely renovated spaces that the current owner, in almost twenty years of management, has completely renovated, significantly increasing the accommodation offer.
Director Valeria Testi tells us that: “In the past, the structure mostly revolved around the restaurant. Now, however, after renovation, 28 new rooms and 3 mini-apartments have been created with bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette, all located within the structure, in order to guarantee the best intimacy and autonomy to guests.”
Rooms have been furnished in more or less the same way, although there are different types: Standard rooms, in fact, have only windows, Comfort rooms also have a small terrace, while Superior rooms have a balcony overlooking the pool and the valley. To these must also be added a prestigious and exclusive Junior Suite. As for the other spaces of the hotel, Valeria explains that: “In addition to a splendid panoramic swimming pool and gym, the structure is equipped with a lounge dedicated specifically to the restaurant, a breakfast room and a veranda – which can also be used in the winter season.
“We also offer a hall entirely dedicated to events, a sort of multipurpose room equipped with all the necessary equipment to accommodate communions, weddings, baptisms and meetings and which, if necessary, can be divided into two spaces, so as to be able to host two events at the same time. Finally, the structure includes a SPA (recently renovated) with Jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath and emotional shower; The offer is complemented by massages and facial treatments, obviously by reservation only. We also specify that access to the swimming pool and the gym inside the structure are included in any rate plan”.
As far as the organization of events is concerned, the Hotel Fortebraccio, in the internal spaces of its structure, can comfortably accommodate up to 150 people seated, but this does not preclude the possibility of organizing parties or events even outside, in the pool area, throughout the year: “A fundamental part of our work – he adds – is to have a wide and varied offer, reserving different options and possibilities. For the realization of an event, for example, we are equipped with an in-house catering entirely managed by us and, if necessary, we provide our professionals and trusted partners with regard to flowers, decorations, music, lights, open bar, children’s entertainment”. Great attention is also paid to the culinary offer: breakfast, for example, set up every day, is an international buffet with a part of homemade desserts that change according to the seasonality of the products, strictly local; Typical products, both sweet and savoury, are also guaranteed, with the possibility of preparing dishes at the moment on request. The restaurant, on the other hand, is open only in the evening, from Monday to Saturday and on Sundays by reservation: what the chef offers is a cuisine strongly linked to the raw materials of the territory, but at the same time oriented towards experimentation and innovation.
But the offer of the Hotel Fortebraccio, always dynamic and versatile, is not limited to the exclusive use of the spaces or activities inside the structure: “Every month we try to offer dedicated packages, proposals or discounts, which can include, for example, stay-spa-massage, stay-spa-dinner, stay and dinner; it is no coincidence that there will soon be a package dedicated to the Easter period. In addition, since we are approaching the summer, we are offering unique experiences for those who stay with us: we have thought of a tour with e-bikes (supplied at our facility), complete with tasting, for a visit to the Fortebraccio brewery or farm that produces wine; or a day in the olive grove, between October and November, to be dedicated to the olive harvest, with the possibility of having a picnic and a visit to the oil mill of our property; And again, we wanted to offer our guests truffle hunting in the woods, guided by experts and with the possibility of participating in a gourmet lunch”.
They also are a Bike Hotel: the structure allows you to rent bikes and take advantage of a specialized internal support workshop; It also guarantees an entire dedicated area where you can store your bikes, in absolute comfort and safety. In addition, the structure is able to guarantee a transfer service for those who need to reach the hotel or move to another destination: “Since we are close to the Via Francescana – concluded the Director – we have decided to offer a transfer service also to the many pilgrims who travel it every year, in case they cannot find accommodation along the way, so that they can stay with us and then be comfortably driven back to the starting point.”
Info: Ask at the reception, open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. / Tel+39 075 9306400
Hotel Fortebraccio, Via dei Magistrati, 11 Montone (PG) / www.hotelfortebraccio.it / email: info@hotelfortebraccio.it