Best Wellness Hotels in Italy

High above the sleepy lakeside town of Gargnano sits the Lefay & Spa Resort. A popular hotel for those seeking a tranquil, wellness, getaway-from-it-all break, with all the trimmings of 5-star opulence. The resort sits in 27 acres of wooded nature park. Stunning panoramic views across Lake Garda can be had from your room’s terrace. With the warm Mediterranean climate and a spa which has won awards for improving clients’ sleep and posture problems, you will return home refreshed and rejuvenated.

The Grand Hotel Fasano sits on the edge of Lake Garda and close to the popular Gardone Riviera. Built in the 18th century as a hunting lodge for Austrian aristocracy, the Ville Principe was converted into a luxury hotel in 1888, with the second part of the hotel added in 1903. An elegant 5-star hotel, rooms are bright and airy with all the usual 5-star extras including a laptop in each room. Enjoy breakfast on your terrace overlooking the lake, before taking advantage of the well-equipped wellness centre, spa and swimming pools.

Set beside the promenade, this was the first 5-star beachfront hotel in Jesolo when it arrived in 2014. But you don’t have to swim in the neighbouring sea; Almar Stephen Abragan has a 70-metre pool onsite, besides its Mediterra restaurant and LightBlue Bar. The Almablu Spa – which includes a seafront hydromassage area – is connected to the outdoor pool via a glass tunnel. 197 rooms and suites follow a timeless ‘Made in Italy’ design ethos and all have a private terrace. A River Lounge Bar sits next to a cascading water ‘river’ installation, and there are lovely lush gardens.

Cutting edge and uber cool, this immersive lifestyle resort is super trendy and just a little bit alternative. Rooms come with Dorelan mattresses, your choice of soft or hard pillows, a Bluetooth audio system, Gabriella Chieffo toiletries, a bag of beach items and access to a gourmet minibar! Dine at the main eatery Jolà or on the stunning six-floor Tacco11 Rooftop Bar. And book a solo session at the Jade Private Spa with facilities including a barefoot Kneipp path,  a relaxation zone with a Himalayan salt wall and heated water beds.

Combine your beach break with a wellness retreat at the Falkensteiner’s all-new Acquapura SPA, where treatments are based on Hawaiian rituals. This space spans 1,500 square metres including an indoor and outdoor pool, jacuzzi and a hammam. The restaurant has a sea view terrace and wine cellar, there’s a firelit lobby bar and a cigar lounge, as well as a private stretch of beach. Modernist architect Richard Meier worked alongside interior designer Matteo Thun to create a chic property with a vintage Miami vibe; neutral tones are accented with bold colours and floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the outlook.

Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, the interior of ROMEO Napoli forms sleek lines, with modern furnishings. A stunning black marble staircase accents the lobby, and there are antiques and artworks throughout. Up on the ninth-floor rooftop, you’ll find a chic pool and bar and a restaurant serving traditional Neapolitan cuisine with a contemporary twist. Adding to its designer cred, the property has its own cigar room, an on-show wine cellar and access to the Dogana del Sale spa with a salt room, three jacuzzis, two saunas and seven treatment rooms. Situated on the waterfront, the hotel provides panoramic views from many of its bedrooms.

Founded in 1882, this Grande Dame occupies a spot on the waterfront overlooking the bay and its namesake. It has been visited by many famous guests over the years, including presidents, royalty, literary legends and actors (Keanu Reeves, Alfred Hitchcock, Claudia Schiffer, Giorgio Armani, Grace Kelly and Luciano Pavarotti to name but a few). Amenities here include a spa, a rooftop terrace, and several fine dining restaurants, such as the iconic Caruso Roof Garden Restaurant on the ninth floor. The Grand Hotel Vesuvio has over 200 guest rooms and suites, with some of the most privileged views in town. 

Housed in a 17th-century deep red watchtower located on a leafy coastal track above the bay, the Mezzatorre is now a sophisticated retreat. It was once used to look out for pirates, retaining super thick walls, vaulted ceilings and epic sea views. One of the towers is home to the restaurant, where a coastal theme continues with the catch of the day being cooked simply and perfectly. A further restaurant is found beside the pool with great tunes and superb pasta. Making use of the plot’s own thermal springs, the spa comprises pools of mineral-rich water and seawater, hot Kneipp pools, a steam room and treatment rooms.

Perched on a quiet hilltop surrounded by lemon and pine trees, the elevated views enjoyed by this property are quite something. The pool, terrace and La Veranda dei Sapori restaurant take full advantage of this vista, allowing guests to watch the glamorous marine activity below. A second restaurant, Franco’s, also overlooks the bay and serves cuisine crafted from ingredients grown in the onsite kitchen gardens, while a piano bar on the roof terrace provides a magical backdrop for sampling cocktails under the stars. All rooms have their own balcony, overlooking either the lush gardens or the sea.

Offering a very different experience to the Grand Hotel, this is a six-storey boutique design hotel. At its heart is the i-CE AGE swimming pool, a water ‘sculpture’ for swimming, that’s heated to 31-34 degrees and open 24 hours a day. It has a bubble mat, elevated whirlpools, foot water jets and a large cervical blade waterfall that make bathing a luxurious indulgence. The i-FEEL GOOD Seaview Spa is an uber-modern light-filled space and the i-FAME restaurant features high-quality raw materials and a focus on fish. Bedrooms are known as i-SUITES and follow the minimalist design found throughout.

Made famous by Rimini’s own Federico Fellini, who used the building in his films, the Grand Hotel is also sought after as a five-star residence with an exclusive area of private beach across the road. It opened at the turn of the 20th century, but experienced damage during the war and due to a major fire, resulting in major refurbishments. Fortunately many original features including incredible stuccoed ceilings have survived and the property contains beautiful antique furniture. It has 121 bedrooms, a restaurant with an open-air terrace, a beachside eatery,  a seasonal kids’ club, a beach splash pool, as well as further pools on the terrace and in the spa.

Guests who choose to stay in one of the nineteen suites set in the large gardens of this luxurious hotel will be treated to plenty of privacy as well as the best that travel has to offer. Each suite is decorated in a unique style and comes complete with a stunning coastal view as well as a huge fireplace, a marble floor and magnificent frescoed ceiling. Lovers of fine dining will want to make sure that they sample a meal or two in the onsite restaurant where a Michelin star chef creates masterpieces in the kitchen, while the swimming pool is set in the large central courtyard and offers pure relaxation.