3-Day Detox & Wellness Retreat in the Hills of Bologna, Italy

The retreat takes place at Palazzo di Varignana, a resort in the hills of Emilia-Romagna. The property is anchored by Palazzo Bentivoglio, a country castle built in 1705, and surrounded by a contemporary village with 150 rooms and suites, five restaurants, and that large spa. The setting is an area known for its mild climate, with ornamental gardens that are part of the Grandi Giardini Italian network and views over the vineyards and hills.

The programme itself is built around the five pillars of health from the Acquaviva Method — nutrition, spa treatments, movement, mindfulness, and nature — and all of it is delivered by resident staff rather than visiting teachers. Dr Annamaria Acquaviva is a dietitian nutritionist and pharmacist who runs the scientific direction of the resort. You'll meet her, and she and her team of personal trainers and spa therapists will adjust the itinerary based on your individual assessment.

Your food is handled at the Ginkgo Longevity Restaurant, which serves a menu that's anti-inflammatory, low-FODMAP, and free of gluten and dairy. The wider resort has seven restaurants, but for this retreat you eat at Ginkgo, where every meal is designed around your nutritional needs. The idea is that you don't just cleanse for three days — you learn how to eat and structure your life in a way that supports long-term health, which is why the book of the method and the sleep tracking band are included.

Reviews of the resort are mixed on the little things — some guests mention dated rooms and hit-or-miss breakfast if they weren't on the retreat plan — but the spa facilities, the galas, and the location score consistently well. For a detox-focused stay, the Varsana spa with its Grotta dei Calanchi, Cava d'Oro Bianco, and several saunas is the real draw, and the dedicated programme keeps you busy enough that the resort's occasional service wobbles don't get in the way.

What's included

- 2 nights stay in the selected room type - Wellbeing aperitif in the Royal Train of Palazzo di Varignana - 3-hour daily admission to the Varsana SPA path - Outdoor swimming pools (May to September) - Welcome kit: bathrobe, slippers, tracksuit, and sleep tracking band - Sleep kit: beauty pillow, sleeping mask, relaxing infusions - 1 Mindful Lunch with Dr. Annamaria Acquaviva - 1 Nature therapy session in the Ornamental gardens (60 minutes) - 1 Guided sleep-induction training with binaural waves (45 minutes) - 1 Masterclass 'Waters of Longevity Ritual' with antioxidants - Detox relaxation at Cava d’Oro Bianco - 1 Oleaster body treatment with Varignana olive oil (50 minutes) - 1 Draining massage (50 minutes) - 1 Personalised physical activity with a personal trainer (60 minutes) - 1 Bio Walking in the vineyards (30 minutes) - Personalized detox menu: breakfast, lunch, dinner at Ginkgo Longevity Restaurant - Complimentary book: 'Health Revolution' by Dr Acquaviva - Parking, luggage storage, Wi-Fi connection

What's not included

- Airport transfers (available for €85 per person) - Flights costs - Travel insurance - Additional treatments - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - The Longevity consultation with Dr. Acquaviva (€280, mandatory)