Engines Off, Bathrobes On: Why I Sent Jeremy Clarkson to Palazzo Fiuggi by Frances Geoghegan

Jeremy Clarkson, television presenter and self-confessed wellness sceptic, visited Palazzo Fiuggi, a former royal palace turned medical and wellness retreat in the hills of Lazio, Italy, at the recommendation of Frances Geoghegan, founder of Healing Holidays. The stay combined Michelin-star nutrition, personalised medical diagnostics and understated luxury, with zero compulsory spirituality. He came out a convert. Here is Frances's full account of why she chose Palazzo Fiuggi, and an honest review of what the experience delivered.

Quick Facts

• Retreat: Palazzo Fiuggi
• Location: Fiuggi, Lazio, Italy
• Type: Luxury medical and wellness retreat
• Cuisine: Michelin-star nutritional programme by Heinz Beck (3 stars)
• Best for: Wellness sceptics, executive health resets, men's health, weight management
• Booked via: Healing Holidays - +44 20 7843 3597

Jeremy Clarkson is not, by his own admission, a man who embraces wellness. He has mocked meditation, scoffed at yoga, and famously prefers horsepower to "healing energy." So when the Top Gear and Clarkson's Farm presenter agreed to go on a wellness retreat arranged by Healing Holidays, it raised more than a few eyebrows, including his own. But what happened next surprised even him.

The orchestrator behind it all was Frances Geoghegan, founder of Healing Holidays, known in the industry for pairing the right person with the right wellness programme, even the most reluctant ones. We sat down with Frances to understand why she sent Clarkson to Palazzo Fiuggi, one of Italy's most acclaimed wellness retreats, a former royal residence turned world-class medical and luxury health destination in the hills of Lazio, and how a man famous for his contempt for "self-care" ended up rather enjoying himself.

Why Palazzo Fiuggi? Choosing the Right Retreat for a Wellness Sceptic

Frances, let's be honest: Jeremy Clarkson is not your typical wellness client. Why Palazzo Fiuggi?

It was a considered choice. Jeremy isn't someone who's going to tolerate being told to "breathe into his intentions" or do group yoga at sunrise. So the goal was to choose somewhere utterly free of the usual cliches: no scented candle ceremonies, no tofu lectures, no compulsory kumbaya moments.

Palazzo Fiuggi was the obvious answer. It is, in many ways, the ideal wellness retreat for sceptics: no ideology, no pressure, no performance. It's not a retreat, it's a residence. It's set in an exquisitely restored early 20th-century palace with Murano chandeliers, soaring ceilings, and a level of calm, grown-up sophistication that instantly takes the "wellness" edge off. There's no pressure. No communal soul-baring. No one doing headstands next to your lunch table.

It has space, physical and psychological, which is key for someone like Jeremy. And I was confident their food philosophy would win him over: low in calories but deeply satisfying, nourishing, and flavourful enough to thwart any hint of "hangry" that he may have had.

Palazzo Fiuggi's Food Programme: Michelin-Star Nutrition Without Deprivation

That's interesting, you emphasise the food. How did you ensure that the meals would pass his muster?

The food is central. Palazzo Fiuggi works with three-Michelin-star chef Heinz Beck to deliver a "Food Line" concept: each dish is constructed to be nutritionally optimised, balanced macros and micro-nutrients, yet attractive, refined, warming and filling.

When you're dealing with someone who hates deprivation, the last thing you want is limp salads or meals that leave you wanting more. Many wellness retreats make the mistake of confusing deprivation with detox; they think if you feed people air and greens, they'll feel "cleansed." In reality, they feel punished. At Palazzo Fiuggi the strategy is simple: let food be medicine, not punishment.

The locally sourced, organic ingredients, many from the palace's own gardens, also support that. Freshness, depth of flavour, no industrial blandness.

Medical-Grade Wellness, Not Spiritual Theatre: What Sets Palazzo Fiuggi Apart

One can imagine Clarkson expecting a bootcamp full of sun salutations and "find your chi" rhetoric. How did you manage the wellness side without triggering that?

Exactly, that was the trap to avoid. Palazzo Fiuggi stands apart from other luxury medical spas in Italy precisely because it is medically grounded, not spiritually intrusive. Nothing is forced on you. Yes, they have yoga and sound baths, but they're optional; you choose what you want. What's core to the experience is medical-grade diagnostics, personalised plans and a team of brilliant, understated professionals.

We made sure he trained with Luca, a calm, mature, non-preachy coach who lets the results do the talking. No one shouted "feel the burn." No one corrected his posture mid-squat. It was subtle, adult, effective.

And let's not forget: the gym is in the old ballroom. You're lifting weights beneath a chandelier, not under a motivational quote painted on the wall. There's no wellness theatre here, just real results.

The Risk of Sending a Sceptic to a Wellness Retreat

Did you have any worries that he might just hate it all?

Of course. When you send someone with a known aversion to wellness into the heart of it, you're taking a risk. But the strategy was to not sell it as a wellness retreat. We called it what it is: a health reset in a palace. You'll eat exceptional food. You'll have access to cutting-edge therapies. You'll sleep well. You won't be pestered.

I made sure small concessions were built in: you can skip things, you can rest, you won't be browbeaten. I also knew that if we could win him over with the food and the setting, the rest would fall into place. He didn't need to be converted. He just needed to not be annoyed, and perhaps be pleasantly surprised.

The Result: What Jeremy Clarkson Said About Palazzo Fiuggi

And did it work?

Surprisingly, yes. Jeremy Clarkson's verdict on Palazzo Fiuggi, published in The Times, was remarkably positive: he admitted he had expected something akin to Alcatraz, but found instead a place that delivered without fuss or faux-spirituality. He particularly praised the food, the space and the absence of wellness gimmicks.

Frances Geoghegan's Philosophy: Matching People to Places

So what's your secret to satisfying someone so allergic to wellness tropes?

It's simple: no fluff, no fuss and no forcing. We meet people where they are. Not everyone wants to chant. Some people just want to feel good again, to sleep better, move more, eat well and reclaim energy. You don't have to be a crystal-collecting yogi to deserve that.

At Healing Holidays, our role is to strip away the jargon and match people to places that respect their personality. Palazzo Fiuggi respects personality, even if that personality is slightly grumpy and very famous.

Healing Holidays Added Value Offers – Exclusive to Healing Holidays

Booking Palazzo Fiuggi through Healing Holidays comes with a range of exclusive benefits not available when booking direct. The following offers are valid for stays until 31 December 2026.

Spa Credits

Healing Holidays guests benefit from complimentary spa credits to spend freely on treatments during their stay:

• Book a 7 night programme and receive a spa credit worth 200 euros per person
• Book a programme of 14 nights or more and receive a spa credit worth 400 euros per person

Valid for stays until 31 December 2026. Terms and conditions apply.

Early Check-In and Late Check-Out

All Healing Holidays guests booking Palazzo Fiuggi enjoy complimentary early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability upon confirmed booking.

Valid for stays until 31 December 2026. Terms and conditions apply.

Loyalty Offer – For Returning Guests

Palazzo Fiuggi rewards guests who return. The following exclusive benefits are available to repeat clients who book through Healing Holidays:

• A 10% room discount
• A guaranteed upgrade to the next room category
• A 20% discount on extra spa treatments (non-medical) booked at the hotel, when booking a programme of 7 nights or more

Valid for stays until 31 December 2026. Applicable to repeat clients only. Terms and conditions apply.

All offers are combinable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Palazzo Fiuggi different from other wellness retreats?

Palazzo Fiuggi is a former royal palace in Fiuggi, Italy, operating as a luxury medical and wellness retreat. Unlike typical spas, it is built around medical-grade diagnostics, personalised health programmes, and a Michelin-star nutritional concept developed with three-star chef Heinz Beck, with no compulsory group activities or spiritual programming.

Is Palazzo Fiuggi suitable for men or wellness sceptics?

Yes. Palazzo Fiuggi works particularly well for guests who are sceptical of traditional wellness. Its approach is grounded in medicine rather than spirituality, everything is optional, the setting is sophisticated rather than "retreat-like", and the food is genuinely satisfying, making it one of the most recommended wellness retreats for men, and for anyone resistant to conventional wellness cliches.

Who is the chef behind the food programme at Palazzo Fiuggi?

The food programme was developed in collaboration with Heinz Beck, a three-Michelin-star chef. The concept, called the "Food Line", delivers nutritionally optimised meals using locally sourced, organic ingredients, many grown in the palace's own gardens.

Did Jeremy Clarkson enjoy his stay at Palazzo Fiuggi?

Yes. Jeremy Clarkson, who visited at the recommendation of Healing Holidays founder Frances Geoghegan, wrote about his experience for The Times. Despite expecting something resembling Alcatraz, he was positively surprised, praising the food, the space and the absence of wellness gimmicks.

How long should you stay at Palazzo Fiuggi?

Most guests stay between seven and fourteen nights to allow enough time for the medical diagnostics, personalised programme and nutritional reset to take full effect. Shorter stays of four to five nights are possible for those with limited availability, though a longer stay is recommended to see meaningful results. A Healing Holidays advisor can help you determine the right duration based on your goals.

What kind of treatments and diagnostics does Palazzo Fiuggi offer?

Palazzo Fiuggi offers a comprehensive range of medical-grade services, including full health screenings, blood analysis, body composition assessments, physiotherapy, personalised fitness coaching and a range of restorative therapies such as hydrotherapy and lymphatic drainage. The programme is built around each guest's individual health profile rather than a fixed menu of treatments.

Is Palazzo Fiuggi a good option for weight loss?

Yes. Palazzo Fiuggi is considered one of the most effective luxury retreats in Italy for sustainable weight management. The combination of medical diagnostics, calorie-controlled but genuinely satisfying meals developed by Heinz Beck, personalised fitness coaching and therapeutic treatments creates the conditions for healthy, monitored weight loss without the deprivation associated with typical detox programmes.

How does Healing Holidays personalise a wellness programme?

Healing Holidays begins with a detailed consultation to understand each client's health history, goals, lifestyle and personal preferences. From there, a dedicated advisor matches the client to the most appropriate retreat and works directly with the property to tailor the programme before arrival. In the case of Palazzo Fiuggi, this includes pre-arrival health questionnaires reviewed by the medical team, ensuring that the stay is fully personalised from day one.

How can I book Palazzo Fiuggi through Healing Holidays?

You can book Palazzo Fiuggi through Healing Holidays by calling +44 20 7843 3597 or submitting an enquiry on the Healing Holidays website. A dedicated wellness advisor will help you build a personalised programme.