Wellness Escape in the Hills of Bologna: The Acquaviva Method Retreat

The retreat is built entirely around the Acquaviva Method, created by Dr. Annamaria Acquaviva, the scientific director of Palazzo di Varignana. Dr. Acquaviva is a dietitian, nutritionist, and pharmacist with decades of experience in outpatient care and scientific outreach. Her method is based on five pillars: personalised nutrition, inner harmony, physical activity, sleep, and supplementation. Rather than a generic spa package, this is a structured health program where you get a Longevity check-up with a sleep assessment, a session with a personal trainer, and a 50-minute bamboo massage, among other treatments.

The setting is a key part of the experience. The heart of the resort is Palazzo Bentivoglio, a country castle from 1705, surrounded by a modern village of rooms and suites. The grounds include ornamental gardens that are part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani network, plus vineyards where the resort's own wine is produced. You'll have daily access to the Varsana Spa, which includes the Grotta dei Calanchi, a saltwater pool with hydro jets, a music therapy pool, Finnish and Mediterranean saunas, a Turkish bath, and sensory showers. There are also several restaurants, though retreat guests eat mainly at the Ginkgo Longevity Restaurant.

A notable feature is the Royal Train, a restored train carriage on the property where you'll enjoy a wellbeing aperitif as part of the package. The resort also houses artwork and offers a 'Shine your Talent' masterclass, which mixes personal development with the wellness theme. The program is flexible enough that you can start on Thursday or Sunday, depending on what works for you, and the resort can arrange airport transfers from Bologna Airport, about 25 minutes away.

What's included

- Accommodation for 3 nights - Daily healthy full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Ginkgo Longevity Restaurant) - Free access to 30 hectares of park and gardens for walking and jogging - 1 mindful lunch - 1 wellbeing aperitif in the Royal Train of Palazzo di Varignana - Acquaviva Method's Welcome kit (tracksuit, sleep tracking band, relaxing infusions) - Acquaviva Method's Sleep kit (beauty pillow, sleep mask) - Waters of Longevity Ritual with antioxidants supplementation - Longevity check-up with sleep assessment test by Dr. Acquaviva - 1 nature therapy session in the Ornamental Gardens (60 minutes) - 1 guided relaxation with binaural waves (45 minutes) - 1 masterclass 'Shine your Talent' (60 minutes) - Daily 3 hours access to Varsana Spa (Grotta dei Calanchi, Cava d'Oro Bianco, pools, saunas, Turkish bath, sensory showers) - 1 Oleaster body treatment with olive oil (50 minutes) - 1 Bamboo massage (50 minutes) - 1 Draining massage (50 minutes) - 1 training session with a personal trainer (60 minutes) - 1 Bio Walking in the vineyards (30 minutes)

What's not included

- Additional activities not listed in the itinerary - Additional treatments and spa services - Mandatory Longevity Consultation with Dr. Acquaviva (€280) – required, includes bioimpedance analysis - Flights and travel insurance - Airport transfers (available for €85 per person one way) - Any meals or drinks outside the provided full board - Room supplement for a second person (if sharing)