Everybody needs a mental escape once in a while and sometimes it may not be possible to travel too far from home. But fortunately in Italy we have some of the best spas in the city that can transport you to the furthest of places through certain design features, scents and treatments. From Moroccan inspired designs to salt padded rooms, here are seven of the best spa hotels in major Italian cities for the ultimate wellness staycation.
1
PALAZZO PARIGI, MILANO
Palazzo Parigi is an exclusive hotel situated in Milano’s Brera district. An enchanting destination for seekers of peace and tranquility. Set within a historical palazzo, this hotel offers a very secluded, intimate atmosphere. Le Grand Spa is an enchanting space designed by architect and owner of the property Paola Giambelli, with elements and features that recall Morocco. In fact, you can book a private experience in the Royal Hammam Suite, with delicate Moorish architecture and glistening pink marble. Here, you can truly unleash your inner peace with an array of tension relieving massages followed by a purifying steam bath. Le Grand Spa also features an indoor swimming pool immersed in pastel blue/green tones embellished by fragrant fresh flowers and candles. There is also a Turkish bath, jacuzzi, Finnish sauna, emotional shower, ice shower and relaxation room. WEBSITE
2
Vista Palazzo Verona
Centrally located within five minutes from the centre of Verona, VISTA Palazzo is a boutique hotel that offers guests the experience of sleeping in a Veronese Noble Home – with a modern approach to design. This location is a wellness haven for those wishing to take a moment to regenerate and find a moment to balance out the adventure of a new city with a slice of tranquility. The spa is situated on the lower ground floor and features a large swimming pool, a sauna, a jacuzzi, a Turkish bath, emotional showers and a small gym with Technogym equipment and a pilates board. For the ultimate seclusion you can also book the spa suite (for a minimum of 3 hours) with a private sauna, jacuzzi and a massage table for individual or couples treatments and, you can take advantage of the Exclusive Experience that includes cocktails for two and a Luxury Vista couples massage. WEBSITE
3
Aman Venice, Venezia
Set in a sumptuous residence with a private garden on the Grand Canal, the hotel is the prime example of opulence; a stunning rococco structure houses frescoed suites decorated with gilded ceilings that blend beautifully with the contemporary vision of Jean-Michel Gathy. As an Aman property, extreme importance is placed in health and wellbeing. Treatments at the Aman SPA are inspired by both Asian healing philosophies and the Italian spa tradition. There are three treatment rooms, a fitness centre with a view of the Venetian skyline and thermal bathing treatments that use the mineral-rich waters of Salsomaggiore Terme in northern Italy. From mud wraps to exfoliating Himalayan crystal salt scrubs and more grounding massages there are treatments for every necessity to replenish, energise and rebalance. WEBSITE
4
Helvetia & Bristol, Firenze
Helvetia & Bristol, part of the Starhotels collection, is the perfect example of how classic and contemporary can create a beautiful harmony. Located behind Palazzo Strozzi, this hotel is the ultimate retreat from the city, comprising a lower ground floor dedicated entirely to La Spa. In fact, the spa runs through the place where the Capitoline Baths of the ancient Roman Florentia once stood. The walls resurface along the path of wellbeing which has always been inspired by the principle mens sana in corpore sano – healthy mind healthy body. The spa features a ‘wet’ area that opens onto the Calidarium (Hammam) and continues with the Aquamotus (Vichy Shower), the emotional showers, the Sudatorium (Finnish Sauna), the Frigidarium and the Tepidarium (Salt Room), which rests on a glass floor, from which you can admire the foundations that date back to the medieval era. Finally you reach the Lacus Quietis, an area with two swimming pools. Talk about being spoilt for choice, there are also numerous massages and treatments to chose from – however nothing beats a good massage tailored to what you need the most! WEBSITE
5
Hotel de la Ville, Roma
Hotel de la Ville, conveniently located a few steps away from Piazza di Spagna, offers guests an idyllic, tranquil setting in the city centre. Wellness is a core pillar of the Rocco Forte Hotel group in which Irene Forte, daughter of Sir Rocco Forte, is a pioneer in the beauty industry and founded a natural, vegan skincare brand that is created in their organic farm at Verdura Resort. The SPA is a haven featuring a sauna, a Turkish bath, an ice plunge pool, a jacuzzi and a relaxation area as well as an array of blissful massages and treatments. This hotel is for those searching for a wellness escape to recharge in a refined environment and, to escape to the southern coast of Sicily through the citrus scented massage oils.
6
Romeo Hotel, Napoli
Romeo Hotel in Naples is a contemporary space designed by the famous Japanese studio Kenzo Tange & Associates. Offering sweeping views of Mount Vesuvius from it’s rooftop and Michelin starred restaurant Il Comandante, Romeo Hotel also boasts a fantastic spa with a pool, jacuzzis, a salt room, a comfortable relaxation area and a gym with the latest technogym equipment. Among the various treatments and massages, signed Sisley, you can also book a Halotherapy session, a natural therapy that uses the healing properties of micronized sodium chloride, with remarkable benefits for the respiratory and immune system. They also offer daily and annual memberships for both the gym and spa. WEBSITE
7
Villa Igiea, Palermo
Located along the dramatic gulf of Sicily’s capital Palermo, Villa Igiea stands with sweeping views along the Tyrrhenian Sea. Located inside a 19th century Palazzo that houses a palatial Art Nouveau interior, there is truly something special about this place. An enticing blend of nature, sea and city all in one place that captures the essence of its region. The spa truly speaks of Sicily, with a floral scent of orange blossom filling the air and nourishing Sicilian botanicals – harvested from Verdura Resort’s Organic Farm in Sicily – infused in Irene Forte Skincare products and oils used in the treatments. There are four treatment rooms as well as an additional treatment suite with an outdoor relaxation terrace and a gym equipped with technogym equipment. Here, allow the benefits of the mediterranean transport you and heal you through the power of science and nature. Our favourite massage? the Sicilian Aroma Relax Massage, featuring massage oils and aromatic infusions created from the flora of Sicily, used to promote healthy skin and restore the body’s physical and emotional balance. WEBSITE
