Palace : medieval palazzo lets
About the home
Medieval Palace, historically eminent for nearly 1000 years, is central to one of the top medieval spots in Italy, offering a very high quality vacation rental, in majestic, medieval magnificence! Character? Wars were fought for it! Quality? Recent renovations guarantee you the newest and finest, stylish contemporary holiday home experience locally. The huge palace was once home to a silent movie heroine & a Napoleonic general! Amongst other former famous residents & guests are a French ambassador, an Antarctic Territory governor, and the sole survivor of local Middle Ages witch trials, a noble woman of royal descent! Now you have the chance to holiday in style in their former home, maybe in "The Palace Sanctuary", once part of a convent chapter-house; or in "The Cloisters", formerly a French ambassador's holiday home, and before him, it was home to Napoleon's General Massena!,Thenn there is "The Palace Penthouse", which was recently home to the Norwegian Antarctic Governor of Queen Maud Land! "The Palace Sanctuary", is ideal for 2, a cosy romantic get-away, though for more people it is easy - just add other apartments - 2 people in each. It is possible to sleep up to 6 between 3 apartments!
The stunning, sceptered citadel of Triora is officially acknowledged as 1-of-the-100 most beautiful that Italy has to offer. It is a marvelous mountain retreat, a romantic escape & an historical holiday spot, yet it is only 30-40 minutes from the sea! As well as being ideal for summer, it is centrally heated for cooler times of year.
The peaceful location of the palace, Triora, is located above its twin-settlement, Molini-di-Triora, a village consisting of of 23 watermills. Triora itself boasts 3 medieval palaces; the remains of 5 castles; many, many churches & chapels, and it is located above the confluence of 3 river valleys, which meander amidst mountain peaks. It's an ideal & quiet & relaxing spot for contemplation, writing or painting; for mountain walks, river valley strolls; for mountain-biking, climbing; for swimming and bathing in nearby cascading rivers and freshwater pools; for nearby beaches along the Riviera; for visiting the many local historic sites, from neolithic to wartime; and for dining at many excellent local restaurants. Bars and shops are also local. We organize dance festivals and we teach Argentine Tango, intensive or relaxed course, whilst you holiday, as much or as little as you like. Ideal for absolute beginners (no previous dance experience is necessary) to learn in private; or for 'improver' or 'intermediate' level dancers. Go home relaxed - with the most fabulous of dances' feather in your cap; show them all your Argentine Tango!
Tango lesson prices : 25 Euros per session of 90 minutes, per single or 40 Euros per couple, for a 90 minute session. We can give you as many sessions as you like (better prices for multiples) and even take you out dancing to where Argentine Tango dancers congregate (prices to be agreed). You will save on taking regular weekly (costly) lessons at home, in amongst others. Here you get all the attention. You will learn much quicker.
There are NO UNDER-HAND CHARGES, and NO extra fees; there are NO HIDDEN CHARGES, e.g. NO EXTRA CHARGES FOR CLEANING! Just the price you see here, or are quoted by Email.
| Size: | Sleeps up to 6, 2 bedrooms |
|---|---|
| Nearest beach: | Arma di Taggia, 28km |
| Will consider: | Corporate lets Long lets Short breaks |
| Access: | Car advised |
| Family friendly? | Not suitable for children Suitable for people with restricted mobility |
| Notes: | No pets allowed No smoking at this property Self-catering |
Facilities
| Luxuries: | Log fire, Internet access, DVD player |
|---|---|
| General: | Central heating, TV, Satellite TV, Wi-fi available |
| Standard: | Kettle, Toaster, Iron, Hair dryer |
| Utilities: | Dishwasher, Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Washing machine |
| Rooms: | 2 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms of which 3 en suites, Solarium / Roof terrace |
| Furniture: | Double beds (3), Dining seating for 6, Lounge seating for 6 |
| Other: | Linen and towels provided |
| Outdoors: | Balcony / Terrace |
| Access: | Parking space |
Further details indoors:
The Palace has 3 outside sitting areas, for a choice of sun or shade. It has internal dining areas and an external dining areas too! The sitting rooms open out on to sunny terraces, with stunning views to the south. The Palace also has newly fitted kitchens. The master bedrooms have an en-suites, which are all large shower-rooms, with walk-in showers. It is possible to sleep up to 6 adults, as 3 couples - two bedrooms have awesome vistas: skies, mountains & bird's-eye views of the peaks from a position that's higher than the birds themselves! The luscious mountain valleys & the superlative sunsets are easily enjoyed from the terraces, the best in the citadel. Whether it's warm outside and you need a cool interior; or whether it's cold outside (rare between April and October days) and you need a warm interior, it's all here for you. Please make an inquiry from this website and we will be happy to offer you more details and a quote.
Further details outdoors:
There are lots of extras to offer our guests, e.g. pre-booked services include mini-cab services, to and from airports or train stations; and pre-booked bag porter services to and from cars. Pre-booked means just that: you must book these services in advance, well in advance. Please ask for details. There is a massive choice of films in the palace library. The owners of the palace also own a palais in nearby Menton; & they run Argentine Tango festivals and holidays locally and offer teaching non-dancers and absolute beginners (and dancers of other levels) this very beautiful dance. Other optional extras include trips dancing, business consultancy for prospective home buyers in Italy; witchcraft guided tours (Triora is the historical witch capital of Italy!). These must be pre-booked. About 10 minutes walk away there is a tennis court in the village centre. Serenity & tranquility are rare treats these days but you will usually enjoy both here, however, we cannot guarantee that a local will not spring a late-night birthday party; nor that the local council will not have arranged a town-fair, with night-time activities; nor that someone will not start a lawn-mower or a tractor; that a TV or conversation won't be heard; that a cock will not crow. a dog will not bark nor a donkey bray. Silence is not guaranteed but it's usually very quiet here.
Further details
OWNED & RUN BY A BRITISH/NORWEGIAN COUPLE who were the first non-locals to move here, after buying a property 10 years ago. We know more about Triora than any other non-local! We have been here for longer than other non-Italians, of whom there are some, though not many, so you will not find yourself in yet another English colony abroad. We have developed and sold property here. We know how to make a house a home, so you are assured of a warm welcome. A WELCOME BASKET of wine and food, enough to help you relax on your first evening here, awaits guests who pay to stay for at least a week.
We speak English, Norsk, Dansk, Svensk, Deutsch; French e ne anche noi parliamo Italiano. This is a deeply Italian 'borgo', where Italian and an odd dialect, 'Triorese', are both spoken. You will discover a genuine, rare mountain culture, often disappearing fast from unique places like this. If you need any help with the language, local orientation, etc., we will happily help.
Remember ... the owners organize dance festivals and they teach Argentine Tango: intensive or relaxed courses, whilst you holiday, as much or as little as you like. Ideal for absolute beginners (no previous dance experience is necessary) to learn in private; or for 'improver' or 'intermediate' level dancers. Go home relaxed - with the most fabulous of dances' feather in your cap; show them all your Argentine Tango!
Tango lesson prices : 25 Euros per session of 90 minutes, per single or 40 Euros per couple, for a 90 minute session. They can give you as many sessions as you like (better prices for multiples) and even take you out dancing to where Argentine Tango dancers congregate (prices to be agreed). You will save on taking regular weekly (costly) lessons at home, in amongst others. Here you get all the attention. You will learn much quicker.
Conditions
The palace is located in a centre of antiquity, away from streets with cars, so access is via walking from the car, along stone cobbled streets and there are at least some street steps to ascend or descend, no matter which way you come from, above or below.
Photos
The North West Italy / Italian Riviera/Liguria region


After Sicilly, this area is generally the warmest place in Italy during the winter months, due to the protecting veil offered by the gorgeous Maritime (Sea) Alps, which separate us from France (here you get two countries for the price of one!)
Triora sits at the heart of Italy's latest national park, which stretches over a massive swathe of Ligurian and Piedmontese lands and mountains. From its centre, Triora, the cities of Monte Carlo, Nice, Genoa and San Remo are easy to reach. So too are hundreds of seaside and mountain towns and villages, all with restaurants and bars serving the tastiest of local, often esoteric culinary delights.
The Imperia / Triora area
3 palaces, 5 castles and 16 churches testify to Triora's great past. Once upon a time it was solely a royal's and noble's principality! It's been in many countries, through many wars, it's been pagan, Christian, rich, poor, occitanian, Roman, Genovese, Napoleonic ... but it's always been stunningly beautiful!
Factually Triora is in the least polluted valley system in all of Italy! The air and water are pure. There is little in the way of noise or real pollution. In summer it's temporate climate affords locals and guests a great deal of comfort. It mostly stays at a bearable heat level! It sits above 3 cascading and torrential river valleys but it's far enough above all of the rivers to remain mostly mosquito-free in summer, unlike many water-side and valley holiday spots.
Tango lessons available!! Dance the tango and improve your skills while holidaying at the property, please feel free to ask about what is available.
How to get there
Click map icons for more information
|
|||||||
| Nearest Travel Links | |
| Airport: | Nice or Genoa: 90 km |
| Railway: | Arma Taggia and San Remo: 28 km |
| Ferry: | Genoa or Nice: 90 km |
Nice airport and Genoa are budget airline hubs. Nice is 90 minutes drive, Genova 2hrs. Booking in advance with Easyjet or Ryanair can provide you with a very low cost ticket.
Both are also major airline hubs, e.g. Lufthansa, BA, AIR FRANCE, etc, so you will have plenty of choice.
Turin and Milan airports are further away but drivable. If you prefer, take the train. The TGV from London is a comfortable way to get here. It will bring you as far as Nice.
From there, as from Genoa and Nice airport, a rental car is advisable! Buses do run from San Remo but there are only 3 a day, each way and sometimes they run at odd hours.
Driving from England is something the owners of the palace have done about 50 times in recent years. French motorways are generally always traffic jam-free and allow 13-hour journeys from Calais to your vacation rental in Triora. A stop-over in Burgundy en route is a lovely thing to do.
Activities near Imperia
Tennis in town
Fishing
Walking holidays
Rural / countryside retreats
Beach or lakeside relaxation
A winter sun break
Cycling holidays
Reviews
![]() 15 Dec 2011 |
Upon our arrival in Triora, we received a really warm and friendly welcome from our hosts, John and Jane. The apartment itself was beautifully clean and luxuriously spacious, with tasteful and... more |
![]() 15 Dec 2011 |
This proved to be a wise choice for our holiday - wonderful walks, local food & wine, the coast very near as well as the hills. Friendly service as well. Much recommended. Response: We fondly recall your stay, and that you had a lovely time here. We are so happy that you decided to go online and give us a great review. What a pleasant surprise it was to find it when we visited this website to update a page. Hope to see you again, you could try one of the other apartments next time, we have three altogether, as you may remember . . . and if not one of our medieval palazzo lets in Triora, why not try our "British Ambassador's holiday home" in belle epoque Palais Lutetia, in Menton, by the sea! Very best wishes to you, and Happy New Year for '12! |
![]() 27 Nov 2011 |
Imagine a huge, deep bowl, with a sumptuous, rumpled green cloth of rough silk collapsed over it in graceful folds reflecting the afternoon sun. This is how the Maritime Alps appear from the stone... more |
Guestbook for Palace : medieval palazzo lets
We started renting nearly 10 years ago. Our first guest was an Oscar-nominated celebrity (in the Best Foreign Film "Elling, from the 2003 Academy Awards). We have re-rented to him and to his family since then on more than one occasion. Likewise, we have rented our palace to another famous film celebrity, the film producer of a film nominated at The Oscars in 2004: "Evil".
We have always had glowing reports from our guests. We have return customers every year. Here are 5 comments from the summers 2008-9:-
"This is not your average get-away. It's the best we have been to in 23 years of staying in houses abroad. Very clean too!"
"Your photos do not do it justice. It is much larger than it appears. A Machu Picchu in Italy!"
"... quiet, honest, helpful & friendly owners who allowed us total privacy except when we wanted otherwise ... they were always there for us."
"Special ... not just a simple holiday home ... it’s in a category of its own ... unique and wonderful."
"We were amazed by the sheer amount of space even though we knew it was a palace..."
Rental prices
| Rental prices originally quoted in: British £ | Convert to: |
| Prices for group size 2 | ||||||
| Period | From![]() | To![]() | Weekly![]() | Nightly rate | Minimum stay | |
| Weekday | Weekend | |||||
| 2011 October | 22 Oct 11 | 5 Nov 11 | £ 400 | 130 | - | 3 Nights |
| 2012 | 1 Apr 12 | 4 Nov 12 | £ 450 | 130 | - | 3 Nights |
| Prices for group size 4 | ||||||
| Period | From![]() | To![]() | Weekly![]() | Nightly rate | Minimum stay | |
| Weekday | Weekend | |||||
| 12 Sep 11 | 4 Nov 11 | £ 850 | - | - | 1 Week | |
| Prices for group size 6 | ||||||
| Period | From![]() | To![]() | Weekly![]() | Nightly rate | Minimum stay | |
| Weekday | Weekend | |||||
| 2012 | 1 Apr 12 | 4 Nov 12 | £ 950 | - | - | 1 Week |
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
*NOTE* the above prices reflect the cost for "The Palace Sanctuary" (for 2 people) plus one or two of our other palace properties e.g. at "The Palace Cloisters", and/or "The Palace Penthouse", for groups of 3, 4 or up to 6 adults.
Balances / payments for holidays - cash upon arrival is acceptable / as is an internet or bank-to-bank payment, well in advance, so that we have the funds in place by the time you arrive. If you cannot do this, cash upon arrival is fine. Euros & Pounds & Norwegian Crowns are accepted. For more details please enquire.
- a small, instantly returnable KEY DEPOSIT may be required.
This key deposit money - cash - is returned upon return of the keys, at the end of the holiday.
- to book & to secure your holiday, as with all holiday agencies, and other rentals, a partial payment of the agreed price for the holiday (from as little as 150.00).
The palace is on a level above all other holiday lets in and around Triora!
It is NOT a modern house pretending to be an historic house, it is a genuine PALACE.
It is NOT on the northern, shady side of the town; it is on the SUNNY side Triora.
It IS tranquil yet not isolated; stylish yet not out of touch with its medieval past;
and it's the best possible place to stay in Triora today.
The only palace in private hands in the entire region.
Help with baggage upon arrival and departure can be gained from locals (see below):.
Triora, like many medieval towns and villages, with car-free historic centres, has narrow, cobblestone streets. The 3-minute stroll, to and from your car, free of bags, costs only 10 Euros per trip, if a local lad will do it; or 20 Euros with a mini-tractor (if it can be arranged).
MINI-CABS to and from Nice and Genoa airports. If you do not wish to hire a rental car, take one of our mini-cabs, at about one third of the local rate, to and from airports. i.e. Nice 95 Euros. Genoa 120 Euros including road tolls. This service is at these very special rates is for guests only. Taxis must be pre-paid - it's easy - one click on our website - and all flight details must be given in advance via Email.
.
Availability
See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here
| Key: | 11 | 12 | Booked | 11 | 12 | Available | 11 | 12 | Unknown | 11 | 12 | Arrival/Departure dates |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | ||
| Feb 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||||||
| Apr 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||||||
| May 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||||||
| Jun 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||||||
| Jul 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||||||
| Aug 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||||||
| Sep 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||||||
| Oct 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Contact the owner
* Required fields Please check the following errors: | 3 years listed You are contacting John & Jayne Allen
Payment accepted
Languages spoken ![]() The owner is based in the United Kingdom and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2008. This apartment has received 6 reviews from previous guests. ![]() |

Enlarge



































