Aveda's Aqva Spa at the Grand Hotel Fasano

DESTINATION: Italy

Botanical Bliss

With a firm commitment to the environment, Aqva Spa in Italy's Garden Riviera offers guests a more natural approach to achieving harmony and well-being.
By Megan Welles

Few visitors can resist the siren song of nature's call hailing from Italy's scenic lake district. Although it doesn't garner the same attention as Lake Como or Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, serves as the perfect backdrop for Aqva Spa, the newest addition to the Grand Hotel Fasano in Gardone Riviera. Owned and operated by the Mayr family since 1956, the hotel is rich in history. The Villa Principe, an annex to the hotel, was originally built by the Austrian Imperial family as a hunting lodge, which explains how it came by its name. Fasan is German for pheasant, a popular game bird.

Opened in April, the 4,265-square-foot spa is one of 17 Aveda Destination Spas found worldwide and the third to open in Italy. According to Olliver Mayr, who runs the hotel with his brother, the decision to partner with Aveda was a simple one, as its philosophy mirrored the family's own way of thinking. "Taking care of the environment is very important to our family, and Aveda shares that idea," says Mayr.

From Aveda's perspective, the Grand Hotel Fasano proved the perfect locale. "Providing a spa environment that is in harmony with nature is key to selecting an Aveda Destination Spa," says Alison Howland, director of spa development for the corporation. "Because we're a green company, it was a natural fit to have a spa surrounded by nature." With approximately 39,000 square feet of private sub-tropical gardens, the property offers up its fair share of blooming bliss. Not surprisingly, Aqva Spa capitalizes on the natural setting by offering a variety of treatments that rely on the power of plants to achieve balance and harmony.

Before each treatment, guests are asked to fill out an Elemental Nature questionnaire that is used to help identify the balance of five elements found in nature: air, earth, fire, infinity, and water. Offering insight into clients' present state of mind, the questionnaire is then used by therapists to customize each treatment and to help restore balance.

The spa also features a number of Caribbean-inspired treatments created in collaboration with Martine Saint-Zeby, a highly regarded herbalist and plant therapist from the Caribbean island of Martinique. Designed to help relieve stress, counteract trauma, and encourage recovery, the Caribbean Therapy Body Treatment, which includes a full-body dry exfoliation, seaweed mask, and massage, is available as a wet or dry treatment. Both versions rely on signature aromas using certified organic oils, such as neroli and mandarin orange. According to Krista Kiley, director of spa education at Aveda, the idea behind the treatments was to provide the peace of mind or state of being that people get from being in the Caribbean.

A deep and abiding respect for the environment also played a role in the building and design of the spa. In creating Aqva Spa, the concept was to use only natural materials. "This choice forced us to search for particular materials available in the surroundings," says Mayr. For example, the marble used in the spa was extracted from a nearby area, approximately 20 miles away. Glass, marble, and wood were chosen as the materials of choice for the interior design. "We tried to avoid the use of metal or non-natural materials as much as possible," says Mayr. Reminiscent of a traditional Roman bath, Aqva Spa includes an indoor heated pool, a thermal suite, a Turkish steam bath, a tepidarium, and more. Infused throughout the spa is the scent of Aveda aromas, which are made from 100 percent certified organic essential oils.

Opening in April for the season, the property is just a short commute from Milan and Venice. Although nature may be the main attraction for visitors to Italy's scenic lake district, Aqva Spa is proving an added enticement to stay awhile longer.

Megan Welles is a New York City-based freelance writer who has covered health, fitness, spas, and travel for a variety of national publications.